S&W Victory with a beginner at the range

**dannyb** · April 17th, 2016, 10:42 AM

I took a small group to one of the LGSs that has an indoor range and rents pistols. One of the group, a relative beginner, rented the above-titled S&W Victory .22 pistol. Although relatively inexperienced, she had an easy time figuring out the manual of arms (how easy was handling a new pistol for you when it was only your 4th time out?) and put the majority of her shots at a MR31-C 10.5" X 10.5" (ie center of target only) target within the 9 and 10 rings at 5 yards (two handed). Again, not the smallest target in the world, but challenging enough for a beginner who has had 3 lessons and had tried a few .22s other than the Victory (Ruger MK II and MK III, Buckmark, Beretta U22 NEO, S&W Model 41). Based on some suggestions derived from a question that I had posted earlier on this forum, plus a You Tube check of ease of disassembly for cleaning, she wanted to try the Victory. Short answer: she loved it. They had one in stock and she bought it. Her one and only complaint was that it didn't have the customish grips that the S&W Model 41 did, but for the price it was just fine.

So. Plus 1 for the S&W Victory and a newbie who is really excited about owning and continuing to learn.

**Twoboxer** · April 17th, 2016, 01:57 PM

And grats to you, too, for taking newbies out! Doing that is important, useful, and fun.

**39flathead** · April 19th, 2016, 06:28 PM

Good on you for taking new shooters out to have some range time.

Bad on S&W for wasting the Victory name on a .22 autoloader.

**MovingtoAmerica** · April 19th, 2016, 06:51 PM

This pistol is still on my short list. First thing I am going to buy in the next few months hopefully.

**WVBob** · April 20th, 2016, 08:27 AM

I've been to three gun shops and all three HAD them but they sold them as soon as they came in. When I asked if they would hold one, two places had list and the other place said no, first come first served. It is on my short list.