I saw a used, ten round M617 in a gun shop with what appeared to be an aluminum alloy cylinder. Was this ever an option from the S&W factory?
If so, were the chambers sleeved with steel liners?
Thanks.

The aluminum cylinder is standard. I think the first 10-round ones were steel.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The 10 shot 617 was originally produced with an alloy cylinder-the 617-2 I believe. The later 617's beginning with the 617-3 revision were with steel cylinders. I believe this is also true with ther 17's as well but I don't know the engineering changes. The 6 shot guns were always steel cylinders
The cylinder charge holes were not sleeved-no reason to. I have two aluminum cylinder 22's a 317 and a 317-1 both 8 shot J frames.

I think Alan has it backwards

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Forum consigliere

Oops! Sorry.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The cylinder bores themselves are not a worry. I do not think you could blow one up with any 22 ammo.The problem is they are rather weak in terms of the wear-point where the yoke-tube meets the rear on the cylinder internally. A well...real well fired alloy cylinder will develop end-shake rather quickly. It may not be as bad on a large frame gun like the 617, as recoil forces would not be as prominent, but on a 317, a few thousand rounds is all you can expect without adjustment or scraping. I know....I have a used cylinder that has close to .012 end-shake. I put it in one of my good 317's and it shoots fine....but lights-up the entire sky and the report is louder than a 38-special.