Steel Challenge With 617

[AzShooter]

Not my best day but I sure did have fun today shooting my S&W 617 during out monthly Steel Challenge Match.

As long as it took to get use to the red dot sights, I can see having to spend a lot of time dry firing to get use to irons.

I could see my misses before I shot them but was in a too fast to go zone that I didn't just watch the front sight and hit the target. Our last stage was Smoke And Hope and I nailed it for me. One shot one hit per target and I had a decent score.

I used my DS-10 Speed Loaders throughout the match. I used Federal HV Gold Ammo and didn't have one failure. I still need to focus on that front sight to make sure I get my hits. When I did I had one for one hits on the stages.

 

[lihpster]

We've got a saying in my other sport. "Most fun wins!" Looks like you had the most fun!

 

[AJ]

It is fun to shoot a match designed for auto pistols with a revolver. I shot ours once with a Model 17 with a New York reload (Model 18). Had a good time.

 

[Revolver Man]

AzShooter, I love shooting my 6" 617 in Steel Challenge. It's the only .22 pistol I've shot in Steel Challenge. I am a B Class shooter and currently ranked 14th in the world with it. I doubt there are any other wheel guns ahead of me. I may change to a semi at some point, but I'd love to make Master with a wheel gun. I also shoot a 929 in Iron Sight Revolver. Keep shooting that wheel gun and giving those bottom feeders a good run!lol

 

[AzShooter]

AzShooter, I love shooting my 6" 617 in Steel Challenge. It's the only .22 pistol I've shot in Steel Challenge. I am a B Class shooter and currently ranked 14th in the world with it. I doubt there are any other wheel guns ahead of me. I may change to a semi at some point, but I'd love to make Master with a wheel gun. I also shoot a 929 in Iron Sight Revolver. Keep shooting that wheel gun and giving those bottom feeders a good run!lol

That's fantastic shooting. I use to only shoot revolvers and shot my best time with a 625 many years ago. My fastest time was 119. Now, 69 and a lot of health problems I'm holding at about 160. I'm enjoying it though and that's what counts.

Good luck. I hope you make Master. Your gun looks great. I just changed from wood to rubber Hogue's because the fit my hand better.

 

[Revolver Man]

Thank you AzShooter!

 

[GT_80]

Not my best day but I sure did have fun today shooting my S&W 617 during out monthly Steel Challenge Match.

As long as it took to get use to the red dot sights, I can see having to spend a lot of time dry firing to get use to irons.

I could see my misses before I shot them but was in a too fast to go zone that I didn't just watch the front sight and hit the target. Our last stage was Smoke And Hope and I nailed it for me. One shot one hit per target and I had a decent score.

I used my DS-10 Speed Loaders throughout the match. I used Federal HV Gold Ammo and didn't have one failure. I still need to focus on that front sight to make sure I get my hits. When I did I had one for one hits on the stages.

Great to see people competing with revolvers in these challenges. I have a bone stock 617, and I thought it had a trigger job because it is so light, but I think it is original. What a sweet gun. I only have about 80 rounds through mine, haven't done much accuracy testing with it yet. Mine had a buildup of lead (much bigger than I would expect) above the barrel and to the right of the forcing cone, so I want to check accuracy and see why I had so much buildup- I bought it used, and it was clean except the pile of lead and powder- PO must have put 1000 rounds through it before cleaning it, then cleaned it and sold it. Was less than a year old when I bought it.

 

[AzShooter]

I bought it used, and it was clean except the pile of lead and powder- PO must have put 1000 rounds through it before cleaning it, then cleaned it and sold it. Was less than a year old when I bought it.

Give it a good cleaning and it will last you forever.

 

[Borderboss]

AzShooter, I love shooting my 6" 617 in Steel Challenge. It's the only .22 pistol I've shot in Steel Challenge. I am a B Class shooter and currently ranked 14th in the world with it. I doubt there are any other wheel guns ahead of me. I may change to a semi at some point, but I'd love to make Master with a wheel gun. I also shoot a 929 in Iron Sight Revolver. Keep shooting that wheel gun and giving those bottom feeders a good run!lol

Hi RM,

How do you like the Hogue Big Butt combo with the rubber and the wood? I used to have an NRA Action 686 that I put a Hogue laminated "NRA Action Prone Big Butt" grip on (see photo), and was thinking of getting one for my 617. I don't think Hogue makes this extended Big Butt grips and only makes their regular Big Butt grips. When I saw you were using the combo rubber/wood, I thought I would see what you thought of them.

 

[AzShooter]

Hi RM,

How do you like the Hogue Big Butt combo with the rubber and the wood? I used to have an NRA Action 686 that I put a Hogue laminated "NRA Action Prone Big Butt" grip on (see photo), and was thinking of getting one for my 617. I don't think Hogue makes this extended Big Butt grips and only makes their regular Big Butt grips. When I saw you were using the combo rubber/wood, I thought I would see what you thought of them.

I like the rubber Big Butts the best. It doesn't matter with the .22 but when shooting .38s I could tell a big difference between the wood and rubbers. I often use the wooden ones for pictures but have been shooting them on the .22 the last two matches.

My hands fit the rubber grips better with the finger grooves ground off.

 

[Borderboss]

With you guys using the 617 for Steel Challenge, have you installed the Apex extended firing pin?

I'm thinking of doing this just because I've gotten a handful of misfires with some Federal ammo. I don't want to mess with the trigger pull because I like where I've gotten it. I also don't want to mess with fitting the Mass Driver Hammer. I'm thinking the extended firing pin may resolve the very infrequent misfire issue.

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Borderboss]

Actually, I just spoke with Apex. They told me that their firing pin is not made for the rimfire models and should only be used with centerfire. Bummer!

 

[AzShooter]

When Randy set me up with the new Mass Drive Hammer he told me to put a stock firing pin back in. I had the extended firing pin in for years with no problems with the old hammer. I used Cylinder and Slide and Power Custom extended pins.

The C&S pins have a tendency of breaking so if you go that route make sure you have an extra in your shooting bag.

 

[Borderboss]

When Randy set me up with the new Mass Drive Hammer he told me to put a stock firing pin back in. I had the extended firing pin in for years with no problems with the old hammer. I used Cylinder and Slide and Power Custom extended pins.

The C&S pins have a tendency of breaking so if you go that route make sure you have an extra in your shooting bag.

Did you use the Power Custom in your 617? Was it ok with the rimfire?

 

[jkallner]

Nice shooting your 617. When I saw your post I wasn't sure if you were using a 10 shot or a six shot. I have a six shot that I'd have to get converted to 10 shot before trying Steel Challenge with it. Only having one extra shot would be enough to drive me mad.

 

[AzShooter]

Did you use the Power Custom in your 617? Was it ok with the rimfire?

Yes and it's working fine.

 

[Borderboss]

Yes and it's working fine.

Cool, thanks. I'll pick one up.

 

[6518John]

You know what would be fun—to see one of these matches shot with these beauties. I bet they would do just fine:

Post Your Pre-War K-22s

 

[AzShooter]

You know what would be fun—to see one of these matches shot with these beauties. I bet they would do just fine:

Post Your Pre-War K-22s

Go for it. It will be a fun day for sure. Get some DS-10 speed loaders for the 6 shot and enjoy yourself.

 

[Borderboss]

I just got off the phone with Ron Power at Power Custom. He tells me that his firing pin isn't made for the rimfire guns either. He said that the slot that's cut for the retaining pin is in the wrong place and a gunsmith has to cut a new slot for it to work in the 617.

AZ, did you have a gunsmith work on yours when you had the Power Custom firing pin in your gun? I'm just really confused now.