317 snubbie

[Florida J Frame]

Just found a model 317 with the 1 7/8 barrel at the local pawn shop. He wants $399. It's clean, at least a 98%, but it has the dreaded lock. Worth the price or should I keep looking? I really want the kit gun with adj sights.

 

[orangehole]

It's not a bad price. brand new these run $550ish. If you plan on using it at the range and plinking things then the lock shouldn't matter.

 

[Will2]

Lock no problem for non-SD gun...

The lock might be a concern for a self defense gun (I removed my carry gun lock), but if the 317 is a non-SD gun... should be no problem.

I would be more concerned about the 317 itself. From reading this forum, some really like the 317, others do not. It might be worth trying before buying.

 

[Florida J Frame]

Thanks for the input guys. My main purpose for this one would be cheap practice for my 642 carry gun.

 

[1aafan]

love mine! Decent price. Take the lock out and fill it via the plug and good to go...

 

[Old Fashioned Six Shooter]

Thanks for the input guys. My main purpose for this one would be cheap practice for my 642 carry gun.

Then I would get the 43C instead of the 317. 317 is more like a 637. 43C is more like the 642. and if it matters to you, the 43C doesn't have the lock.

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

+++ on the 43C. I got one to use for training for my 940 and 442. Great gun for the purpose, and not a bad SD weapon in itself. The trigger is better than the 317, and 8 high speed 22LR rounds(I use solids) will pretty much distract anyone from an evil purpose.

 

[photoman]

+++ on the 43C. I got one to use for training for my 940 and 442. Great gun for the purpose, and not a bad SD weapon in itself. The trigger is better than the 317, and 8 high speed 22LR rounds(I use solids) will pretty much distract anyone from an evil purpose.

You have to think eight rounds to the head would ~really~ take the fun out of some criminal's day.

 

[snubbiefan]

I have 2 1/2 317's and simply love the little Judy-Poopers. The reason I have two and a half is that I found somebody that sold me a used set of "everything but the frame"....so I have some spare parts to include a barrel and cylinder. Both mine are no-locks with Wolff springs. The wife and the granddaughter love them as well. Great little purse and pocket guns.

 

[texasgreg]

I don't have any firm statistics, but in the not too recent Texas past, there were probably more homicides by .22 LR than any other caliber.

This honor probably went to 9mm at some point in the 90's, and possibly the .38 special before that, but the lowly regarded .22 has caused the demise of more than one hombre. The head shots, say the medical examiners, are the deadly ones usually, if the bullet can enter the cranium, it doesn't have much mass but has usually still a ton of velocity. Hence it tends to bouce around and around the cranium without exiting, causing extensive damage, instead of making a larger hole as a larger bullet would but with a clean entry and exit.

I would suspect many of the .22 pistols and revolvers involved in these olden days .22 homicides were of the cheap variety, and not the type of revolvers or autos any here would want to own.

That bit of obscure Texas history being said, I enjoy my 317 snubbie. The SA is great and the DA is a bit stout but it is what it is, and that's a lightweight plinking gun. I enjoy it and would buy it again if I had a do over.

 

[snubbiefan]

Florida....we my have drifted a little bit on you concerning the question you posed. I will agree that even national statistics (last time I looked) support the fact that more people are killed with the humble 22 than any other caliber. I usually carry the larger calibers for SD, but I have no reason to feel uncomfortable with the 8-rounds of 22LR I usually have in my pocket. It's likely true that most of the 22 deaths are related to the perp bleeding to death rather than severe tissue damage, but I am sure that most people you ask would not want to walk in the line-of-fire from either a 22LR, or a 38-special.

Back to your original question. $399 is a pretty good price for the little gun. You can find them marked-down to close to $450-$465 around here, but I have not seen any priced closer to $400. The last one I purchased was $475, but it was a NL. As for the sights...the 1-7/8" barrel is what it is and if you learn how to shoot it, you can place rounds in a quarter to half-dollar sized circle at 20-feet. It is as good as the shooter is. The 3-inch barrel model has adjustable sights, but they don't seem to turn up as often as the snubbie's do. The lock....not likely to shake loose from recoil, but you can remove the flag easily enough, or just take it out completely.

If I wanted another one, I would have no problem paying $400 for a good one. It's one the the highest priced 22's Smith makes.

 

[cochise]

I have both the 1 7/8" and a 3 ". I paid over $600 for each so your price is good. I heard some have problems so check it out carefully.

 

[gasaman]

I recently bought a NL 3" 317 for a little better than $500-.
I love the gun and I'm happy with the price. You are stealing it for under $400-. Good luck with your new 22.

 

[snubbiefan]

To elaborate a bit on what cohise posted, there is a fellow member on the forum here named Tom C. Tom has reported a flame-cutting issue with his that eventually resulted in Smith installing a stainless steel barrel, yoke and cylinder. I called Smith and they told me for around $140 they would install a stainless cylinder in a 317. The cylinder itself runs around $130 and I would assume it's the very same cylinder, yoke and barrel from a model 63. I called back a few weeks later with another inquiry and that particular rep told me the yoke would also have to be changed....which I would agree with.

So....just as possible useless and meaningless information for the sake of discussion....the cylinder, yoke and barrel can be changed to all stainless steel with 63 components on down the road. Why would a man want to do this somebody may ask.....the answer is simple. Mine are both NL frames and I doubt Smith has many (if any) no-lock frames for the 317 in stock. I jumped on a set of used parts when I found a complete gun....less the frame for $110.

The finish is the weakest part of the gun and the clear-coat will eventually wear off under heavy use. If it bugs you any at all...the turn line will also appear rather quickly also.

The finish and Tom C's issue are about the only things I have heard about problems with the 317.

 

[Stainz]

A rimfire J-frame is fun, period. If you want the least expesive way to practice for a 442/642, simply buy some mild .38's for it! Your $400+ on the used 317 would likely get you 2,000+ 125gr plinkers. Of course, if you are rationalizing the purchase...it sounds good to me!

Stainz

 

[vytoland]

if everything checks out.........bore, lock up, timing, etc...........then, $399 is a good price for a S&W model 317. better snag it before it "walks".

 

[snubbiefan]

Loading 38 practice ammo is also a good idea. $400 will purchase a lot of reloading gear. I load practice rounds for myself and I also use them as "wife-loads". You can roll-your-own and just stop purchasing commercial ammo altogether.

But....I also say you need to buy any good gun when it's a deal. It's just un-American and non-manly not to buy a gun when you can easily convince yourself into it.

 

[texasgreg]

But....I also say you need to buy any good gun when it's a deal. It's just un-American and non-manly not to buy a gun when you can easily convince yourself into it.

Agreed! It is highly un-American and absolutely non-manly not to use rationalization to convince yourself of the need of a new gun!

 

[M3Stuart]

If you want it, get it! The price is reasonable.

 

[alwslate]

Sorry, I had a 317 for a while and I think 399.00 for a used one is about
100.00 too high. Seems easy for some to advise others to pay any price
a seller wants for his gun. I traded my 317 1 7/8" off at a gun show and
never looked back. I now have a 34 and pre 34, both with round butt
and adjustable sights. Sounds as if thats what you really want and I
think you will be happier if you wait for one to come along.