Hi, this is my first post, so please bear with me.
I just tried out a S&W m17-3, including a few fast series.

I was then told by an experienced clubmember that pulling back the hammer quickly, as one does when firing fast(6 shots in 15 seconds) damages the mechanism, and fast series should be fired with an automatic for that reason.
Is this true?

IIRC Jerry Miculek has set the record for high speed shooting using a revolver at a rate of 12 rounds per second. To do that he was pulling the trigger instead of cocking the hammer by thumb, however the effect on the mechanism of the lockwork will be nearly identical. Now, at this rate of fire the are that is most subject to "abuse" is the cylinder stop because to hit 12 rounds per second you have to have that cylinder moving quite fast.

So, there is SOME foundation in what you were told, however there is a HUGE GIGANTIC DIFFERENCE between 12 shots in one second and 6 shots in 15 seconds. The plain truth is that 6 shots in 15 seconds would be considered quite leasurely by many shooters and glacial by someone like Jerry Miculek. To be blunt, you are being fed a line of hogwash.

There was/is some concern about the bigger N frames with the larger and heavier cylinders. Don't know if that is more hogwash or not. I never needed to be that fast so it hasn't been much of a concern for me.

The experts may have a different take on it, but I don't think your gonna hurt your 17 at that speed.

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Eccentric old coot

I wonder if the old fart was pulling your leg? Anyway, what he said is total BS. Even N-frames can stand up to years of fast shooting. I have been competing in IPSC matches for over 20 years with Model 625s. The guns show normal wear and may have had a broken part over that time, but they still shoot just fine!

People who say that kind of stuff do way more talking than shooting!

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Thanks for the replies guys!
I am very, _very_ sure that he wasn't pulling a fast one, and that his concern was sincere.
I should perhaps point out that he was referring to the fast, "jerking" hammer pull back in order to get the revolver cocked as fast as possible to line up for a quick SA shot.
I believe that that motion might impact the mechanism in a different way than the DA triggerpull does.

I am not convinced that it would damage the mechanism though, and so I came here :-)

The only thing remotely close to that I'd ever heard was about fanning a Single Action Army Colt. I don't remember if it actually damaged anything or if it simply accelerated the wear and tear. And I can't imagine anyone trying to fan a S&W revolver, much less making it a standard practice.

No, certainly no fanning, just simple thumbcocking. Thanks for the replies guys!