Smith & Wesson’s Transforming Victory .22 Pistol

The Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory base model.

I never saw the 2007 film, Transformers. I think it had something to do with Megan Fox reconfiguring a 1975 AMC Pacer into a Flowbee vacuum hair cutting system using nothing but toenail clippers and a half stick of Wrigley’s DoubleMint gum.

Or maybe that was an old episode of MacGyver.

Either way, it’s clear to me that flexible and reconfigurable products can be useful. I have to admit, though, that even without ever seeing Transformers, it was the first thing that came to mind when I got my hands on the new Smith & Wesson Victory pistol.
On the surface, it shows some resemblance to other .22LR pistols—it looks like the love child of a Browning Buckmark and a Ruger Mark III. But then again, the grips have the distinctive profile of those on the Smith & Wesson 22A. Like most things in life, the immediate visual impression only hints at the full story.

Field stripping the Victory for cleaning, maintenance, or even reconfiguration is accomplished with removal of this single Allen screw.

First Impressions

The Victory does what you might expect from a semi-automatic .22LR pistol. It’s a single-action design, so the trigger pull is light and consistent from shot to shot. You cock the internal hammer for the first shot by pulling and releasing the bolt-charging handle. The hammer is reset by the semi-automatic operation for subsequent shots.

The trigger on the Victory goes far beyond what’s expected on a production plinker. It’s fantastic. The flat trigger face with vertical serrations breaks at three pounds and offers a short and exceptionally crisp feel. A manual safety on the left side of the frame prevents trigger activation until it’s pressed down and emits a positive click. The grip houses a removable ten-round magazine, and there’s a second one in the box. The pistol itself is made from stainless steel and has polymer grips. The finish is bead blasted and has a matte appearance. This helps hide those little nicks and dings you’ll collect over time, and minimizes glare.