Some of you may own both a S&W model 17 and a Ruger ll.
Which do you like shooting more and the one you consider the most fun ?

I used to like the Ruger and it's still fun, but I just enjoy the simple
advantages of a revolver - such as no safety, don't pickin' up brass, and
no FTF/FTE. The only thing I would change on my model 17's are -
a 5 inch barrel and stainless steel.
A 5 inch would be just about perfect for this model IMO.

I am getting where at my age revolvers just make more sense, at least to me. Bottom feeders just require to much thinkin' etc...

What say you............?
Texan

I shoot my MkII more often. Just a hoot to shoot. It was my first gun I bought back in '82.

__________________
Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

I've been shooting my M18 (fundamentally the same as a M17) steadily for 40 years now; it's hands down the most used gun I own--and likely to stay that way.

Also have a Ruger 514 that is a safe queen and a very accurate, very "experienced" standard auto. I use that for rough duty.

Certain guns are conversation starters. When I pull the 17 out at the range, it always attracts the old school guys over 60, like those who shoot M1As and 03 Springfields....and I find them much more interesting than the 20 something black rifle crowd...If I pulled out a Ruger ll, I'd be talking to myself the whole time.

__________________
Thirty characters. Exactly...

Anybody can own a Ruger II, but it takes a certain cool to pull out the Mdl 17. Most people don't know anything about them. All the teenagers in our church's youth group that I questionably supervise can shoot both, but the 17 is the coolest.

__________________
beaver

Had both the 17 and the Mk 2 and of the two, I like the 17. The only two 22 handguns I take out of the safe anymore are my 41 and an old model Simgle Six.
Bill

Apples and Oranges

The Ruger is more "fun" to me just as a AR is more "fun" than my bolt action Savage tack driver.

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

Owning both-It really all depends on which way the wind is a blowing. If I'm in a gunny mood, I'll shoot the 17. If I just want to go through a lot of ammo, I'll take the MkII-plus it being stainless and all. Problem down here is the humidity-you look at a blued gun the wrong way and it will rust. I got tired of checking all my guns every two or three weeks and worrying about them in the meantime rusting. When your possessions own you-it's time to get rid of them. I sold all of my 27's and my 520 for that very reason (all to members of this board). Now the only non stainless handguns I own are a three screw single six and the 17.

__________________
Forum consigliere

Yep, the 17 is the attention getter, but no matter what ammo I use I have to clean the chambers after a few rounds.

[IMG]


The MKII will shoot all day long with any ammo I care to feed it and it's very accurate even with the cheap stuff. My favorire .22.

__________________
Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

Kind of like asking if you want to drive a '65 Mustang convertible or a '68 hardtop Fastback.

I'll take the 17, although a Ruger Amphibian is lots of fun ...

__________________
I'm with the banned ...

I've got a 17-2 and MKlll Stainless Hunter (with a Sam Lam bushing that eliminates the magazine disc) and a Single-Six Convertible. All three are great fun and I shoot them all with about the same frequency. I find I shoot 22s more often lately than all my centerfires. They're great fun, ammo is cheap, and the older I get the less I enjoy reloading, kinda seems like a factory piece-work job after all these years and I'd like to spend more time shooting and less time reloading. Same goes for rifles.

Ruger stainless bull-barrel MK II. I had a M-34 and had to POUND the extractor rod to get empty cases out. I'll never again own a .22 revolver.

If I carried a K-22 in the woods, for that bulk and weight, I could use a six-inch M-19/66 and have a lot more power, plus an effective small game gun, with .38 ammo.

The auto also gives higher velocity and is easier to shoot really well. Skeeter Skelton once chronographed a Walther PP or PPK .22 and it gave higher velocity than his K-22. Was a lot handier to carry around, too.

I've owned several standard and bull barreled Mk. II's and a Govt. Target Model. I've owned a number of S&W 17's and 18's. I sold the last Mk. II I had and kept a Model 18-3. Why? Because over the years it is simply the one .22 LR handgun that I have most enjoyed. I may one day again buy a 17. If I see a nice 18, I will buy it. Why? Because I'd like to have one for each hand!

__________________
<><

I am just getting to the point where I can hit what I aim at with my Single Six. In contrast, my MK III Standard gave instant gratification right out of the box. Lots and lots of reasonably well-placed shots: I'm gonna have to say that's more fun.

I do have both,but, when I go to the range I take the Mod.17 with me more often than the Ruger. I really enjoy both,but, the Smith gets the nod.

I have both and the S&Ws get more use mainly because I carry a revolver (Model 37 mainly) and I like the 22lr practice.
I'm finding the older I get and the increased cost of ammo I shoot 22 the most. Since I built a dedicated 22lr AR I find I shoot that the most too.

Well I love my K22, but I want a target Ruger to scope. As far as the Mustangs, I'll take the 68 Fastback....with 428CJ & 4 speed, please.

__________________
Wayne
Torn & Frayed

A Ruger Standard was my first gun. I used it in the woods and for bullseye competition (including Master) until I replaced it with a Ruger MKII (Chief AJ modified.) I still have both guns as well as a second Ruger Standard and a Mark I Target.
I got my first S&W Model 17 around 20 years ago. It replaced a Colt .22 Officers Model Match that I never warmed up to. It is a great shooting gun and it feels much better in my hand than the Colt did, however, when it comes to "fun", I would have to pick my S&W Pre-Model 43 airweight .22 or my 3" S&W Model 317.

