I've been shooting Steel Challenge for about four years. I shoot RFPI with my 617. At about the third stage the rounds were getting hard to seat into the chambers. And extraction was difficult.

I read some threads about the problem. With the advice of tomcatt51 (forum member) I purchased the Brownells reamer. Yesterday at the Steel Challenge match there was a noticeable difference in seating and extraction the rounds.

So, if you are having problems like this I highly suggest that you get the $45 reamer and give it a try. It is easy to do.
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Friend who owns one of the private ranges I use locally recently got one of these for .38/.357. I have used it on my old Blackhawk .357 and it made a huge difference in loading and extraction. Especially useful if you shoot alot of .38's out of your .357 revolvers. I need to get one of these for my .22 revolvers as both my 18-3 and Colt New Frontier get harder to load and unload after a few hours at the range. Well worth the cost IMHO.

The reamer may be the solution. However, before changing the cylinder bore dimensions, try avoiding ANY fluid lubrication in the bores after a thorough cleaning. Fluids attract crud.

I use a dry Teflon aerosol, Elmer's Slide-All sprayed in the bores then spread with a bore mop also sprayed with the product. The propellant evaporates quickly and crud does not gather in the bores. Also, subsequent cleanings are easier. I have a local hardware store that stocks it. About $6 a can.

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Bob

Reaming the chambers with the Manson (Brownells) reamer doesn't take much material out of the chambers. It is a SAAMI spec. finishing reamer that brings chambers where the should be. From the factory the chambers are usually undersized. The undersized chambers is where the problems originates.

All the other methods are just short term fixes that may or may not work. Such as; honing and polishing.

Nicely done, Macinaw!


I, too shoot steel with my 617, and brush out the chambers with .25cal bronze brush every 50 or-so rounds, or I get insertion/extraction issues. I will indeed get a reamer and do it right

I think every individual gun is different to some degree.

I have two 617's. A six inch that had problems. And a four inch that I can run over 250 rounds of the cheapest bulk ammo without any loading or extraction problems. Reaming the six inch 617 has helped tremendously. As well as my new model 63 that wouldn't run more than two cylinder full before getting hard to load and extract.

I think it was worth the cost. I guess everyone would have to decide themselves if it is worth the $45.

use to own a 617 4 inch barrel.

never had a problem extracting standard velocity .22's, but often had a problem extracting hi velocity, FWIW.

A forum member said that a person at S&W customer service told him not to use hi velocity ammo in their 617. The customer thought he should be able to shoot any 22 rime fire ammo. As most everyone else assumes that it is O.K. to use any 22 ammo.