I know there's allot of opinions out there but... I'm looking at getting a 617 but am really struggling with which barrel length to get. This will be a target gun for the most part so I lean toward the 6" but read allot of folks have issues with the weight distribution of the longer barrel and say the 4" balance is better..... ????? Many with both say they seem to leave the 6" home more than the 4" and just like it better so I find myself confused on the issue. Would love some help in deciding.

For me a 4 inch please. A 6 inch is to long and muzzle heavy.

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T. Johnson

I have both but prefer the 4" as I like the balance better. To me the 4" full lug barrel balances like the older 6" barrel without the lug, as you would find on an older K-22 or Model 17. The 4" is very accurate.

I must be the odd one who prefers the longer barrel, even in my other handguns. Mine is the 6" and for me it doesn't feel like a brick. With the large combat finger groove grips, the weight seems perfect (for me). I noticed you mentioned the T word, target pistol. For shooting from a rest, I believe the 6" would be a good choice. It would be nice to pick one up the 4" and 6" to compare for an immediate buy buster. I'm sure someone might suggest buying the 6" and if not happy, have the barrel cutdown to 4". Good thought, but bad idea for resale value. Just my opinions.

I bought the 4", my neighbor bought the 6". He likes his, I like mine.

The 4" is easily as accurate, but some like the longer sight radius. I'm 60, so muzzle weight is more of an issue to me than the 38 yr old neighbor.

+1 on a 4" - you may want to hike around with it sometime and will enjoy the lighter gun.

THAT SAYS IT ALL............

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

i suggest the model 617 with a 4 inch barrel

i have the 4"but am looking for a 6"

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

The 4" balances better for me, but that is what I was trained with as a rookie police officer in '68.

I have both, and I prefer the 6in bbl for me. My grandson however likes the 4in bbl model. When you say for "target" shooting, that makes me also lean to the 6 in. However, it's a personal thing.

I have the 4" 10 shot and love it. Would like to have the 6" too.

I have the 6 inch and it matches up well in balance with my 6 inch 686 so for me I prefer the 6 inch. Mine is also a range gun and I prefer the longer sight radius. I actually think you can't go wrong with either one so I would to a gun shop and if they have both pick them up and handle them side by side and figure out which you think balances better.

I have the 6" but am looking for a 4".

Seriously, if there were two of them in a dealer's counter, one of each, I'd be really torn. I got the 6" because it was all that was available to me, but think I would have preferred the 4" had it been available. Maybe it's a case of many of us wanting what we cannot/don't have.

I used to be a 6inch man, but now I only like 3 and 4 inch revolvers.
I still shoot the 6 inchers , but only buy the shorter barrels

To each his (or her) own, for me the 4" balances better. My favorite shooters are these 4" K frames with full lug barrels, a 617 no dash and a 16-4 in .32 Magnum.

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This seems to be a thread for nothing more than vociferous opinionating but I can aggree with myself as well as the next guy so here's my view. I have had many delightful days of informal target shooting with my 4" 617 but 4" full lugged K22s are only optimal as specialized trainers for the similiarly heavy 4" full lugged L frame .357s. 6" FL 617s have ideal balance and weight for target shooting and their longer sight radius makes them easier to shoot accurately by anyone who can hold hand guns steadily and does not need a shorter sight radius to help with a vision problem. 6" 17s with their lighter barrels are better target guns than 4" FL K22s because they do not forfit the sight radius advantage to lower muzzel weight. 4" 18s at 36 ounces make better holster guns than 4" FL K22s and also are better trainers for most service size revolvers. The predominant preference for 4" FL 617s on this site is largely due to the current fad for shorter barrels on just about all revolvers and the large number of LEOs and ex-LEOs who were aclimated to 4" revolvers on the job. I wouldn't buy a revolver for target shooting with a barrel under 6" except for close range faster blaster matches or where rules limit barrel length.

Best Regards,
Gil

I have no idea how old you are but I can almost promise that the older you are, the more you will like the 4 inch. Its shorter sight radius is easier to deal with with our eyes and less weight forward is easier to hold. You can't really go wrong with either.

