Field Test: S&W Performance Center Victory
Price as tested: $619 (Davidsons)
Caliber: 22rf
Accessories: 2 mags, factory polymer picatinny rail, gun lock, padded carry case with S&W Perrormance Center logo
This is my review of the S&W Pert Ctr Victory:
Weight: First thing you notice picking the gun up is the weight -a claimed 38 oz. At least as compared to my Volquartsen framed Tac-Sol upper Ruger Mk3, this is a portly pistol. Steel framed, the weight is of some concern in Rimfire Challenge transitions. It should last well into the next millennia, from the construction. As tested with the C-More Railway, the gun is a beast.. A little less weight with a little more recoil might be a better combination. If this gun is to be a “ trainer” for your 1911 full size, the weight will feel familiar.
Compensator: Perhaps it’s the weight, or maybe it’s the comp, but this gun has very little recoil / muzzle rise. It is FAST in follow up shots. Faster on steel plates side by side in array, than my “Ruger.” Arguably what is lost in transitions is gained in speed of follow ups…. And not having to wrangle the gun back into control. Its true 22rf doesn’t recoil much, but when your game rests on hundredths of a second, even 22rf recoil is significant. Bottom line: I’m in no hurry to buy the Tandemkross (TdK) “Game Changer” comp.
Reliability: In over 100 rounds fired, I had one failure… to fire when the firing pin struck the cartridge rim. I attribute this to ammo. (CCI Standard Velocity) Ejection was strong…. Shooters to your right may be injured by spent cases. While aftermarket extractors are available, they don’t seem needed. Magazines ejected strongly. NO worries about “drop free.”
Trigger: With any new gun purchase, The first thing I’ve always ripped out and trashed was the factory trigger. At this price point, your really don’t expect much from a factory gun. I had planned to immediately replace this one with the TdK upgrade. Now, after testing it…. I’m not so sure. Its flat-face trigger comes equipped with both take up and overtravel adjustment screws , and breaks right at 3lb average. And the break is like a “glass rod” … pretty amazing at this price point. I’ll wait and see if it holds me back in competitions.
Accuracy: Pending. . About 2” groups at 15 yards (using a C-More Railway red dot.) This was more a “sight-in” than an accuracy test. Others have reported excellent accuracy, so we shall see over the next 500 rounds.
Aftermarket: TdK seems to be the Big Dog here, and they sell hammers, triggers, aluminum picatinny rails, +1 round followers, low-pro red dot mounts, competition mag base plates, compensators and a bunch of other swag.
Barrel: Carbon fiber wrapped. Saves a little bit of weight over the standard SW22.
Controls: Here’s perhaps the gun main “challenge," and where the first aftermarket money should go. The mag release button is YUGE. And highly sensitive. Not so much while shooting but during any handling, you can expect the magazine to fire out of the magwell and injure any nearby spectators. The “Hive” TdK grip is excellent – both supple and grippy, with a nice mag release button recess – for the much needed after market mag release button.
The other problem with the controls is the manual safety. Numerous times during live fire I found myself inadvertently engaging it – it sits right under where your firing hand thumb rests. Perhaps it’s a training issue, or maybe there’s an aftermarket solution, but it engages way too easily and is exactly in the wrong place. I can see it biting my butt in competition….just at the worst possible moments (plural.) Its gotta go.
Cycling: Very reliable. Cocking the gun was a bit challenging. While I have large hands, grabbing the slide serrations with thumb and forefinger was challenging, and the action (new gun) stiff. Perhaps it will wear in with time, and TdK sells a rear ring for index finger cycling.
Fit and finish: One grip screw came from the factory bunged up, and the right hand side of the frame just in front of the ejection port showed a half dozen little marks - before I personally fired the gun (The magazine just popped out AGAIN as I set the gun down) I expected a bit better at $600. The polymer picatinny rail was loose as it came from the factory – a quick fix as I found my red dot sight slopping around. The polymer rail will likely be replaced with a TdK low-profile red dot mount.
Takedown / field stripping: one hex head screw right in front of the trigger guard. Infinitely easier than the Ruger Mk 1-3, which is an idiotic design. Bolt pops right out and can also be stripped and cleaned very easily.
Overall: a great value in a very good shooter for $620. Its “race – ready” - you could compete with the gun as it is (after mounting a red dot – the gun comes with no sights) Planned after market includes: replacing the mag release button, a low profile red dot mount, slide cycling “ring”, and some solution for the manual safety. Also, as I immediately removed the “magazine safety” there is an aftermarket replacement that maintains the strong mag ejection. Other possible aftermarket: replacement lighter weight trigger, hammer, maybe the Game Changer comp. Extended magazine base pads might be nice, but also sem unnecessary , at least for Rimfire Challenge type comps
