S&W Model 17 versus 18?

pwjp2011 · Aug 18, 2024

I was here about a year ago, my permit was going to expire (yes it has a time lock on it) and ended up buying a Ruger IV Hunter in stainless as I could not find a model 17 and sellers were being difficult.

I dont care for the Ruger - it feels unbalanced with the long barrel on it and I dont like how it feels in my hand. I think I am going to sell it....

Still want that model 17 but have recently been considering a model 18. This is for casual shooting and plinking.

From my understanding the only differences are the barrel length and front sight? Or am I wrong.

Do they have the same trigger in them?

Any info is appreciated.

Empe · Aug 18, 2024

The Ruger MK IV Hunter has a 6 7/8 inch barrel on it so it tends to be rather muzzle heavy. Some like that but apparently you do not . You could just get a shorter barreled MK IV or a MK II . Either one of these models also comes with a 5.5 inch barrel that will feel much different than the longer barreled model . Try a different set of grips and that might be all you need.
Also the barrels on the MK IV models are easily interchangeable and extra barrels are not that difficult to find.
But to answer your question about the S&W 17 or 18 ....yes I do believe the only difference between the two is the barrel length, with the Model 18 having a 4 inch barrel while the Model 17 sports a 6 inch barrel.
I own an early 1970's Model 17 and really enjoy it.

Nframe_is_no1 · Aug 18, 2024

What the above poster said was totally correct. The model 18 has a 4” tapered barrel with a Baughman quick draw ramp front sight. The model 17 has a 6 or 8 3/8” barrel with a patridge front sight. I wanted to add something though. There are 4” model 17s. So, what, you may ask, is the difference between a 4” 17 and a 4” 18? The 4” model 17 utilizes a heavy parallel bull barrel instead of the tapered barrel of the model 18. The 4” 17 was introduced in 1986 to take the place of the model 18 when it was discontinued.

Baxter6551 · Aug 18, 2024

Model 17 and model 18. Both are excellent shooters.
I second the advice above about the Ruger. If you had a shorter barrel you probably would be happier. They are great guns also. My MKII Govt Model Target has the 6 7/8 barrel and can get muzzle heavy.

Dvus · Aug 18, 2024

I prefer the model 18. To me, it balances better AND, my 18 is more accurate than my 17. Others have also reported this phenomenon.
I'm not a fan of the Ruger MK. IV, in fact, the only unmodified Ruger MK. Anything that I like is the Government Target MK. II. All MK. series pistols have a mediocre trigger in my opinion. With a Volquatsen trigger installed they turn into something that can compete with the High Standards and Smith M41s.

mtgianni · Aug 18, 2024

Especially with 22's accuracy depends on ammunition. You should probably test any 22 with 5-7 brands of ammo to see what yours likes best. For quick access I prefer a 4" or less barrel. For steady shooting I prefer a 6" barrel. Find what works for you.

Model19man · Aug 18, 2024

pwjp2011 said:
I was here about a year ago, my permit was going to expire (yes it has a time lock on it) and ended up buying a Ruger IV Hunter in stainless as I could not find a model 17 and sellers were being difficult.

I dont care for the Ruger - it feels unbalanced with the long barrel on it and I dont like how it feels in my hand. I think I am going to sell it....

Still want that model 17 but have recently been considering a model 18. This is for casual shooting and plinking.

From my understanding the only differences are the barrel length and front sight? Or am I wrong.

Do they have the same trigger in them?

Any info is appreciated.

The Model 17 has different sights and a heavier straight sided barrel.

The Model 18 has different sights and a 4" lighter tapered barrel.

Patrick L · Aug 18, 2024

All descriptions are correct. Basically a Model 18 is a .22 LR understudy to a .38 Model 15 Combat Masterpiece, a Model 17 (K22) is the same to a Model 14 (K38) Masterpiece. At least that's how I see them.

.38SuperMan · Aug 18, 2024

The model 17 did come with a 4” barrel. I wouldn’t say they’re rare but they’re rather scarce. There were a couple of variations of the 4” as I understand. The one I have was produced for a very short time and has the partial u see lug as opposed to later models with the full under lug. The model difference between the 17-6 variation vs the 18 is the profile of the barrel. The 17-6 has a heavy barrel and the18 has a tapered lighter barrel. The 17-6 uses a ramp sight which differs from the longer barrel versions target sight.

pwjp2011 · Aug 18, 2024

Empe said:
The Ruger MK IV Hunter has a 6 7/8 inch barrel on it so it tends to be rather muzzle heavy. Some like that but apparently you do not . You could just get a shorter barreled MK IV or a MK II . Either one of these models also comes with a 5.5 inch barrel that will feel much different than the longer barreled model . Try a different set of grips and that might be all you need.
Also the barrels on the MK IV models are easily interchangeable and extra barrels are not that difficult to find.
But to answer your question about the S&W 17 or 18 ....yes I do believe the only difference between the two is the barrel length, with the Model 18 having a 4 inch barrel while the Model 17 sports a 6 inch barrel.
I own an early 1970's Model 17 and really enjoy it.

