High Standard Victor

[Mustang51]

I've wanted a High Standard target pistol for some time and recently won a "Victor" at an auction ...




I'm new to HS's, and am wondering if this is one of the better HS target pistols.

Unfortunately in California, there is a list of "Olympic " pistols exempt from the Roster of Approved Handguns. It only has 5 HS's on it, so I was very limited on my choices.

 

[Longhorn 76]

If that is one of the newer Houston guns, you may find that it is set up for low velocity target ammunition, and might need a stronger recoil spring to feed regular ammunition.

The magazine lips usually need to be "tuned" for the ammunition you use, as well.

 

[Bill B.]

[QUOTEIf that is one of the newer Houston guns][/QUOTE]

The Hamden, CT on the side rules that out ,,,, . You got one of the good ones ..... love the grain in the those grips! You might want to search frame cracking on a HS and inspect your pistol for this issue if someone shot a lot of HV ammo through it. Otherwise you should be good to go. I would try to buy the older HS magazines rather than new production even though they can be pricey. JMO ,,,,, Congrats!

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

Really nice looking Victor with a barrel weight.

Mine came (through the estate of a good friend) without a barrel rib.
So I use it with an Ultadot and it really does shoot better than I can hold
with CCI SV.

I'll second BB's suggestions concerning looking the frame over for any high velocity cracking.
Given the stocks it is wearing, I would be surprised if it has problems.

I only put standard velocity ammo though mine, and you should consider that as well.
The gun will shoot it better than high speed and be more comfortable as well.

+1 on the magazines.
Although it is not a big chore to use the reproductions after
giving them a good 'slicking up and de-horning' to help the magazine spring.
My repros did not need any feed lip work done, just the above clean up.

If you are not up on how to spot the repro magazines from the originals...
Not to worry, the bidding amounts will let you know that alright!

JT

 

[bannockburn]

Mustang51

Super fine target gun with some great looking grips too! As others have posted look for older magazines and then check them out thoroughly to make sure they work properly in you gun.

 

[25-5]

Years ago I sold mine. Wooden box and different weights. A real dumb move.
Luckily a few years ago I came across one in a FL LGS. Snapped it up.
Same as yours, but w/o such nice grips. I have one original mag and have hesitated to buy the new ones, but based on what has been posted I'll give it a try.
A damned accurate shooter. You will enjoy it.

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks, guys.

How do these stack up against the S&W model 41?

 

[9mmepiphany]

Unfortunately in California, there is a list of "Olympic " pistols exempt from the Roster of Approved Handguns. It only has 5 HS's on it, so I was very limited on my choices.

Actually you aren't limited. The "Olympic" pistol exemption applies to all pistols that fall under that "use."

I know that guy who very carefully worded it to include "all" those pistols. It was meant to be inclusive rather than exclusive

How do these stack up against the S&W model 41?

Fed the "right" ammo they were very competitive. Don't even think about running high velocity ammo in your Victor

The great weakness of the HS Victor, and their whole line of target pistols, was the use of the magazine lips in place of including a feed ramp to guide rounds into the chamber

 

[Pete D.]

Victor

The Victor is easily the equal of the S&W 41.....in fact, I think that it is arguably the finest American target pistol ever made.
SV ammo only, please.
Very functional magazines can be had from Brownells

 

[C.F. Plinker]

I agree with all the suggestions to use standard velocity ammunition. Yours was manufactured back in 1972 and, at that time, they were considered more reliable than the 41s. They were not at all finicky about the ammunition they liked. Of course, some were more accurate than others but the High Standards would function with almost anything.

 

[stu1ritter]

I shot a Victor in Bullseye competition for years. It had a custom chambered CPC barrel and the barrel was milled to accept scope mounts directly to get the optic as low as possible. I shot many, many 100's with this gun. I have several timed and rapid targets from the 90's that are 100-10X. Trigger was by Mike Curtis. There is a little tool you can make from a bolt using a hacksaw to tune the magazine lips, they are not a problem at all. Standard velocity CCI was the only thing my gun ever saw.
Stu

 

[Mustang51]

Actually you aren't limited. The "Olympic" pistol exemption applies to all pistols that fall under that "use."

I know that guy who very carefully worded it to include "all" those pistols. It was meant to be inclusive rather than exclusive

Quote:
How do these stack up against the S&W model 41?

Fed the "right" ammo they were very competitive. Don't even think about running high velocity ammo in your Victor

The great weakness of the HS Victor, and their whole line of target pistols, was the use of the magazine lips in place of including a feed ramp to guide rounds into the chamber
__________________
Because the journey is the worthier part...The Shepherd's Tale

Thanks, 9mm.

I'll stick to standard velocity. I'm a little concerned about the frame cracking issue and will give it a good going over when it arrives. And SV ammo only. Many people have suggested CCI SV and I'll start there.

Wondering about other "Olympic pistols" being importable into California. I've always thought the list maintained by Cal DOJ was a definitive list and only those were allowed.

 

[Mustang51]

The Victor is easily the equal of the S&W 41.....in fact, I think that it is arguably the finest American target pistol ever made.
SV ammo only, please.
Very functional magazines can be had from Brownells

Thanks, Pete. SV ammo only.

