Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present
o

Notices

S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-19-2010, 02:24 AM
akula62 akula62 is offline
Member
S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3  
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default S&W 317-3

I picked up one up 3 weeks ago. I shot it last week. I am going to get rid of it this weekend. The lesson I learned? Never buy kitgun with a shotgun front sight! Yes, I know I can change out the front sight. I'll just go back to shooting my old and true 43.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-19-2010, 02:43 AM
Bullseye Smith's Avatar
Bullseye Smith Bullseye Smith is offline
Member
S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mountain State
Posts: 3,569
Likes: 56
Liked 379 Times in 149 Posts
Default

You know - a picture would help alot, what is the problem with it? Besides it has a shotgun front sight - how is the sight made?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-19-2010, 04:00 AM
akula62 akula62 is offline
Member
S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3  
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

It has a green fiber optic dot matched with a v rear leaf. I can live with the rear sight. The front sight completly covers the targets I shoot at so it's guessing game where the round will impact. .0025 of an inch off in yor sights = about 2 inches at 25 yrds. Throw in a 3 inch bbl and 50 year old eyes I look like I have never shot a handgun before. With my S&W 43, 34 and 51 I have a narrow front blade and tight square rear nocth. A 2" dot at 25 yrds is a hit more times then not. The 317-3 is a great little gun. No malfunctions. The trigger is even OK. But I can't live with front sight. I do not own a digital camara. I had one but one of my kids wanted it more than I did.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-19-2010, 06:57 AM
cden1 cden1 is offline
Member
S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I have the exact same gun. The front sight is a Hi Viz sight. For my old eyes, it works out great.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-19-2010, 07:32 AM
Bullseye Smith's Avatar
Bullseye Smith Bullseye Smith is offline
Member
S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mountain State
Posts: 3,569
Likes: 56
Liked 379 Times in 149 Posts
Default

That is factory built, if that is the only thing that is wrong with it, then you just what to trade, want something new to shoot. I have one buddy just like that.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-19-2010, 08:38 AM
Dnovo1 Dnovo1 is offline
Member
S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Liked 53 Times in 20 Posts
Default

At 63 I too find the newer hi viz front sights a blessing, not a curse. On one of my older guns? Never, I don't play with what was an original gun. But on the newer guns, these sights are just fine, IMHO.

Dave
__________________
Time Wounds All Heels
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-19-2010, 09:21 AM
Stainz's Avatar
Stainz Stainz is offline
Member
S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3  
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Pinson, AL
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 57
Liked 656 Times in 307 Posts
Default

My 62 year old eyes dictated adding a green HiViz to both my 4" x10 617 and 5" x8 63. Actually, the 3" 317K was considered because of it's HiViz sight! I put an orange HiViz on my new 6" 66-6 over seven years ago - before I ever shot it. I bought the 5" h-l 686+ because it came from S&W with an orange HiViz. My 625JM and 627 Pro got orange HiViz sights, too - even if they can be changed without tools - in seconds. I like the colorful searchlights. Granted - better bullseye groups can be made with thinner sights - a gold beaded Patridge sight, like the stock sight on the 625JM, is a better bullseye sight. For M.O.P. ('Minute Of Plinker') shooting - especially steel plates, the HiViz is fine - and a fast acquisition. Everyone is different, of course.

Another problem with the 317K - it's a Airweight J-frame - and has a stout hammer spring - weighs nothing. I changed my 63's hammer spring for the stiffest of the trio I got in a J-frame kit from Wolff. I also changed the rebound spring - the combination really helped the DA pull, while rebound slide, etc, cleaning & polishing - not on engagement surfaces - made it smoother. With that super lite weight 3" 317 - and it's stock trigger, little wonder your accuracy isn't great. I'll bet the trigger is a larger part of your grouping problems than HiViz sight - just a guess. Think it through - and try more ammo downrange - before you take a bath and sell the 317K!

Stainz
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-19-2010, 03:30 PM
Torakan's Avatar
Torakan Torakan is offline
US Veteran
S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3 S&W 317-3  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: North Idaho
Posts: 257
Likes: 14
Liked 85 Times in 29 Posts
Default

Here is my 317:

I'm actually real happy with it, at least for now. Although not match grade accuracy, I have no problems putting holes in soda cans at 15 yards. I did change out the grips and that did make a little difference in the handling.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
317, 617, 625jm, 627, 686, airweight, bullseye, hiviz, patridge, s&w

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:17 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)