I also own a Browning Buck Mark Plus UDX. I much prefer the Buck Mark over Ruger MKIV. IMHO it has better trigger, balances better in the hand and it fits my hand like a glove.

I looked at swapping out the MKIV barrel but its serialized so it requires a pistol firearms transfer form. And in my messed up state I would have to get a pistol permit for just the barrel. Yes its insane and stupid but thats how it is.

If I am going to go through the effort of getting a permit I might as well get what I wanted in the first place. Learned an important lesson from this - DONT SETTLE.

Empe · Aug 19, 2024

pwjp2011 said:
I also own a Browning Buck Mark Plus UDX. I much prefer the Buck Mark over Ruger MKIV. IMHO it has better trigger, balances better in the hand and it fits my hand like a glove.

I looked at swapping out the MKIV barrel but its serialized so it requires a pistol firearms transfer form. And in my messed up state I would have to get a pistol permit for just the barrel. Yes its insane and stupid but thats how it is.

If I am going to go through the effort of getting a permit I might as well get what I wanted in the first place. Learned an important lesson from this - DONT SETTLE.

Yes the Browning's are nice although I prefer the Ruger MK II models . But to each his own.
The S&W model 17's are very nice . Mine is a 17-3 made in 1973 . They are of excellent quality and are quite accurate.
You will likely find the Model 17's easier to find than a Model 18 and probably less expensive as well . However cost isn't everything and as you have already learned ...if possible don't settle for less than what you'd really like.

BE Mike · Aug 19, 2024

If you shop around, you can get two Ruger MK IV's for the price of a nice S&W model 18, but if you like revolvers, they are nice. I've owned a model 17 and now own a model 18. I like the later because it lets me train with cheaper .22 ammo in place of my 4" S&W model 19 revolver chambered in .357 magnum. I find the 4" revolvers to be well balanced and "handier". As an alternative, if you shop around, you can get a Colt King Cobra .22 double-action revolver for under a grand.

pwjp2011 · Aug 19, 2024

BE Mike said:
If you shop around, you can get two Ruger MK IV's for the price of a nice S&W model 18, but if you like revolvers, they are nice. I've owned a model 17 and now own a model 18. I like the later because it lets me train with cheaper .22 ammo in place of my 4" S&W model 19 revolver chambered in .357 magnum. I find the 4" revolvers to be well balanced and "handier". As an alternative, if you shop around, you can get a Colt King Cobra .22 double-action revolver for under a grand.

Good to know! Thanks for sharing. I love the fact that model 17 and 18 look like magnums

.

jdlii · Aug 19, 2024

All nice handguns. For .22LR I have had the opportunity to compare the Mod. 18, to the Colt Huntsman, a Christmas gift from my parents when I was 16 years old, a Mod. 41 and the Mod. 17.

Comparing the revolvers results in a close call. For carrying afield, plinking and comfort, the Mod. 18 gets the nod. For accuracy at the range the Mod. 41 is first and the Mod 17 is second.

The Mod. 17 has tight chambers and after the first 50 rounds, I have to brush each cylinder chamber between every six shots. The Mod. 18, not so much.

So much fun, so little time!

SweetMK · Aug 19, 2024

To the OP,, try to shoot a 4" revolver,, before you give up on the Hunter,,

I have this Ruger,, and I can shoot it much better than the M-18-3 that I also own,,

I have a 6" 617 that shoots almost as well as the Ruger,, but, that is a different discussion,,,,

Dino44 · Aug 20, 2024

This weekend, I was in a kind of remote, bait & tackle / gun shop. I talked to a man that had some guns and parts on consignment in the store. He mentioned having some nice S&W combat and target stocks listed online, because the local folks would not pay a couple of hundred dollars for stocks, and out of town traffic was not good. When I arrived home, I google searched the company's website, Simpson LTD. Galesburg, IL. While on the site I looked through their S&W inventory. There is more than a dozen model 17's listed, priced between $595 and $995.

pwjp2011 · Aug 22, 2024

Thanks for sharing Simpson, I will take a look!

S&W Model 17 versus 18?

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