If you had your choice of either a model 17 or 18 which would you get and why?

I know the 18 is a 4" barrel and has combat sights and the 17 has target sights and has different barrel lengths but other than that why do you like the one you have?

Thanks


Update, After this thread reached 3 pages and several pm's from some helpful forum members I made up my mind as to which one to get. Thanks for the help and a special thanks to the person who sold me these. Tried to take so good pics but it is hard to show the deep blueing on the revolver. Enjoy the pics!

1966, Mint, hardly a turn line S&W 17-2




Notice the case colors.

I have both and prefer the front site of the 17 as well as the longer sighting of the 6 in. barrel. Both are equally accurate in the right hands!
I have several 17's and this is my favorite(17-4) with the "3 T's"

Well ya' just KNOW what a member with a screen name of Model 17 is gonna' like!

Very nice stocks on that revolver. Target hammer & trigger too - that set up is hard (impossible) to beat.

The Mod 18 is my 2nd choice unless it's from the 1950's...



... you don't choose between a 17 & an 18, you just gotta' have both.

GF

I don't have an 18 but do have a 17. It seems to me that 17's are easier to find than 18's, but I say that mostly because I don't know that I've ever even seen an 18. At least not since I learned enough about them to appreciate them. I'd like to have an 18.

Which one to get first? The one you can find I would say. Having said that, if you plan to shoot it mostly at the range, the 17 might be the way to go. If you plan to holster it and a carry in in the woods, I'd want the shorter, handier 18.

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John 3:16 .

Best to handle one of each before choosing. Personally I find the 18 to be a little muzzle-light and the 17 to be about right, but only you can tell what works best for you.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I prefer the Model 18. It was designed to give us a 22 version of the Combat Masterpiece for practice and it accomplishes this mission well. That said, when I'm doing something that I want a 22 revolver along the 4" barrel is a great combination of "accurate AND handy". Since most of my serious carry revolvers are S&Ws with 3" or 4" bbls the M-18 remains a familiar friend.

As for the excellent and legendary M-17, it is certainly a great revolver for the range or for small game varmitting. I sold mine though when I realized that when I go to the range or field with a 22 the High Standard auto or the Colt Woodsman Match get to go.

They are both fine guns. I had both but ended up selling the 17 and keeping the 18. It was just the use I had for them. The 18 was a little handier to carry and I have a model 15 that is almost identical to the 18 with 4 inch barrel.

A lot of people get the .22lr in the same barrel length as other revolvers that they have, me included.
I have mostly 4 inch revolvers and having the Mod 18 allows me to have the same feel in practice as shooting my other 4 inchers at a much lower cost. If I had more 6 inch guns I may be tempted to to get a Mod 17. Of course I do have a 6" Mod 19, looks like I need to get the 17.

Sir.
I have a couple dozen K22's. I have not made up my mind which I like best, 4 inch or 6 inch. I will buy a couple more and maybe then make a decision.
Bill@Yuma

I like the 18 a little better. It looks "right", packs easily, and is perfect for plinking and rabbits and such.

WILDPIG

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I ain't from around here.

I agree with murphydog, it seems to me the balance on the 6 inch 17 is just about perfect, at least for me, I have 19’s in 4 and 6 inch and prefer the 6".

I slightly prefer the 4" barrel of the Model 18 over the 17 beacuse its just esaier for me to holster.



IMHO the best of both worlds is the 17-5 with 4" M17 barrel contour.



It came about as a meens of eliminating the Model 18 line,



The 4" 17-6 full underlug gets honorable mention as my second favorite K22..... but...


My "dream" gun would be a 22 lr K frame with a Model 19 profile heavy barrel and half lug.

Same here. In my case, the 617 is the perfect companion for my 686 and 16-4.

Attached Images

16716686.jpg (98.6 KB, 82 views)

I like the 17 at the range to punch holes in paper and the 18 the carry around in the wood and hiking.

I think mine is an 17-8 w/ 6 inch barrel... a 10 shot.

If I had to do over I might opt for a 4' over the 6' barrel. Maybe because I shoot so much more .22 that I seem to tire more easily.

