Made the choice for a 4" barrel 617 since my daughter will be inheriting it in time. The comments were enough to convince me. My other (3) revolvers are 6" barrel already, but no full underlug. GB had one that was 3 years old, only had one cylinder full through it so leaped on it. Will see what turns up to my local FFL. Where did you guys get those fancy S&W scales with finger grooves? Thanks for all the helpful comments.
Thinking about Model 617 w/6" BBL
- Thread starter drayks
- Start date
I've only had 6" 617's, but like them.
Three 6, & a 10 shot.
Got the 4" covered with pre-18
If you have access, handle & shoot both.
Three 6, & a 10 shot.
Got the 4" covered with pre-18
If you have access, handle & shoot both.
I have a 617 no dash 6" from 1993 full target...love it, slightly nose heavy but, if you get a chance buy one....you wont be sorry
Shrek Of The Arctic
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I got my 6" 617 about a year and a half, two years ago. I absolutely love it, and it makes friends wherever I take it. I've gotten a few people interested in revolvers with it. I got it for plinking and Steel Challenge. It is far more shootable than Inhad any right to expect. It is a tad nose heavy, but when transitioning targets, seems to make up for a slighly slower speed of movement with smoothness. I do enjoy the slightly longer sight plane of the 6" barrel. I actually dislike full underlugs on most any revolver, but..I've come to accept it. The 6" bbl. suits me very well, but I think the 4" will be excellent as well, especially when other less experienced revolver shooters may be handling it. I almost forgot to mention that my 617 is the only bone stock S&W revolver I own, and it has never missed a beat. I'm sure you will love yours!
8shot
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Yendor357
Member
It takes a pretty good 22 rifle to outshoot my scoped four inch 617.
DS-10-SPEED
Member
Interesting weights you added, are they for long range shooting?
617 was my family's first firearm in 1990 when my dad bought one. I've been shooting it ever since. It's a tack driver, zero recoil, but it is heavy. I think too heavy for a new/beginning shooter. But after shooting big bore stuff, it's nice to take a break and shoot some .22's without recoil.
I asked S&W about converting it to a 10 shot, but that would cost half the price of a new gun.
I'm looking at getting a model 63 to teach my kids and wife how to shoot revolvers.
Get one, they're fun.
I asked S&W about converting it to a 10 shot, but that would cost half the price of a new gun.
I'm looking at getting a model 63 to teach my kids and wife how to shoot revolvers.
Get one, they're fun.
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8shot
Member
They are barricade lugs, I use my fingers to clamp the revolver barrel against the barricade.
BTW: The scope base is my design with a button on the right side that I use to pivot the scope left/right while shooting the Action Pistol "moving target" so I can shoot at the target "center" and not lead it.
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firefighterjohn
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Getting your family shooting on a 63 first is a great idea. Comparatively, the 617 is heavier than the 63. I can make that comparison firsthand since I just got a 63 a month ago but haven't had nice enough weather to shoot it. Those little 63 'kit guns' are very comfortable! Once they've mastered the 63, the 617 will be a good step up. Then you'll have to step up AGAIN to get them shooting a 686.
See how this progresses? Yep, you're S&W pistol addiction is gonna get worse. As they said on Sienfeld: "...not that there's anything WRONG with that!" But, I think they might have been talking about something else?
Great plan Zimm...now go out and find a 63! Then a 686...then a ...
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Once you find out you can pop clay pigeons at well over 50 yards (even 100 yards) with a 6 inch 617 it will never stay home on range day... I usually find someone that says I can't, prove I can and then show them how easy it is to do.. they leave now "needing" a 617... enjoy
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IMO, any .22 handgun shooters would like the 617 in one version or another.
I have both the 4" and 6" in the 6 and 10 shot varieties, all prelocks.
What's your take on the H&R 999? I've got one LNIB from early '80's.
DS-10-SPEED
Member
My 617's are my favorite .22 revolvers to shoot in SCSA and our local bowling pin league. I use my 6" 617-2 10 shot in the iron sight division and my 4" 617-6 10 shot in the dot sight division. You can't go wrong with any 617.
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Tanners Owner
US Veteran
I have a 4” & love it. Simply a great gun, that’s easy to carry, employ.
Yendor357
Member
The H&R 999 is a very good revolver.
Yes, I agree and like mine.
I was just wondering what OP meant by "Real***" in his post regarding the 999, if it was good or bad?
The H&R 999 was a very well made revolver and was one of the most convenient to operate that you could ask for. My very first revolver was a H&R 622 which was the lowest price models of that brand that you could buy, but I still shot well with it. Of course being 19 years old with good eyesight certainly helped I'm sure. I still wonder sometimes why no manufacturer has ever offered a revolver similar to the 999.
About the H&R 999, I think it was just plain wore out, had to install a .003" shim to move the cylinder closer to the hammer to get it to fire semi-reliably and I got tired of lead splinters coming off when it did fire. It came from the wife's grandfather and I suspect it was a quite early model. It actually was stamped "SPORTSMAN" to what became the Model 999. Please don't take umbrage if you own one, they can wear out.