Ed

guess i go against the grain here. i like the 8 3/8 in guns. even in the full lug models. if you can hold them, they will be the most accurate due to the longer sighting radius. they are heavy and not for carrying though if that figures into your decision. the real answer here is buy both lengths you are thinking about. the one you don't like will be an easy sale. btw, as far as age goes, i'm in my 60's

i have a 17-6 with 6 inch fl barrel. i find it a litttle to muzzle heavy and would get a 4 inch fl version instead.

I sold off my 6" 617 due to the heavy muzzle. I suggest the best of both worlds, a 6" model 17. The advantage of the longer sight radius, plus the better balance of the non-lugged barrel. If you have your heart set on the 617, I suggest the 4" barrel.

I had the 6" sold it and bought a 4". The 6" was too heavy and didn't balance well. The 4" is much easier to carry / shot all day and every bit as accurate.

The answer to this question is always the same. Every time on every forum. 4" gets the majority vote as the "do all" due to ballance and cary comfort. The 6" wins out for the hunters and target purists. I have both and would sell the 6" first if I had to part with one.

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Dave

i have the 6" and the 8 3/8" and like them both...but i would love to have the 4" as well to go along with the collection.

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

The most accurate revolver I have is a 8 3/8" model 17-4. It's a near tie for first with a 647 in 8 3/8". Before I lost my mind and let a 14-3 in the long tube get away from me, it too was tied for "most accurate" status in my own little collection. I think there is a trend here with this barrel length.

Awkward to carry perhaps....but if "TARGET" is what you have in mind, consider this length too.

Sure I prefer to carry 4" for casual field use. I seem to shoot it as well as any 6" 22 I've had.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

As a ret. PO I was also use to the 4" barrel. However my eye prefers the longer sight radius of the 6".

As both a "new guy" to these forums as well as a new owner of a brand new 617 I picked up just a couple of days ago, I'll weigh in and say that I am extremely happy that I went with the 4".
I've got other 6" revolvers and like them all, but that full lug and little hole in the barrel (that leaves lots of heavy steel to hang out there) made the 6" 617 feel so heavy to me that I knew the moment I hefted it that it was way too front heavy for me.

There are people who like LOTS of weight out front on a target pistol, and I'm probably one of them.
But the 4" felt so much better balanced, while still being nicely "heavy" overall, that I knew the moment I held it that it was coming home with me.

It was the 6" I looked at first because most of my other target revolvers are 6", so I was really surprised that the 6" 617 was so uncomfortable right away and that it was the 4" that felt so much better.

That's my .02 and I'm sticking with it. But hey, what's a guy's first post worth anyway?
At the same time, I may be new here but I'm still on the wrong side of "old", so rest assured that I'm not just some kid spouting off.

As having the 4in. 617, the 6in. 617 ( with a Leupold scope attached) and last but not least an 18-3, my experience with the above 3 are as follows: For Strictly target shooting and maybe some squirrel hunting and "target shooting" as I walk around in the woods, I prefer the 6in. 617-with the above mentioned package this gun is very,very accurate. Makes a great gun to have if you do not feel like carring a rifle that day. I had originally purchased the 4in. 617 as a carry -woods plinker gun- as well as a basic trainer/muscle memory trainer for my 4in. 586. This combination proves to be an excellent match to the 586 - but- I found that I was always wishing for something a little lighter in weight when out woods-walking. Thus the model 18-3, a great package that offers most of the attributes of the 2 other guns-very easy to carry-pretty accurate. The gun I carry around the most when I want a .22 revolver is the model 18-3, when I'm looking for a "hunting / target" gun for the day I pick the 6in. 617, the 4in. 617 hardly ever goes out with me anymore.
I know this has been kinda long-hope this helps you in your search.
Respectfully,
SM1357

Coke or Pepsi? I shot the 4in and the 6in side by side for indoor steel plate matches with a variety of ammo before I searched for and bought a 6in model. I found the 6 to be more accurate and less muzzle flip for quick follow up shots on steel.
Your mileage may vary

Dave

My 617 arrived today and I went with the 6" version (pre-lock 617-4). It has absolute rock solid balance and points like a laser. I don't think either 4" or 6" is a bad choice unless you have space or carry constraints. I prefer heavier guns anyway. Damn nice revolvers period.

I have a 4" 617, no dash and I would love to have a 6" and 8-3/8" too!

Already have a 6" model 17 & 8-3/8" model 48.....must be an addiction to quality DA revolvers!