It is a dream to shoot an accurate.

I would buy whichever came available first. One concern the blue guns obviously show more wear.

Model 17 and 14 seem to make a nice pair.

Iggy,
That is a very fine pair. I have been on the lookout for a pair just like that.

Wingmaster

since I don't have either one I'd grab whichever one I could get my hands on

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"I'm your huckleberry."

I was looking for a good Smith 17/18 for a good price and I just found a model 18 first and that is how I picked

I have both.
Model 17 8-3/8" and a 4" Model 18.



Personally, I prefer the 18 for anything except rimfire silhouette shooting at 100 meters, which is what I purchased the 17 for.

The 18 just handles and feels "right" to me. the Ahrends stocks help a lot, too. I like them enough that I'm gradually switching all my revolvers over to them.

I can also say the same for my Model 14/15 pair.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I've owned and loved both. I'll vote 6" 17 here for ballance and sight advantages.

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Dave

I have the 18-3. Was looking for a 17, then decided to get the 4" 617 10 shot. Not sure how much I'd shoot the 17 at this point.

I was faced with the same decision. I couldn't make it, so I have both.

If, for whatever reason, I could only keep one, it would be the M18.

WOW

And you asked ME what I thought!?!
You did better than I could of on your deal. Those three Ashland guns are the stars, the 17-2 is sweet (would've been my pick of the 22's too) and that 65 is a great carry piece.

As a matter of fact I just bought a Mod 65...

(shown with a 60-10)
...and it's a shooter if I ever had one.

Well played Andy !!!

Gail

I like my 18-3

I have two model 18's and Model 17-4 with 8 3/8 barrel that shoots like a laser beam, a Model k22 and a 6 inch model 617 no dash. My favorite range shooter is the K22 6 inch and my favorite carry 22 is a Model 18-3. The 617 with 6 inch barrel is a great gun but the balance of the K22 6 inch feels better to me in my hand.

Hope this helps.

I like 'em both-just posted this on another thread.
Bob

Looks like you found a nice one(plus a few others)! I have a 17 and an 18; they serve differing purposes for me, so I never felt as though I had to choose. I use the 18 to review defensive shooting fundamentals periodically, since it doesn't have the recoil and the blast(makes it easier to concentrate on trigger control, etc.). I also use it to teach new shooters.

The 17 is for longer range target/bullseye-type shooting(I don't compete, just try to improve on my own).

I'm sure you'll enjoy your new acquisitions.
Andy

Yep, gotta get both; I resisted but the call to own both was too strong.

I have both as well. I honestly prefer the Model 18 with the 4" barrel. I just picked up a Model 17 with a 4" barrel to go with my 6" Model 17. I looked at a 6" Model 17 priced fairly the same day; I was seriously tempted, but I didn't want to spend that kind of money.

What is the size of the T-grip size for these?

I posted eariler and my thoughts haven't changed much. I bought the K22 because I bought a K38 first and both are 5 screw and they weigh and balance exactly the same. To me the K22 or Model 17 6 inch maybe the perfect range revolver because at my age I need all the sight radius I can get. That said for packing in a holster on a field trip the Model 18 wins everytime.

K22

Model 17-4

Model 18-3

VERY nice collection of K .22's

This is my current pre-18. I used to have an 18-3 but my buddy wouldn't quit pesterin' me, so I sold it to him, just so he would shut up.




You can't go wrong with an 18, Ned

Nearly a toss-up. I vote 18 unless you are after a longer barrel.

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Jon

You did very well with that 17-2, I have them in all three barrel lengths in both LR and WMR. While they look kind of unweildly the 8 3/8 balance suprisingly well in the hand and are great long range plinkers. Next a model 45 or pre 45 (I wish).

Short



Medium



Long



You know you want all 3

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Well , I don't own a Model 17 but this is my first Model 18 I purchased. I have since gotten a couple more Model 18's and they are excellent shooters, all of them.

Yes , the grips really are that dark and probably have been refinished but . They fit and feel just fine.