I had a good day today with my Smith & Wesson 617.

I’ve done a trigger job and have the DA pull down to 7 lbs. Today’s goal was to test
Ammo and see what would give me 100 % ignition and let me shoot a few hundred
Rounds without having to clean the cylinders.

I started out with Federal Gold Match HV ammo and had no failures to fire and the
Cylinders stayed clean for the 100 rounds tested. That’s 10 reloads without having
To clean the gun.


Next I used Federal Automatch. Again 100% reliability and the chambers stayed
Clean.

A quick cleaning with my bronze brush and I went on to CCI Mini Mags. In 100
Rounds I had two not go off on the first strike. Other than that the cylinders
Stayed clean and I was happy.

Aguilla was a different story. After two cylinders full I had to stop and clean
The gun. Cases were sticking in the cylinder. I also had a 5% failure to fire rate.


I know I can easily get 100 % reliability if I up the DA pull to 9 lbs or better but
What fun is that?

This gun is strictly for Steel Challenge and FUN.

I have found on mine some ammo are difficult to eject,none cheap ammo but Also
Quality match ammo
The CCI blazer are OK ,i stay with it
Best regards

Cool gun , I mean seriously coooollll gun . Thanks for the range report good read a good information.

Wow, 7 lbs. DA.. That's great.

I've never got my 617 trigger as smooth, or as light as my centerfire S&W's,, and work 100% of the time.
Kind of inspires me to go back and try again.

Nice work.!I also don't usually get that low on my triggers either but admittedly leave my main springs alone on rimfire and "serious purpose" guns.
As for your ammo tests, I have had near identical results in many of my rim fire pistols.
The Auto Match and Gold Match HV seem to run about the same and 98 % reliable. Mini Mags 100%. Aguila runs good but requires constant/frequent cleaning due to it's waxy coating.
Odly enough, my Pardini SP match pistol likes Aguila subsonic SE the best of anything. However, it will start to give me fits at 250 rounds or so.

__________________
Dave

My SW22 loves the Aguila SE.

__________________
Mike
S&WCA #3065

My soon-to-be 12yr. old son and I are competing in our very first Rimfire Steel Challenge next month. We had stopped by to check it out this past month and it really looks like fun.

I foresee a model-617 in our future. Is yours a 4" or 6" barrel? What all have you done for the trigger upgrades?

TIA,

K.

When I got my 4" 10-6 I was the only one (at that time/place) using one for BP or steel challenge. Others came along fairly soon. Trying each others guns, most thought My trigger/action felt better. MY particular gun? (no work done) Or being more broken in???? IMO 100 rounds aint exactly a torture test for a 22. Maybe bump it up to 300 rounds between brushing & see how they do?? An Ansac type speed loader & block (or similar) is a HUGE PLUS.

Mine is the 6 inch. It's had the trigger polished, the rebound slide polished, the hammer replaced with an APEX Tactical Hammer, 11 pound rebound spring. Stock Mainspring.

I always oil the insides. I don't believe in shooting a dry gun.

I did all the work myself, following the examples in Jerry Miculec's Trigger Adjustment video.