I recently bought a new ten shot cylinder from Brownells, to install in a 617 6 shot. At the time of purchase I asked Brownells tech support person if I would also need to purchase a hand to go along with the cylinder, he had no idea. After inspection it is obvious that A different hand is in order, however S&W does not list a different hand for the ten shot, on their web site. In talking to S&W their support person who doesn't really seem to understand why I would want to installing a ten shot cylinder in a six shot gun. I can thin the tip of a std. K-frame hand (ALA the 627 / 8 shot) but I would rather start with the correct hand. Does anyone have the phone number of anyone at S&W who could be of help? thank you all.

Try Brownell's for this part.

SMITH & WESSON : HAND, 10-SHOT - World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools -- hand, 10-shot. It's listed for the S&W 17-8, which is a blued 10-shot .22. The 617-2, 617-4, and 617-6 are all stainless 10-shot .22s and should all use the same hand as the 17-8. It's listed as S&W part# 227330000, and according to the S&W revolver parts list (http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore...ist_Retail.pdf), it's listed for both the 17-8 and 617-2, and should also be listed for the 617-4 and 617-6.

Bill thank you very much, you have been very helpful.

You're welcome. For your information, I just changed out a 10 shot cylinder and hand on my son's 617 for a 6 shot cylinder & hand, and I did not have to do any fitting at all. It times perfectly and barrel/cylinder gap is within S&W specs. Good luck on your project.

After again looking at my post, I realized I need to make a clarification. When I stated I did not need to do any fitting, I meant on getting the barrel/cylinder gap correct and rear headspace too. I did have to file the ratchets to fit the new hand and that took a bit of time to do, but all went well.

Bill,
I hope that this project turns out to be as easy as yours. I don't like the thought of hand filing ten ratchet teeth. I had to take .002" off of the ratchet locating pad, to get the cylinder to close. I ended up with .008" front gage and .005" rear and no end shake.
Thanks again

I have been wondering if it's even possible to put a 10 shot cylinder into a six shot 617. I never thought to look in the Brownell's catalog. I'd really like to know how this turns out. I have an older pre-MIM 617 that I'd like to convert to a 10 shooter.

Dave Sinko

just a though could the old cylinder be bored out to accept the 22 mag catridge and not be dangerous to the barrel? i know the 22 mags are a larger diameter. seems to be such a waste to have a cylinder left over

Another excellent question! I think it can be done. I'm going to have to make some calls to the local pistolsmiths.

Dave Sinko

It is not advisable to shoot .22 mag out of a .22 long rifle barrel. The .22 lr barrel has a smaller bore diameter than the .22 mag.

While the .22 LR certainly has a smaller CHAMBER dimension (that heeled bullet has something to do with it), I am not aware that the bullet diameters are any different. Ruger, an anal retentive and lawyer obsessed outfit if ever there was one, has been offering convertible Single Sixes for a very long time. If there were any possibility that a dual cylinder proposition were not feasible, you can rest assured that Ruger definitely would not go there.

Dave Sinko

Ruger sizes the barrels on the convertibles for the larger 22 Mag bullet, usually to the detriment of 22LR accuracy. My 617-1 has a 10 shot cylinder installed. It does require a different hand. Biggest problem is having to fit ten ratchets instead of six.

This is very interesting. I always figured the bullets were the same diameter. All said and done, I wouldn't lose any sleep over not being able to shoot .22 Magnum out of a 4" Model 617.

On a more positive note, looks like it's time to grab a 10 shot cylinder...

Dave Sinko

I received the 10 shot hand in the morning mail from Brownells. Real fast service in as much as I ordered it Friday afternoon. bgrafsr said his 10 shot cylinder was a drop in fit, he was lucky mine will take extensive ratchet work. It looks as much as .050" will need to be removed from the end of each of the ratchet teeth. Unlike the 6 shot ratchets there is very little room to work on them, I also haven't figured out how to hold a consistent angle on each tooth. On the six shot ratchets you can use the left side of the hand window to easily see if your angle is correct. I'm thinking of making a jig then taking 90% of the material with a 1/16" end mill, before finishing with a small file, and diamond stone. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I'm am a little disappointed that we ended up discussing shooting .22 maq in .22rf barrels a subject that has been gone over 36,000,000 times in the last 40 years. but thanks anyway.

McPita:
I went from a 10 shot cylinder to a 6 shot one. And as I stated in my last post, I did have to file the ratchets to fit them to the hand. The drop in fit, was for the cylinder itself. You're making up a jig to use in the mill sounds like a good idea. Please keep us informed.

Sorry for getting off track with the .22lr/.22 mag discussion too.

Bill

They do need some trimming and there seems to be a considerable variance in how thin they thin down the ten shot hand. If you have a vice with softeners and put the cyl assy in it the flutes will index the cylinder and the file will run parallel to the jaws for alignment. Hope that makes sense. You'll wish you were left handed.

TomCatt,
I took your suggestion and placed the cylinder in a soft jaw vise. Then I placed a 100 watt lamp above the work, and cut the ratchet teeth with a coarse diamond stick. By holding the Diamond stick parallel to the jaws it was easy to form ratchet teeth at the correct angle, the whole job took less than an hour. Thanks for the suggestion.

Glad it went well. It's the best way I've found.