Weird pistol barrel issue. S&W Victory

[Lefty Trigger]

Every year our club shoots a 50 feet indoor bullseye match every monday night from Jan to April. We shoot 30 rounds rimfire and 30 rounds center fire and the last 2 years I have won it, no prize, no money, not even your name on a plaque... bragging rights only.
This year I switched from a 22lr revolver (S&W 617) to a Victory and my scores have dropped by half or more. I have run every type of ammo through this little pistol I can get and best it will do is 2.5 to 3.5 inches at 50 feet with Lapua OSP pistol. Frustrated to death with it I had a friend play with it that swears by the Victory and he gave it back and said its the worst pistol he has ever shot. I figured I would take the barrel off and see if my smith could recrown it to see if that would help, the crown looks a little "rounded over" not a crisp edge. He called me a little while ago and said the barrel is junk. One of the rifelings is standing more pronounced than the others? Is that even possible? He suggested I return it to Smith but it's highly modified and I don't want to do that. I just ordered a new Volquartzen barrel for it.
I'll try to post pictures if anything can be photographed good enough.
BTW this is a Performance center gun.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Im not sure why the PC ever put their mark on those pistols.

 

[shoot4fun]

Im not sure why the PC ever put their mark on those pistols.

For the same reason so many companies offer after-market parts to those pistols.
People buy them and the PC logo always adds profit for S&W. The real question would be just how long does the perception attached to the PC logo mean added value against the reality of how it operates now?
As for the accuracy of this particular barrel, I am sure we would find S&W's definition of "acceptable" accuracy is very different from ours. Even on a "prized" PC gun.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

For the same reason so many companies offer after-market parts to those pistols.
People buy them and the PC logo always adds profit for S&W. The real question would be just how long does the perception attached to the PC logo mean added value against the reality of how it operates now?
As for the accuracy of this particular barrel, I am sure we would find S&W's definition of "acceptable" accuracy is very different from ours. Even on a "prized" PC gun.

I agree, it will shoot probably good enough for most people to plink with. We have several shooters using them and they all out shoot mine by far. I can always go back to my revolver but wanted a semi-auto to try and improve my rapid fire scores. I wanted a Hammerli but none to be found unless I learn to shoot right handed and will never own anything with Rugers name on it,... long story.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I agree, it will shoot probably good enough for most people to plink with. We have several shooters using them and they all out shoot mine by far. I can always go back to my revolver but wanted a semi-auto to try and improve my rapid fire scores. I wanted a Hammerli but none to be found unless I learn to shoot right handed and will never own anything with Rugers name on it,... long story.

How bout a s&w mod 41? Cant get any better than that

 

[Appalachian]

It sounds like you just got a bad barrel. My base model Victory is more accurate than my 10” stainless Mark2 and my 41(new model) at least shooting off hand. I haven’t done any serious testing.

 

[JEFFPPC]

How bout a s&w mod 41? Cant get any better than that

Yes....but no. Buddy (NRA Distinguished Pistol.)bought a new 41 last month. First 8 shots it never cycled one time. Shots were all keyholed. Looked in barrel with borescope. Looked like you threw a handful of needle bearings in it. Button must have ran out of lube. Ok, things happen. But, 1400.00 pistol that evidently was never inspected and/or never fired since 8 out of 8 shots it never cycled one time. Makes me sad, I always though S&W did it right. Bean counters rule, craftsmen shown the door. Maybe cheaper to put them together with green cards, or maybe no cards.

 

[shoot4fun]

How bout a s&w mod 41? Cant get any better than that

When you get a M41 that works right out of the gate your statement is true.
My educated guess is M41 QC is about 70%.
My last one was a fairly older specimen and it was a nice shooter. The big thing I have seen on them is the nightmare guns that are never going too run correctly no matter how many times they go back to 2100 for repair. Yes, they are out there.

 

[shoot4fun]

It sounds like you just got a bad barrel. My base model Victory is more accurate than my 10” stainless Mark2 and my 41(new model) at least shooting off hand. I haven’t done any serious testing.

My base model Victory is early (very early) production and a 4" threaded version at that. It has never bobbled and the factory barrel shoots as well as the plain old ammo I shoot thru it. Mostly though it has worn a nice Volquatzen SS fluted barrel. I really do like the gun. It is a breeze to take down for cleaning and there are gobs of aftermarket goodies to allow you to "make it your own".

 

[Lefty Trigger]

How bout a s&w mod 41? Cant get any better than that

Those things are a little tough to find and they are not very optic friendly. I have looked at them.

 

[Full Chisel]

My Victory shoots really well. I did have some initial issues with the ejector alignment. That, and the narrow mags get gummed up with bullet lube that caused feeding problems. Tweaked ejector alignment and started using Aguila HV copper plated (shorter oal with minimal lube) and shoots flawless now. Holds <1" at 15 yd rested for 10 shots; probably .5-.75" for 5 shots; vortex red dot.

Have you by chance thoroughly examined the barrel attachment. That simple set screw always bothered me, though I haven't had any issues. Where that set screw seats into barrel - well I could see the possibility of it not seating the same every time and messing with the headspace. Just a thought.

And if your using the factory sights, then I'd check them too. Again, no issues here, but they are all plastic.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Those things are a little tough to find and they are not very optic friendly. I have looked at them.

