Looking to buy a 4" 617. Read all the horror posts (mostly couple years old) of canted barrels and poor machining. Is current production still having issues? Looked at a new one today that was on display and didn't see any issues except heavy turn line...how many times had it been dry fired??? Passed on it.

My 4" 617-6 shipped from the factory August 31, 2016. I couldn't be happier with it!
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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

My personal experience with a 617-6 has been great. In some ways it's better than older .22 caliber K-frames.

It has a drilled and tapped top strap so it was easy to install a Burris Fast Fire III on a Raptor mount made by a S&W Forum member, raptor_ph.

The chambers are just a bit bigger so, after shooting a few rounds, I do not run into the degree of difficulty loading the chambers as I do with my older .22 K-frames. The 617-6 can go about 500 rounds before the chambers get dirty enough to get tight whereas my older .22 K-frames go about 50 rounds before the chambers get inconveniently tight.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

I have "K 22's" dating from 1939 to 2015. All have been problem free and a joy to own. Like any new revolver, there are going to be a few bad ones that slip through but I honestly would not hesitate to order a new 617 if I could not find one locally. ( Come to think of it, that's how I got my last 617).

PS. Your going to love that gun! I can guaranty, it's going to be a shooter!

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Dave

Mine is about two years old and other than shooting 4" high at 20 yards with the rear sight bottomed out it is a fantastic .22. I moved up from a 40 year old Ruger Single Six because I got tired of loading it. The 617 is very accurate, 1" at 25 yards in my shaky hands (with a red dot sight), and a much better trigger than the Ruger's (this is not a slam at the Single Six, just a different type handgun). My suggestion is if you want it, get it and start enjoying it.

Like many here I'd suggest you check out some older Smiths if you can..... in the Model 17 6" or 4" 18 lines.......I have a great early 4" 617 but for all day carry I prefer an pre-18 w/out the underlug barrel.

I just order a 4" from Brownells, they are on sale, with code final cost was $589.00. Gun arrived Thursday, barrel is very slightly canted, I sent S&W an e mail asking for a call tag to have it repaired. Yesterday I decided I better shoot it to be sure there aren't any other problems. after 180 rds. I couldn't be happier with it, very accurate,no problems loading,no misfires. Haven't heard from S&W yet, but I'm thinking the slightly canted barrel my stay that way, you really have to look hard to see it, other than that the gun is perfect, I would hate to send it back and have a problem created.

I recently bought a NIB 617-6, 4 in. BBL from a LGS. It is well finished, everything is square, flush, plumb and solid. At 20 yds it shoots about an inch high w/ the rear sight bottomed out.
I would like, say a gold bead, on the front sight and a white outlined rear sight.
I painted the rear face of the patridge style front sight bright yellow. I tried to paint the white outline on the rear sight, it looks HA s'd. I'll do something else at some point.
The trigger and hammer action are smoothing out nicely.
It's a nice firearm!!

While I really enjoy my Pre-Model 18 Combat Masterpiece K-22, I love the my 617-6 for one particular reason - the front sight. The Patridge Sight on that 4" gun makes it a tack driver.

Grouse fear me.

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Mitch
SWCA 2438

I have a Pre 18, a 17-4, and a 617-6. They all shoot equally. I have also mounted a Burris FastFire on the 617-6. It now gets used more than the others.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

My Favorite LGSS local gun store/shop has two.

Brand spanking new S&W Model 617 22lr a 4" and 6" - $749.

They are both in excellent condition as one of the posters
above noted.

As far as I know their all good to go.

I own two myself, a 4" and 6".

Attached Images

SW 617 target.jpg (4.4 KB, 372 views)

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

My 617-6 has been trouble free so far. I did swap out the front sight for a FO from HiViz, so my old eyes can find it quicker. It is a golfball, dirt clod, can chasing sumbuck! I still plan on finding what it groups best on paper, and maybe add a red dot.

I used to think my Ruger MK II was the best shooting 22 I owned, and I suppose it was, up until I got my 617. I have a 17-2 6" on layaway right now, and am looking forward to putting these two Smiths head to head and see what shakes out.

I'd say buy it!

