Had the sideplate off the other day to change the rebound spring. It appeared that removing the internal lock would be relatively easy. Any reasons why I should or should not do this?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/accesso...9-fs-plug.html

If an old "bob wire" cowboy and do it, you sure can. Git'r done.

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Eccentric old coot

As far as I've been able to tell from my internet research, the only Documented (as opposed to annecdotal) reports of spontaneous engagement of the lock has occurred in larger guns shooting magnum loads... but my research is by no means exhaustive. So, from what I've been able to gather, the only reason to remove your lock and insert a plug is for aesthetic reasons. If you do not plan to plug the hole, there seems to be no reason to remove the lock in your 317. - Nice gun, btw.

That said, I removed the lock in my 327NG, but I plan to shoot .357 magnums with it (not .22s) and will use it as a home defense gun.

First off, removing the lock is like painting a zebra white.... it's still a zebra. Personally, the lock hole even with the "plug" is still just as noticibly a lock gun as it was with the IL intact. Second, if most guys hadn't read about the lock here, they wouldn't give it a second thought. The chances of it prematurely locking are a lot less than an old timer with his 1970 revolver having trouble.... Not sure exactly how many newer IL guns I have, but it's a bunch and they ain't lockin up by themselves..

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Jack C

Yes, Jack, the likelihood of them locking up due to the IL is remote. There are Very Few documented cases. The odds of a lock up due to malfunctioning of the IL are probably less than the odds of encountering a squib load. But statistics are a funny thing. In a way, the odds of a lock up occurring because of the IL are always 50:50, in that it will either happen or it won't. And even if a lock up happens to only one gun in every 100,000, if it happens with your gun, than for you the odds will be 100%.

If I based my actions purely on statistics, I would not carry a gun, or own one for home defense, as the odds are small that I will ever encounter the need to use a gun for such circumstances. But since I do carry, and do have a home defense weapon, I do everything I can to ensure that my guns will not malfunction when needed to save my behind.

Removing the lock is a piece of cake... takes no more than 10 minutes. And since there are documented cases of lock ups due to a malfunction of the IL, why not remove it? In other words, why not perform a very simple maneuver to reduce the odds of a malfunction?

You're good there Brother, I can't dispute that angle. As for the looks being better, I will fight that tooth and nail.. For those that take the IL out and put the plug in, to my eye, I still see the arrow, and the hole looks like it's a mistake with the plug in there. At least the IL looks like it has a function, even if someone doesn't like it. The gun wasn't built in 1970 and no matter what you do, it is what it is.. a fine new gun from S&W. I'm still not touching my IL's, I have more faith in self defense with my newer guns than my older non IL's..

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Jack C