High Standard 22LR target pistols?

[StephenT]

I see used high standard 22LR pistols from time to time and am thinking about getting one for inexpensive, high accuracy range practice. Their prices vary greatly depending on the model. Can someone please explain to me the differences between the various models? (Victory, Supermatic, SportKing, Trophy, Duramatic, etc.) Which one would come closest to the S&W 41 in terms of accuracy? Which one is the best bang for the buck? Or rather, are there any models that weren't so great and should perhaps be avoided?

Also, is High Standard back in business? I see them listed in the yellow pages here in Houston TX. How do their modern day products compare to those of the old company?

Thanks!

 

[boohsdad]

High standard is back in operation as you stated, However, yhey are not in the same league as the original company.

The original high standard pistlol is not cheap in good condition. But it is the way to go.

Roy

 

[Okiecruffler]

Avoid the Houston models like the plague unless you're a gunsmith in training and just want alot of practice. I know 4 people not including myself, who had 6 Houston models between them. Feeding and ejection problems on every single example. All were accurate, but jam after jam made each of those 4 guys move to different makers. Heck, one guy even bought a Mitchell like mine and loves it as much as I love mine. That had to hurt.

 

[rick_reno]

The good ones were made in two places, Hamden, Conn. or Hartford, Conn. I've always had a preference for the Hartford guns. As others have metioned, avoid the Houston guns. The "Victory" is a "Victor" and is a very nice bullseye gun - I'd rank it above the current production M41. We had a new M41 go back and forth to the factory 3 times in our little pistol league before the owner gave up on it.
If buying a used HS, be sure to examine the gun closely for hairline cracks, they usually crack near slide stop. Shooting SV ammo and keeping the springs up to date and you should never get a crack, I never did and I shot one for over 20 years. These are beautifully made pistols that can give you years of use with minimal maintenance.
There is a high standard forum where you can get answers to many of your questions.

http://disc.server.com/Indices/34752.html

 

[Roland of Gilead]

My uncle has a mid 70's production with adjustable sights, 5.5" (or so) barrel. Accurate and reliable as all hell, but they run about $400+ when I see them for sale here. Find a Ruger standard or MKII for $200 or so. Or a Buckmark. Same idea, less $$. HS are cheap or are good, but not cheap and good.

 

[Tacoma]

All good advice above IMHO. I'll add that HS was THE .22 target pistol to compete with back in it's day. I've owned three and they all had nice triggers and excellent accuracy. They were also pretty reliable as long as you kept the mags tuned . ( Very important!) The new versions are noted for ( and personally observed ) being unreliable period. If you want a HS, look for an early hamden/hartford gun. Models differ mainly in sights ,barrels and frame angles. Look for heavy/target barrels and adjustable sights for target work. It is not uncommon to find guns with interchanged parts ( i.e sportking frame with better citation barrel , etc) There is a great colectors book on the subject if you really want to get up on it. Cost is $20 or so but well worth it before you dump $400+ into a good one.


Lastly FWIW, as much as I like the old HS's I'll mention that I just sold my last one off. Why? it's my experience that they tended to need occasional parts, work and/or tweeking to keep them functioning flawlessly as required for any kind of formal target shooting. I also found that magazines, grips ( and competent gunsmiths) etc were getting increasingly hard to find and increasingly expensive. Lastly, unless they were previously modified (drilled and tapped), there was no cheap/easy/ clean way to comfortably mount a dot sight on them. ( Something many target shooters end up with.)

Having said all that, it's MHO that while the older HS pistols are scary accurate and a joy to collect/ shoot. However, I don't believe they are the best bang for the buck for a new target shooter . Something along the lines of a comperably priced Ruger MK II/III target would likely provide a similar (practical)level of accuracy and be much easier/cheaper to upkeep, modify and accessorize.

Not an expert here, just a .22 target pistol collector /shooter passing on some personal experience and thoughts.

 

[rick_reno]

I found Brownells magazines work great, the last pair I bought from them was right around $30. They also have an excellent selection of parts for them, including slides/.22 short conversion kits, springs - about everything you could want to fix one. When my eyes got too old for iron sights, I got an easy to install ramp for mounting a dot sight on my Victor from Brownells too.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Lastly, unless they were previously modified (drilled and tapped), there was no cheap/easy/ clean way to comfortably mount a dot sight on them. ( Something many target shooters end up with.)

Not true! http://www.bme-mounts.com

I found Brownells magazines work great...

Those are actually Triple K magazines that "High Standard" in Houston claims to "fix." Some work. Most don't.

I've owned High Standards three decades and longer. I broke a Victor extractor earlier this week. It's the first broken part I've encountered in all those years.

Hamden and East Hartford High Standards can be wonderful guns; identical-looking guns, however, can be a complete waste of money. High Standard quality was always grossly inconsistent, and fell through the sub-basement floor when the company was resurrected in Houston several years ago. One of the major problems of Hamden and East Hartfort guns is that the frames were never heat-treated, so if previous owners shot high velocity ammunition, the frames not only can crack, but most probably will.

I own several High Standards and Smith & Wesson model 41, as well as a Browning Medalist. Only the Medalist is as good a gun as the High Standards, and better finished, too.

 

[endure161]

High Standard Pistols

My .22 bullseye pistol is a High Standard Victor, made in CT. It is very accurate and has been reliable since I found the brands of ammo that it prefers. There are some differences among all those various HS models. The biggest one that I think is important is that the grip angle on some, like my Victor, is the same as that of a 1911. So, there is some similarity of feel when switching from it to the 1911 during a match day. Other models have different angles that may be a bit awkward if a person is accustomed to the 1911 grip angle.

Someone mentioned the need for drilling and tapping to allow mounting of a red dot sight. My Dad gave me a B-Square mount that is attached to the rib using the same screw holes into the barrel as the rib. It has worked well for almost three years for me. The only thing I can find wrong is that the red dot could be closer to the barrel if the rib was not sandwiched between the mount and the barrel. However, I am very happy with it as it is. If a mount like this is used I recommend using Loctite Blue on the mounting screws ...

I tried Winchester T22, Remington Target, Federal Match, CCI Standard Velocity, and Aguila Standard Velocity ammo. I got problems of function along with misfires of various extents with the first three. Only the CCI SV and the Aguila consistently fed and ignited well. After narrowing it down I bought a case of the Aguila.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Only the CCI SV and the Aguila consistently fed and ignited well.

I've never heard of a High Standard that wasn't fussy about ammunition. I buy CCI standard velocity by the case because that's the only ammunition my High Standards and model 41s accept.