Mark

Don't have a 17 or 18, mine is a 63, love it. On my second Mark II, and have a Mark III standard. Something about the sights, I can shoot the Ruger's more accurately at longer distances, but 20yds. or less it's a toss up. Mark II bull barrel is heavy though, and I just bought a S&W black, basketweave,Jordan/Threeperson[?] style holster that looks great with that 63 in it, so the Ruger's are staying home a lot.

+1 on that!

I've got a model 18 and enjoy both at the range.
The Ruger is very accurate and dependable.

I have 4 K-22s and a Ruger MK sumthin'. I inherited the Ruger over 30 years ago and haven't fired it yet.

I have lots of fun with the S&Ws.

In the past i never really understood why guys collect the handguns and rifles in 22cal. Even lately the ruger 10/22 guys with the all tricked out rifles caught my interest. Probably because of the higher cost of ammo lately makes the 22cal more affordable to shoot. Ok now i understand it.

Congrats on the S&W 22 revolver.

Now I'm into the 22cal handguns and rifles too if there unique. My first purchase of a S&W revolver a K22 masterpiece in the gold box started me off with 22cal revolvers. Now i got the 22 flu/bug for sure. I have two nice S&W revolvers in 22lr, one colt officers 22lr revolver and four H&R older 22cal revolvers. Plus many older pump rifles and falling & rolling block 22 rifles too. Trust me these can be habit forming. Just before the last price increase on the used guns I found a Ruger MkI and MkII for $150 each in good condition, they just needed a good cleaning and lubing. Since then the used ones are much higher. But its revolver vs semi auto in 22lr? If it slow on that day i'd like the revolver and i take my time with each shot but if i feel energy on that day its the auto. I like both.

The new grandson is going to love grandpa when he starts plinking for sure.

I'm shooting the .22 leagues at our club, and the Ruger MKII Gov't. Model with an UltraDot Match red dot is what I shoot. Can't remember when I have had it apart to clean it. I brush out the chamber area, run a patch down the bore, put a little lube on the bolt, and it's ready to go again. I do like my various S&W 22s, but for the matches it's the Ruger I take.

Uh, I hate to break this to 'ya Sip, but it isn't the Ruger that is making you talk to yourself. Sorry

__________________
"You're messin' up my Zen"

YAWL don't got any 63's down there???
I happen to have a NIB, with papers in the safe......

A 10 hole K frame is easy to load:



unless the UCL is working right that day!!



Decisions, decisions!!



or





I can not hardly pass a Walmart without picking up an ammo can of 1600 Mini-Mags!!

I own both S&W 17's and Ruger Mark II's.

The Rugers are more accurate and the S&W's are very nicely made. I like both. Both have thier place. Both shoot better than my eyes can do at this age. But a bench rest and scopes bring out the potential in both.

John

For targets my Smiths go to the range more often. For working, cutting hay, bush hogging etc., the Ruger is always on my side. Both shoot where I want them but the Ruger is a little more expendable than the Smiths and more tolerant of the dirt, mud and water the tractors kicks up.
Larry

I own both. My screen name says it all.

I've got both. The 17 is a hoot, but the grooved trigger eats my trigger finger in short order. I have 5 mags for the Ruger. 100 rds is load and reload and is done in 1/4 the time the 17 takes. Both shoot way better than I can shoot them. Joe

__________________
Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

That's just how I feel.

When we first started going to a range again and while waiting for our licences, we went on once a week public night where we could rent a gun to shoot. They had a good selection of revolvers and semi-autos. I tried a few different ones but kept pulling the old 17-3 out each week. It was the only one that felt "right." Hubby usually shot the Ruger, but when it came time to buy, he bought a 17.

Now I wonder if I'll ever be as good as my 17-4.

By golly Joe, my CZ Kadet hadn't crossed my mind in over a year. It's going to the range this evening. Of course the 617 I'm shooting indoor bullseye is going along as well.

CZ's Kadets are the best of all the common .22 conversions for center fire autos. Well, that $500 dollar bullseye conversion for 1911s I forget the name of might be more accurate, but that's what my used model 41 cost me. My CZ 85 was my favorite launcher for inexpensive Wolf 9mms, and the Kadet was great for even less expensive practice with the same trigger.

Thanks for reminding me my Kadet exists.

Well since I posted this almost a year ago, I have taken the Ruger out
twice. The S&W model 17's have gone a least 30 times.
Both times I shot the mark II I wish I had brought the 17.

For whatever reason I really enjoy the K frame .22 more.
Lately I think I might be getting the urge to get a S&W model 18 !
Now that I think about it why not ?

Anyway thanks for all the comments and photos.

JW

Like others, I'll take my 617 and a semi-auto .22 on a range trip, shoot the 617 until I can't force rounds into the cylinder any more, and then switch to the semi-auto and crank out a few hundred more rounds.

And those Ultimate "Clip" Loaders make reloading a snap!

It really is a personal preference thing, though. When I'm more interested in hanging around outside than burning ammo, I'll shoot a Single Six and take my time loading and shooting.

I've got a 17-2 with 8 3/8 barrel that is one of my favorite handguns. It might look a little strange with that long barrel but it is my most accurate revolver without a doubt. And a blast to shoot at paper or on a little squirrel hunt when I get back to Georgia.

Don't have a Ruger but I do have a High Standard Victor when I want to shoot semi-auto and it's hard to beat.

Someone else said they had problems ejecting the spent brass from the 17 and mine is a tight fit as well. When I'm shooting paper I run a brush with a little oil on it through the cylinder every now and then and then a patch, never have a problem.

Just my two cents.

S&W 17 anytime!