Mine has a basic weaver rail on it and some type of red dot- been years since i used it. I bet ive shot it 10,000 times with all grades of ammo and other than the usual cheap ammo hiccups its been flawless

 

[NZ_Fclass]

If Smith only put an adjustable trigger in the old Mod 41...

 

[doclu60]

Smith's QC is very questionable these days. Never had a Victory, but did buy a brand new 627-5 Performance Center .357 mag. Crown looked like a beaver chewed in on and barrel to cylinder gap was WAY out of spec. Both gap and being square. Trigger stop pin (non adjustable) was cut on a angle and didn't hit the inside of the trigger guard. I sent it back and they replaced the barrel, and put a decent trigger stop in it. It still has an out of spec barrel cylinder gap, though much better, and still won't run with with older Smiths using the same ammo as far as on target results. Last new Smith I will ever buy. Same for Savage after my B-mag experience.

Performance Center guns should be flawless for what they cost. That has not been my experience with mine, or several others I have heard about. Sign of the times I guess.

Scott

 

[Minshooter]

Had two 625 -5" that wouldn't stay inside six inches at 25 yards. Usually 8 inches or more.
Sent them to S&W. They came back with a note: "Tested for accuracy -within factory specs".

My older (pre 70) model 41's have an internal notched trigger pull weight adjustment lever, but it
requires disassembly to adjust. It seems more like a factory adjustment device, to tune the trigger,
back when Smith cared about what went out the door.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

My Victory shoots really well. I did have some initial issues with the ejector alignment. That, and the narrow mags get gummed up with bullet lube that caused feeding problems. Tweaked ejector alignment and started using Aguila HV copper plated (shorter oal with minimal lube) and shoots flawless now. Holds <1" at 15 yd rested for 10 shots; probably .5-.75" for 5 shots; vortex red dot.

Have you by chance thoroughly examined the barrel attachment. That simple set screw always bothered me, though I haven't had any issues. Where that set screw seats into barrel - well I could see the possibility of it not seating the same every time and messing with the headspace. Just a thought.

And if your using the factory sights, then I'd check them too. Again, no issues here, but they are all plastic.

Mine started as a new Performance center Victory. I changed the trigger to a Tandemkross and installed a Holosun optic on it, done some tweaking to some springs. Gun never misses a beat and will feed and fire any ammo put in it,.. just wont group worth a darn. I'm really hoping the new Volquartzen barrel solves the issue because I can't really see any other reason it shoots so poorly.
When I took the barrel off the set screw was really tight. I think I checked it when I done the trigger.

 

[DGP4]

The Model 41 has an adjustable trigger and it is pretty easy to adjust assuming you can read the instructions. Right out of the box, the trigger is better than anything out there in its price range. It seems there are always a bunch of Model 41 bashers who have never owned one. Haters love to hate.

 

[Full Chisel]

I'm really hoping the new Volquartzen barrel solves the issue because I can't really see any other reason it shoots so poorly.

Let us know how the new barrel works out. I have to admit that somewhere way down on my wish list is that CF Volquartzen, but mainly for the weight. I have the Tandem Kross trigger and it's perfect. Just FYI, I had the same issue as you with an M&P 9 not grouping worth a crap. Put an Apex barrel in and groups shrank to half with same factory ammo.

 

[JEFFPPC]

The Model 41 has an adjustable trigger and it is pretty easy to adjust assuming you can read the instructions. Right out of the box, the trigger is better than anything out there in its price range. It seems there are always a bunch of Model 41 bashers who have never owned one. Haters love to hate

Maybe you should read my post above.I would no longer buy a new Smith. When a new 1400.00 handgun is shipped that should not be fired due to barrel obstruction from the manufacturing process it goes beyond poor QC. It's called NO QC! The barrel was ruined during rifiling and then went through multiple additional processes and no one caught the problem. There are haters but there are many more dupes who choose to bury their head in the sand. Let refresh your memory.....steel obstructions in the barrel, in 8 shots it never cycled once, e dry bullet keyhole. It fallen being responsible and holding others to be responsible. Not so much in today's world, I guess.

 

[DGP4]

Maybe you should read my post above.I would no longer buy a new Smith. When a new 1400.00 handgun is shipped that should not be fired due to barrel obstruction from the manufacturing process it goes beyond poor QC. It's called NO QC! The barrel was ruined during rifiling and then went through multiple additional processes and no one caught the problem. There are haters but there are many more dupes who choose to bury their head in the sand. Let refresh your memory.....steel obstructions in the barrel, in 8 shots it never cycled once, e dry bullet keyhole. It fallen being responsible and holding others to be responsible. Not so much in today's world, I guess.

First off, I wasn't referring to you or I would have addressed you directly. I am referring to all the folks that immediately jump on the bandwagon to trash the Model 41 here and on other forums. I am truly sorry you had a bad experience buying a Model 41. But did S&W make good on it? Every manufacturer has its lemons. How they respond to an issue is what is important to me. That is why Ruger is off my buy list, but I won't bore you with the details. QC has declined across the board in the last 20 years because it costs too much to hand finish and test product like they did in the old days. All we can hope for these days is that when a problem surfaces, the manufacturer steps up to the plate and makes it right.