High Standard Victor

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Back in the day, I saw more High Standard's on the line then the S&W or the Colt.
Back then the HS full Target models were considered to be the top of the line.
Now days, there are European target pistols that have surpassed the HS and the S&W.

The top shooters back then seemed to mostly use High Standard 10X models. These were models like the Victor that were hand assembled by the old HS gunsmiths.
You can still buy 10X models hand built by Bob Shea from the new High Standard.
They offer factory built 10-X models and Bob Shea hand assembled 10-X guns.
 
You can still buy 10X models hand built by Bob Shea from the new High Standard.
They offer factory built 10-X models and Bob Shea hand assembled 10-X guns.

Unfortunately Bob Shea recently passed away in January. The 10X is still available from High Standard with staff who trained under Bob.
 
107 Supermatic Citation

Made in Hamden CT I sold when all the good 22LR went missing. :(
Shot like a laser with CCI standard velocity, even better with Eley.
Maybe I should have kept it but I used the cash I got for it on a M39-2 and a model 60 no dash.
Use ONLY standard or sub sonic 22LR an carefully inspect for a cracked receiver. Also the recoil spring has a tendency to wear. Look for one side getting shiny or flat. They take three hands to replace. The slides are pretty soft (not hardened) so be very gentle driving the pin out.
 

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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.

Thanks, walnut

Everyone seems to agree that CCI SV is the way to go with this pistol. I'm going to replace the recoil spring before shooting it and stick with SV ammo.
 
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.

Thanks, 243. Mine is the 4.5" barrel. Did you see much difference in accuracy between the 4.5" and the 5.5"?
 
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.

Thanks, Furncliff. I've already arranged for a new factory spring and will definitely install it before shooting. And only SV ammo, for sure.
 
Back then the HS full Target models were considered to be the top of the line.

Thanks, fariswheel. I've got a Ruger MKI, but it has never been as accurate as I hoped.

Hoping this one will be better.
 
Made in Hamden CT I sold when all the good 22LR went missing.
Shot like a laser with CCI standard velocity, even better with Eley.
Maybe I should have kept it but I used the cash I got for it on a M39-2 and a model 60 no dash.
Use ONLY standard or sub sonic 22LR an carefully inspect for a cracked receiver. Also the recoil spring has a tendency to wear. Look for one side getting shiny or flat. They take three hands to replace. The slides are pretty soft (not hardened) so be very gentle driving the pin out.

P54, that is a great looking pistol. I can't quite make out the model.
 
Thanks, 243. Mine is the 4.5" barrel. Did you see much difference in accuracy between the 4.5" and the 5.5"?
Mine was the 5.5", it was accurate. The 4.5" was my brother in laws. It had a defect in the firing pin channel that caused misfires. It still did it after coming back from High Standard, so not shot much, if at all. Not sure if he still has it.
 
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.

Just cut a slot in the side of the hex head of a small bolt the fits into the mag. Place the mag lip in the slot and open/close to spec dimensions, and keep them parallel. Easily made and works well. Dimensions were posted on Rimfire Central a number of years back.
 
My Victor as it is at matches....with a Falcon match barrel and Herrett grips (and a Ruger Mk.II with a Volquartsen upper).
VolquartsenandH-S.jpg
With the factory barrel:
HSVictor.jpg
 
The Falcon barrel is very accurate. So is the original steel barrel. The advantages
of the Falcon are weight (with the added weight of the red dot, it is about the same as the steel barrel and rib) and a bit more reliable. There is no rib and the sight is mounted forward of the breech face so there is a clearer area for ejection.
Pete
 
Damn, Saleen! That is a hell of a collection.

Thanks. I never started out to collect as much as I like to shoot them. FYI, here is a High Standard and my Benelli shooting some targets. This is a newer Texas HS that just shoots lights out. My problem with it is that it will do whatever I have it do even the wrong thing! :uhoh:

Benelli-Trophy-1.jpg
 
The Falcon barrel is very accurate. So is the original steel barrel. The advantages
of the Falcon are weight (with the added weight of the red dot, it is about the same as the steel barrel and rib) and a bit more reliable. There is no rib and the sight is mounted forward of the breech face so there is a clearer area for ejection.
Pete

Does the Falcon barrel have a feed ramp?
 
Thanks. I never started out to collect as much as I like to shoot them. FYI, here is a High Standard and my Benelli shooting some targets. This is a newer Texas HS that just shoots lights out. My problem with it is that it will do whatever I have it do even the wrong thing!

Nice, Saleen
 
My Victor arrived at my FFL today and I got a look at it before it went into his safe for the obligatory 10-day "cooling off" period.

It actually looks better in person than it does in the pictures. The grip fits my hand perfectly. It is heavier than I expected.

Better pics when I get it out of jail.
 
The High Standards and M41's are great guns.

But they don't hold a candle to the SP22 or the AW93 by Pardini and Feinwerkbau respectively.

You won't see anyone in 25m rapid fire at the Olympics using anything but.

IMG_20121006_101836_sm.jpg
 
Very impressive. In a tekky sort of way. I prefer High Standard. It does not require batteries, or optics.
 
Rapid

The High Standards and M41's are great guns.

But they don't hold a candle to the SP22 or the AW93 by Pardini and Feinwerkbau respectively.

You won't see anyone in 25m rapid fire at the Olympics using anything but.
Nor will we see any of those optics. Iron sights only.
Historical note: William McMillan won the Olympic Rapid Fire Pistol event in Rome in 1960 using a High Standard Supermatic Trophy.
It was, alas, the last Olympic pistol medal won by an American.
 
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