The auction pic seems to show a magazine installed, so I'm assuming that it comes with at least one. I'll check Brownells for a couple of extras

 

[Mustang51]

I

agree with all the suggestions to use standard velocity ammunition. Yours was manufactured back in 1972 and, at that time, they were considered more reliable than the 41s. They were not at all finicky about the ammunition they liked. Of course, some were more accurate than others but the High Standards would function with almost anything.

Thanks, Plinker.
__________________

 

[Mustang51]

I shot a Victor in Bullseye competition for years. It had a custom chambered CPC barrel and the barrel was milled to accept scope mounts directly to get the optic as low as possible. I shot many, many 100's with this gun. I have several timed and rapid targets from the 90's that are 100-10X. Trigger was by Mike Curtis. There is a little tool you can make from a bolt using a hacksaw to tune the magazine lips, they are not a problem at all. Standard velocity CCI was the only thing my gun ever saw.
Stu

Thanks, Stu

I have a Ruger MKI target pistol that I plink around with, but it has never been particularly accurate. I'm hoping this one will be.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Wondering about other "Olympic pistols" being importable into California. I've always thought the list maintained by Cal DOJ was a definitive list and only those were allowed.

You're confusing the Safe Gun Roster (which is definitive) and the exempted guns.

There are exemptions for "Olympic" pistols just as there are for "Cowboy" (SA) pistols...which are defined by qualifying features.

Until the beginning of this year, there was an exemption for Single Shot pistols

 

[Mustang51]

You're confusing the Safe Gun Roster (which is definitive) and the exempted guns.

There are exemptions for "Olympic" pistols just as there are for "Cowboy" (SA) pistols...which are defined by qualifying features.

Until the beginning of this year, there was an exemption for Single Shot pistols

I know that there are general exemptions for single action revolvers, but did not know that there was a general exemption for "Olympic" pistols.

I thought this "Roster of Exempt Olympic Competition Pistols", put out by the California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms, was a definitive list

www.ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/op.pdf

 

[9mmepiphany]

The key is:

In addition to pistols specified in the statutes, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is authorized to exempt pistols based on recommendations from
"USA Shooting" the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States.

As long as that list is, which Olympic Competition Pistol were you interested in that isn't already on it?

All it takes for a qualifying pistol to be added to the list is a recommendation...they have never been denied

 

[Mustang51]

As long as that list is, which Olympic Competition Pistol were you interested in that isn't already on it?

All it takes for a qualifying pistol to be added to the list is a recommendation...they have never been denied

I'd really like a HS Citation

 

[bluetopper]

I sold three nice old High Standards (102, 104, and 107)after .22 ammo became non existent. I could reload 9mm and 38 Special for cheaper.

 

[walnut1704]

Frame cracking is mostly a problem with the older HD Military and similar models. Stick with Standard Velocity ammo, CCI is probably the most reliable.

Increasing the recoil spring to shoot HV ammo just causes another problem. The increased forward velocity of the slide created by the heavier spring tends to peen the breech face.

Magazine adjustment is critical. HS magazines have hardened feed lips, the aftermarket ones don't. Don't waste your money on anything but HS magazines. They sell them out of Houston. Yeah, they're $50 a pop but they last forever and they actually work.

You can make a magazine adjustment tool or buy one. HS has a "genuine" tool but there are some that are even better on eBay and Amazon that incorporate a way to measure the different distances that are standard for the front and rear feed lips.

http://highstandardpartsonline.com/High Standard Magazine Adjustments Models102-107 PTS1.pdf

 

[9mmepiphany]

I'd really like a HS Citation

It's the same as the Military Trophy (which is on the list), just change the barrel

 

[243winxb]

High Standard.

The Victor came in 2 barrel lengths, the 4.5" being the shorter. Its one of the heavier target guns, so hit the weights, if shooting Bullseye. The rib can be removed and a scope base installed in the existing holes. When High Stardard was close to going out of business, they sent a letter to the shop, almost begging to buy just 2 target pistols. The price was higher than at my distributors. The M41 was no longer hard to get at the time. My Victory was more reliable the my M41. When it was time to thin the herd, the Victor & 41 went. Keeping a Ruger MK1 and HS Trophy with short kit & extra barrel. Its something i would do differently today. Since then i have also sold the 5.5 bbl and short kit. Sights that are fixed to the barrel, are the way to go.

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[Furncliff]

A good HS Victor can hang with the S&W 41, might be more the operator than the pistol. I have two High Standards and a 41, I'd never let any of them go.

Sorry for the huge image. I borrowed this pic to show you where to look for frame cracks. My 1950's vintage Supermatic passed down from my dad is cracked here. I still shoot it.

Recoil springs that are worn out can cause these cracks so be sure to change over when you get the pistol, it's cheap insurance.

I feed only SV ammo. mostly CCI SV.

 

[Saleen322]

Congratulations on the new pistol, you will like it. I have about 7 of them now. Never had much trouble with any magazine--High Standard or after market after I put a good spring in it but you want to keep them with the gun they are tuned for. Good idea to replace the recoil spring with a Wolff 6 lb variable. Just be warned, you will end up with more!