Has S-W discontinued the 617 10 shot revolver? I was looking in their online catalogue for one and in the description box it said out of stock. I see some new ones on gun broker.

I think that's indicating they are out of stock at Davidson's/Gallery of Guns. Other distributors might have them in stock.

I just bought a 617 with 4 in barrel from a small dealer in my home town. He ordered it for me with no delay.

S & W makes these revolvers in batches. IIRC the last time they ran the 617 was in May or June. They ran some of the 625 JM in August and the 625 PC in September. What it means is if you want a particular model you have to order them when they show up at a distributor.

Personally, I like to order up from Sports South, unlike Davidson's they don't cherry pick the catalog and instead offer the full lineup. Purchased a 6 1/2 inch 610 and a 625 JM this way and both were recieved at a local dealer within a week of placing the order.

BTW, you'll want to shop around at local dealers to find the best discount because dealers set the actual price, what is listed is the MSRP. Since most dealers who are willing to order in are on the small side, the credit card fees for each transaction can be significant. This means that by paying cash you can get a better price. For example list for the 625 JM is 1090.10, my cash price was 825.00, a pretty fair discount.

If you want a 617 right now your only options are either Gunbroker or hoping you get lucky. If you can wait intil they are shipping again I would suggest checking the Sports South web site weekly. BTW, I've been watching the 617 for about 2 years and can tell you they don't stay in stock for more than a week or two, so if you see it's in stock order it that very same day. Link follows.

Online Catalog

thanks for the info. My closest dealer is 30 miles away. I will call them tomorrow. I found one on gunbroker about 165 miles from me for 658.00 plus 22.00 2nd day shipping. Might go with him if my regular LGS can't get me one.

Bud's Guns has a 4" and 6" and they also have a 6-shot version.

The dealer (30 miles away) found 3 6" models at one of his suppliers. Going to order one tomorrow. $700. out the door.

Better stock up on bulk packs of ammo... you're gonna need 'em!

Check out a DS-10 Speedloader and spare loading blocks to keep it fed quickly.

Top quality speedloader and works real well.

DS-10-SPEED

Ss

Already have. More decisions,

Definitely get a DS-10 with a handle and at least a 6x loading block.

+1 on getting the handle for it.

I've seen some posts saying you don't need it or it gets in the way, but I have found it is very handy and doesn't get in the way or hit anything on the gun.

More loading blocks! More, more, more! Can't have too many. Before anyone rants about having to load the loading blocks & might as well be putting them in the gun... no way. You can reload in seconds and be right back to blasting. Gotta let the gun cool down sometime, so it cools off when I reload the loading blocks.

I have the plastic case from DS. The little case by itself is a handy item. You have 4x reloads available in the case, and a space to store the speedloader with the handle on it. With 4 reloads in the case, one 4x block and one 6x block, with everything loaded up I can shoot 160 rounds before allowing the 617 to cool. (starting with the gun loaded, and the speedloader loaded in the plastic case) I run a boresnake through her after all that before starting all over again.

Those Walmart Bulk Paks of Federal seemed like they used to last a lot longer than they do now.

Have fun!

Ss

Anybody using CCI Stingers in a 617? I would like to get one, but need to know the cylinder will take Stingers okay. My vintage Model 17 is nice, but only fits standard .22 rounds.

Also, any fit difference in the 10 vs. 6 round cylinders? I would assume the chambers are identical in dimensions, but just wondering.

Smith did the Texas two-step between the -2 through the -5 models and switched back-n-forth from 6-to-10-to-alloy-to-stainless and finally settled-in on the 10-shot stainless cylinder in the -6. As the story went, there was some difficulty in getting the machining correct with the stainless cylinder, but they could with the alloy cylinder. Eventually, they overcame whatever the issue was with getting 10-rounds in the stainless cylinder.

My ND 6-shot will shoot anything and I am sure the 10-shot will also. Some 22's can be sensitive to the slightly longer Stinger case and have ejection issues, but my 617 doesn't.

I have run Stingers through mine with no problem extracting or firing. It is a recent production 617-6 10 shot. I have shot just about every kind of .22 I've had laying around through it with no problems.

Ss

Mine is back at the factory as I write this post in reguards to not wanting to chamber stingers. I do know stingers are as said before longer in case length than regular 22-LR. Hope to get this revolver back soon. It is a tack driver in standard length 22 LR.

I have a slight issue with Stingers in my 317, but I don't shoot them a lot anyway. They will chamber fine, but can be a bit sticky on ejection. They must have stopped the reamer a "tad" short on Dave's 617 cylinder. Hope you get it back soon dude!

Is there any chance you are trying to load stingers "after" regular .22LR, and possibly the cylinder has a powder ring inside at the spot where the bulk pack ammo fires and when you try to put the Stingers in they are hitting the powder crud inside the cyl.?

You can "force" them in and they will fire, but will be tough to extract the shells 'cause they're stuck on the powder crud.

Like trying to drop .357mag, or .44 mag into the cyl. after running a ton of .38 specials, or .44 specials. The longer cases hit the powder crud left in the cylinder.

If that is your case, you just have to brush out the cyl. real good after shooting the shorter stuff.

Ss

That is a very good thought. I suppose Smith will tell Dave what they did with his when they send it back to him.