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10-31-2011, 02:26 PM
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Opinions on .22 cal. S&W 317, 3 inch bbl.
Hi,
A friend showed my his new-used 317 the other night. I thought it was sweet. Didn't know it was possible for a gun to be that light, and I've held LCR's and other lightweights.
The .22 ammo hardly kicked at all (why is that?) It did have hp ammo, but it was about like shooting a cap gun.
Suprisingly accurate at 10 yards, too,
One problem, though...he got many misfires. It was the first time he'd shot it, and I'm sure that it hadn't been cleaned by the previous owner. But do they have a reputation for misfires like that? The pin indented the cartridge several times, but didn't ignite it. If it's a recurring problem of that model, I don't think I'd want one.
Otherwise, it was one of the coolest guns I think I'd ever seen. Are they avaiable used? Prices? (He said he had to wait a long time to find a used one...new ones are a little out of my price range.)
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10-31-2011, 03:04 PM
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I think that has to do something with the mainspring. I have a 3" 317 that does the same thing. Single action is fine, double action does dent the rim but I guess without enough force to really drive it home.
When I have the time and inclination, it will go back home to Springfield, MA for an overhaul.
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10-31-2011, 03:20 PM
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I have a 3” 317. It is a nice little gun, but mine made a habit of eroding the face of the cylinder. On the second trip to the factory they put in a stainless cylinder. It picked up a couple of oz. but makes it more shootable for me.
I kept the factory mainspring in mine. I get good ignition, but the trigger is heavier than I would like, but is very smooth so I can live with it.
Unless this is to be a carry much, shoot little gun, you might want to consider the 3” model 63. It weighs 24 oz. and is much tougher.
__________________
Tom
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10-31-2011, 03:56 PM
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Mine is the 1&7/8" version and has been flawless in every way. I have read postings of people who had excessive trigger pull weight, light hammer strikes, and now,cylinder erosion.I have no complaints what so ever. I guess it must be "luck of the draw".If I were to niggle, I would say I'd rather not have the stupid lock and the pin for a lanyard is too narrow for any real lanyard hook so, I put a small ring on it to actually hook the lanyard onto.[I only use a lanyard when going on the river]. I really would have liked a 3" but I wanted a shorter barrel for better shot patterns and I didn't want afiber optic sight.Nick
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10-31-2011, 07:00 PM
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I have two 1-7/8 no-dashes. I got one for the wife and that's the last time I saw it.....so I had to find me one. I stumbled across a ND at a recent show and swapped a newer IL model for it even.
I have Wolff 9# hammer and 13# rebound springs in mine and have had one....ONE....FTF that I can recall. Funny thing is, I handed that bullet to a guy shooting a 617 next to me and it didn't fire for him either. Obviously, it was a dud-round.
When you change the springs, you also have to look for and eliminate trigger and hammer rubs....yep, I have found them a time or two in a Smith. Also, don't overlook the firing-pin spring. Both mine shoot it all...shorts, LR, and anything in CCI to include the shot-shells. There may be a time when I shoot the reduced effort hammer springs out of it, but it has not happened yet. I also think they are very accurate little guns. I don't go anywhere without mine in my pocket.
I think the only downer on the gun is the finish. I have heard others say it will wear-off, but what the heck...it's not a trophy gun, even though it cost enough to be one.
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11-01-2011, 07:26 AM
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I had the same problem with light hits, a quarter turn on the spring seems to have solved the problem.
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11-01-2011, 07:45 AM
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Larger frames have the leaf-spring that can be adjusted. The j-frames have recoil springs.....no tension screw to turn.
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11-01-2011, 07:57 AM
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I also have a 317 3" no lock. It has been flawless with ignition since I have owned it. If it did misfire it was a dud round because the second primer strike wouldn't do it either.
Anytime I go camping, fishing or packing this is my first choice to be on my side!
Wouldnt be without it!
Chuck
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11-01-2011, 08:06 AM
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Tom C had one that was flame-cutting, but that is the only one I have heard about and must have been an issue with the barrel. I like what they did to his so much that I called Smith to see if they would install a SS cylinder (new model 63) in mine. They said they would for around $140, but I never followed through. That was when I was concerned with the aluminum cylinder, but since then and after many, many rounds...I am no longer concerned with the aluminum cylinder. Had they tried to cram 9 or 10 holes in there, may have been an issue. Stopping with 8 holes leaves plenty of strength in the cylinder.
I think that if there is any weak area in the gun...it's the yoke (the part the cylinder slides over). It's fairly thin aluminum and when I clean mine, I always make sure to remove the cylinder and keep this area well lubed. It would be fairly easy to fit a new model 63 SS crane, yoke and cylinder to the 317 "on down the road" if this ever became a problem. Tom C has already confirmed that.
Last edited by snubbiefan; 11-01-2011 at 08:14 AM.
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11-01-2011, 08:39 AM
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I've got the 3", HiViz 317. Haven't shot it that much but it
works just fine. I love the sights and weight. I just wish that
I had bought one sooner. TACC1
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11-01-2011, 10:31 AM
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I had a similar problem w/my Model 63 5" using Remington ammo. Switched to Federal value pack bulk (550 rounds) and the problem went away. The Remmington value pack stuff is real junk.
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11-01-2011, 10:42 AM
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I have a 3" I bought new 10 years ago, have many hundreds of rounds thru it (probably a few thousand), mostly CCI Standards and CCI shotshells, and have never had a misfire or any problem at all with it.
I also have 2 2" pre-locks, recent purchases, with only a few rounds thru each, but they work perfectly too.
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11-01-2011, 11:34 AM
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I have a 3" pre- fiber sight and no lock that I have shot a good bit with no problems at all. It goes to the woods and fields more than anything i own.
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11-01-2011, 03:42 PM
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Thanks for all the input guys. Sounds like a model with potential issues on occasion, but sounds like they're usually fixable and the good seems to outweigh the bad.
I'll keep my eye out for a good used one. My friend said he looked for a long time. I don't think they're real common. Your tips help a lot. Thanks again.
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