One of life's simple pleasures is shooting a .22 revolver at paper targets, and finding yourself disappointed when something slips outside the 10 ring. You will find the Patridge front sight held at 6:00 on the bullseye provides the most accurate sight picture, compared to ramps and colors.

By comparison, contrast is the key requirement for plinking and hunting. It's easy to add a red dot sight for that - the frame is already drilled for a mounting plate, solving both the contrast and alignment issues in one stroke, without disturbing the existing sights.

Unless you have one of the spring loaded detachable front blades, changing it is somewhat difficult and destructive. It is a force fit in the slot, and the new one must be drilled after mounting to replace the pin. You will never get the old one back in the right spot, and usually scar it in the removal.

There is a .22 version of the M19, with a 4" barrel and ramp sight. That, or a M63 (SS version of the J-frame M34 Kit Gun) would be a better choice for plinking.

I have a 1989 production 617 no dash with the long 8 3/8ths inch barrel and a 2008 production 617-6 ten shot 4 inch barrel.
Both are fantastic shooters. (Both are more accurate than my pristine 1954 K-22!) The later models are factory drilled and tapped for optical sight mounting. Just remove the rear sight and screw on the mount.For that feature alone, I recommend a dash 4 or up.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

The S&W model 617 is a great .22 caliber revolver. I personally like the Model 617 with a 4 inch barrel.

If you're ever lucky enough to find one, better jump right on it as they go FAST.
When the last batch was made, D&L in Rhode Island got a sizable group of them.
After a tip on a board dedicated to rimfire, I called them and scored the last 4" one.
Its my golf ball gun. My club has matches shooting the little critters at 50'. Best and highest use for them, IMHO.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

A new six inch 617-6 was my first ever handgun purchase last year. That was quickly followed by a 6 inch 686 (which then quickly led to a 629). I just seem to like long barrel revolvers and I bought similar configurations in all sizes with the thought that the practice with the 617 might translate more directly to the other 6 inch barrel revolvers.

I've probably put close to 3000 rounds through the 617 and it is flawless and accurate. I'm adding a scope to try and stretch it out to 50 and 100 yards and see how it does. It is by far my favorite range toy to work with.

I have two bits of advice:

DON'T DRY FIRE IT!!! EVER!!!!

and

...almost as a joke I bought a Speed-Beez loader and an assortment of loading blocks. They offer a variety of loading blocks including some that come with a case that will let you load 100 rounds of .22 and hold the loader. Fits nicely in your range bag and just looks cool too. It is a bit of an indulgence, but with it I know I can reload my 617 as fast or faster than most people on either side of me on the bench can change a magazine (not all people...but many...provided they're clumsy).

Loading Block | Speed Loader Dock | Speed Loader Case - Speed BeezSpeed Beez

It's just so much better than trying to load 10 tiny rounds with big fingers. That gets tired fast. With the speed loader and a few loading blocks I can easily burn through 500-600 rounds in an afternoon.

I have a no dash so not a 10 shot version but you and I think very differently. I am probably older but I will not say wiser...let's say cheaper perhaps. Anyway, loading and shooting fast I suppose has it's place but I have to say I much prefer sitting or standing loading up six at a time and ringing the steel or knocking down a small plate rack. I can go through 100 rounds in an afternoon!

I do know that there are folks who compete with a 617 who like Speed Beez speed loaders. There was another competing loader that was highly regarded too. Name escapes me now. I saw a photo of a competitor who had a belt full of those loaders that I thought was so cool.

Funny. I just noticed the age of the original post. I imagine his 617, assuming he got one has had lots of use. They are fun guns in 6 round or 10 round variations. It is probably second only to taking my CZ455 bolt .22 to the range for a day of shooting.

Perhaps I need to explain that because of where I live I only get to shoot on vacations visiting my son in Florida. That can be as little as 2 or 3x a year so I get a bit like a junkie. We go to the range and stay there as long as I can for as many days as I can squeeze in. It's hard to justify looking for a new job and selling your house just to be able pursue this shooting hobby, but that's exactly what I'm doing over the course of the next two years or so. It's just time to leave NYC and NY altogether.

Just kidding around actually. But I live about 5 minutes from the indoor/outdoor shooting club that I belong to. Only issue is outdoors over the Winter isn't a lot of fun. From the stories I have seen on NY gun laws I imagine you are not alone in a planned move away and Florida sounds like a nice option. Although for me I am not sure I could take that humidity.

Not worrying about drifting this thread since it is a 2013 vintage.

I'm thinking Vermont and my son can do a FFL transfer of half his gun safe to me

My only complaints about the 617 ( and the reasons I do not own one) is they do not make a blued version and I don't care for the heavy underlug
It seems smith doesn't know how to produce blued guns anymore! Anything remotely innovative ( 617 986 929 etc) that would otherwise interest me is not available blued.

I've had mine for a few years now with a 4" barrel. Long story short; I could not be happier.

Perfect for:
Practice revolver for my GP100 - similar feel, weight (it's a medium frame Smith, after all), and you don't break the bank on ammo.

Perfect for:
Plinking with amazing accuracy - fun city!

They go quickly in stores, so next time one of these gems pops up, grab it!

Good luck!

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going through hell? keep going

This is my 617-6 which I found (used) and it fully match's up to the quality and accuracy of my K22 Outdoorsman and my 17-4 & Pre 18.

I put the Burris FastFire on it as my old eye's don't see the sights as well as they used to.

Very happy with it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244