I just replaced the rear sight assembly with a White Outline replacement assembly from Midway USA. Easy Deal.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

Thanks D Brown. I knew they were available but was unsure about what to look for specifically for the 617.
Thanks,
Mike
I didn't intend to hi-jack the thread.

Got my 617 March, 2016. A few thousand rounds later & still no problems or issues. Fun to shoot & cheap to boot. As a side benefit, practicing with the 617 has greatly shrunk the group size on my 686+ targets.

Got a 617-6, 4" 10 Shot a few weeks ago. Everything is right with it except the shooting high with the rear bottomed out. I just ordered the Raptor a few days ago and I'll be mounting the FF3 on it as soon as it arrives and I'm healthy enough.
I do plan to fluff and buff the chambers as they seem to start getting 'sticky' after 100 rounds. Also, trigger could use some lightening in SA and DA.

Had mine for a couple years now and so far so good.I had it out a couple hours ago at the range and put several hundred rounds through it.

I just got a 4" 617-6 a month ago.
No issues with it. I've shot 200 rounds through it then it starts to get snug ejectionwise. I have a finish reamer for it but I'm holding off. I polished it a little bit to make it look like how they used to come from the factory. I put a 13# Wolff rebound spring in, lightly sanded internals to debur on pivot points, etc. sweet shooter. accurate too, but I need more practice with it.

Barrel isn't canted, sights adjusted perfect, I was to polish the chambers before I ream them to see how it will be. Cci eject fine, winchesters are snug and aguilas are tight. Quick 243 brushing takes care of it though.

Just look over whatever example you are considering very well, and you shouldn't have any problems. Issues do exist, but with a proper, knowledgeable examination, they can be caught and avoided.

This should be done every single time, and it would eliminate many of the occurrences we see aired out here.

Good luck with your search and I hope you take home a fine revolver.

Shot twelve five shot groups at 50 yards this morning with five different types of ammo. I was shooting from a bench and the 617 has a Bushnell TRS-25 red dot sight. The twelve groups averages 1.71" and ranged from 1-1/8" to 2-1/4". I was shooting with a bright sun behind me which made seeing the dot difficult at times so I think the 617 can do better, maybe not me though. I do believe that Smith got this one right.

I was looking at a few in 2015-16. The barrel face at cylinder gap looked like they were training a rabid beaver how to finish them.

Just take the time to look closely at every detail. You'll be happier in the long run.

My 617-6, 6 inch, is my favorite range gun. The only problem occurred right out of the box with light hits causing failures to fire. I sent it to S&W and got in back in twelve days. S&W replaced the firing pin and strain screw and at approximately 14,000 rounds fired since then, I haven't had any problems. I might add that S&W customer service was great when I spoke with them on the phone a couple of times.

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"In God We Trust"

I picked up a new 617 6" barrel a couple of months ago. I absolutely love it so far. I'm not very picky when it comes to fit and finish. It has a rough spot on the top strap but the barrel is straight as far as I can tell...and the sights seem pretty much dead-on from the factory...I haven't adjusted them a bit.

I changed the grips, painted the front sight, and installed a Wolff 14 lb trigger return spring. I also dry fired a lot with snap caps and have fired about 400 live rounds. The trigger is great now. It's under 10 lbs DA and about 3.5 lbs SA...perfect!

I think the 617 and my Browning Buckmark UFX with 6.5 octagon barrel are two of the best 22 handguns one can own. I still shoot the Buckmark better but the 617 is quickly closing the gap. My son and I were shooting the 617 last week. I was hitting a 10" steel plate from 50 yards in DA with relative frequency. My son was hitting from 75 yards in SA. Too much fun!

Inspect it closely, and if it checks out, get one!

I love my 617 4". Installed a lighter weight spring because I thought the double action was a little heavy. I forget how many pounds the spring was.

Only think I don't like is the front sight. It is very wide.

Since acquiring my 617, the 17-2, 17-4 and 18-4 haven't left the safe.

A big part of that is that the new revolver is drilled and tapped for optics, a definite need for my ageing eyes.
Matter of fact, I'll be shooting it this evening at my club's rimfire match. Everybody uses optics now, so it's the only way to be competitive.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95