Just wondering the difference on a 4 or 6 inch barrel in the .22 Model 617. Would the 6" be more accurate and the velocity a bit higher? I am about to get one and need some feedback on the different barrel lengths for my decision. If anyone has one of either of these, please let me know your thoughts.Thanks

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Craig

Craig,
I shoot a 6 in. older K-22 and one of the 4 in Model 617's in the 10 shot version. To me the 6 inch 617 with the full underlug was a bit too muzzle heavy for my taste. The 4 in. 617's balance was closer to that of the older K-22. You will get slightly higher MV out of the 6 in. tube but I doubt it would be significant.
Tony

I don't have either one, but the big difference that I see is the bigger sight radius.

If you are off by the same amount on both pistols, the front sight will be more off center on the 6" than on the 4".

I hear if you can figure the sights out on a good snubby, you can hit things accurately at 100 yards. I've never seen it, though.

So the biggest accuracy effect would depend on how well you can see the sights.

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Regulate Banks, not guns

I have a 4 inch 10 shot and a 6 inch 6 shot.For general use,I would suggest the 4 incher.You won't see a velocity difference,and it's a nice size gun. The six incher is a bit muzzle heavy imo,a little better for target shooting.Both are fun-you can't go wrong with either.

I agree with Tsquared about the heavy muzzle on the 6" with full underlug. I owned both lengths in the 10 shot version and let the 6" go and kept the 4". Shot it yesterday and had forgotten just how much fun it was and how accurate too. Just my two cents worth.

I just bought a 6 inch not long ago and another guy bought a 4 inch but wondered if he really wanted a 6 so I told him we could go shoot one day and see what we thought. We never have. I have never held the 4 inch so I dont have a feel for the balance but my 6 is fine with me. I wanted the 6 because I only target shoot for fun with it.

I guess if you look at it that way it may just depend on what you want to do with it.

I have a model 41 but it is a little picky with ammo. The 617 is not. Shoots the cheap stuff with few FTF's. I think I have had 2 out of a few thousand rounds. The 41 has a lot more FTF's with the cheap bulk stuff.

I want to work on some tree rats later with the 617.

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SC Army National Guard

I shot my six-inch Model 17 in bullseye competition for years. It was more accurate than me and utterly reliable. It is also the heaviest handgun I own. It's those tiny holes. . . . (Yes, the N frames might be heavier but they don't feel that way!)

My four-inch 617 is much easier to control, so it doesn't give anything away to the 17 regarding accuracy. It feels much the same as my four-inch Model 66 and 686SSR. It's a fine, economical, training piece.

Go with the four-inch.

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Jaeger

I have one of the older 6-shot 6" bbl. 617's and I had a 6-shot 4" bbl. at the same time.

Maybe my opinion has no merit because they are the older 6-shots but I sold the 4" and kept the 6". I wish I would have kept the 4"! It had much better balance and was handier even though it had slightly less sight radius which didn't bother me.

Don't get me wrong, I still like the 6" and it is a very accurate gun but it is very muzzle heavy and heavier all the way around.

With a 4" you're not giving up much in the way of accuracy or velocity and gaining a handier, better balanced gun.

As an aside, I'm 61 years old and have worn glasses all my life but I still shoot a 4" and 6" bbl. about equally as well regardless of the better sight radius of the 6".

I have a scoped 6" and a non-scoped 6" 17. I've never thought about the weight. I just enjoy the heck out of both of them. The scoped 617 has taken more tree rats than any other gun (handgun, rifle, or shotgun) I own.

As far as a 4" goes, I think it would be terrific. Face it. It's gonna be one of the finest .22s you're ever gonna own no matter what barrel length. Both are going to be accurate and a great deal of fun. Don't spend too much time agonizing over it. Just pick up one of each, and the one that feels the best is the one to get. I didn't have an option with either one of my picks, but I like the short barrels. I have a 4" SP101 and it's a fun plinker. I'm sure the S&W would be even better.

I haven't tried the 6 inch, but I love my 4" 617. Now that I'm reloading (and bulk 22lr ammo is almost as difficult to get as primers around here) I have been leaving it home lately, but it's still so much fun to shoot.

Less fun to clean, with 10 chambers in the cylinder, but it's a great gun.

I have the 4" and find it to be very handy.

I was going to start a thread on the 617-1, but since this one is going well let me ask here. My -1 has an MIM thumb piece and hollow back trigger (MIM?) shown below. Is this standard or have these parts been swapped out? SCSW states MIM came at a later revision.

TIA and sorry for the hijack.

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NRA - All Day

I have "a few " covering both lengths and agree with Camster and the others. The 4" has much better balance. It also points quicker/instinctively for rim fire games. The 6" does have a SLIGHT edge in sight radius if you were doing only target work with iron sights. That said, my 6" 617 is on schedule to be wearing a dot soon.

p.s. Ol timer, LOVE those grips. I think you just cost me some $ ;-)

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Dave

+1 on getting the 4". My 4" 617-0 and 4" 686-0 make a great pair of shooters, almost identical in weight and have the same sight radius.

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