617 6 shot

[Mr. streetglide]

Have a lgs selling a model 617 6 shot. So is the 10 shot or 6 shot a better deal ? They want 949 for a 6 shot .
Thanks for all and any information.

 

[BAM-BAM]

LOL the six shot is what a revolver should be!!!!!

Got my 4" no dash almost 4 decades ago..... will have it for ..................

 

[AveragEd]

I wouldn't sell either of my no-dash 617s for that.

Ed

 

[Dave Lively]

All else being equal I would rather have 10 shots than 6. Which is why I bought a 10 shot 617. Price matters but in general I buy the guns I want, not the ones that are the best deal.

For me there is nothing magic about 6 shots.

 

[BAM-BAM]

For me there is nothing magic about 6 shots.

Actually there is! My 4" 617 was an understudy training gun for my 6 shot 4" 686. Both were roundbutted in the mid-80s.

Really can't think of a "need" for a 10 shot .22 revolver. I'm not a believer in a 10 shot cylinder dump!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

All else being equal I would rather have 10 shots than 6. Which is why I bought a 10 shot 617. Price matters but in general I buy the guns I want, not the ones that are the best deal.

For me there is nothing magic about 6 shots.

Apparently you have never owned a revolver or SA made before 1986?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

There are shooting sports that throw lots of 22's down range rapidly.

In daily usage the only advantage to a high-capacity revolver is for people that don't hot to quickly and properly reload.

My 6" model 17-3 and my 4" model 34-1 are both 6 shot and do just fine! Pretty much there are speed loaders for every configuration!

Ivan

 

[Camster]

Have a lgs selling a model 617 6 shot. So is the 10 shot or 6 shot a better deal ? They want 949 for a 6 shot .
Thanks for all and any information.

I would want the 6 shot, because it is most likely a no lock gun.
Not to open up that debate, but I simply prefer the frame contour of a no lock gun over a lock gun.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed both my early no lock, six shot six incher, and my later 10 shot, with lock four incher.

 

[22hipower]

The number of cylinder chambers wouldn't factor in to which is the better deal for me. You don't give us a lot of info to work with but if this is a no dash 4 inch 617 with its original combat stocks it is well worth the tagged price. If it is a six inch without the original stocks and maybe showing some wear then the price might be high. If your intent is just to have a nice shooting .22 LR revolver then I'd just buy whichever (6 or 10 shot) one I found first at the best price and wouldn't worry about the presence of a lock either. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCa #1457

 

[SmithNut]

Never really had a use for a 10 shot .22....... until

The majority of my K22's are 6 shot...

That's because it's more traditional.... and because the majority of the 10 shot guns have the added safety feature that is of no use to me, plus it bolix's up the looks of the gun, not only the zit, but the way the swale of the frame around the hammer is straightened out..... yuk.

Because of the above and because of the 2-3 in the extended family have the above safety feature, just never even thought of having one. Then, my darned Dealer got this M617-4 in (used) and thought I'd give it a try.

Now, it gets shot more often when a .22 handgun is needed, it really is useful as I don't have to reload as often )), and the stainless finish is easier to clean up than my blued 6 shot guns.... not that I clean them that often...

 

[BAM-BAM]

^^^^^^^ nice!!!! round butt & Spegel grips!

 

[Dave Lively]

Apparently you have never owned a revolver or SA made before 1986?

I started shooting in the early 80s and a lot of my shooting buddies had S&Ws. They were great revolvers but so was the first revolver I bought, a 5" no dash 610 that I got a good price on in 1991 because back then nobody wanted a 10mm revolver. It had been sitting at the shop for year. That and a Single 6 were the only 6 shot revolvers I ever owned. Judging by what the 610 sold for a few years ago someone thought it was magic but it wasn't to me.

Given a choice between a 6 shot 617 from the 80s and a 10 shot version built last year I would choose the older 6 shot. But if they were both made recently I would go with the 10 shot version.

 

[RevolverJim]

Both my 617s are no lock 6 shots. Would I trade them for 10 shot 617s?

NO!!!

 

[Engine49guy]

The pre IL/MIM 617 is more collectable,
If you are going to be shooting it alot advantage goes to the 10 shot cylinder , if you fire 600 rds of .22lr the 6 shot would be opened, ejected and loaded 100 times, the 10 shot only 60, that's alot less wear n tear on the cylinder/ yoke plus more trigger time less loading unloading time.
If you want a trainer for your Model 14 or 19 the 6 shot spins up exactly the same, the 10 shot has a much quicker / shorter cylinder spin so it feels very different in double action. Single action trigger feel is the same because you aren't advancing the cylinder with the trigger if that makes sense.

 

[wproct]

My 4 inch bbl 617-1 is a six shot revolver, and that is my preference just because that's what I like. That doesn't mean that a 10 shot model is not as good, just not my preference.

 

[SmithNut]

....snip....... if you fire 600 rds of .22lr the 6 shot would be opened, ejected and loaded 100 times, the 10 shot only 60,.......

I'm guessing you have an engineering background...

An excellent way to determine wear on the revolver and effort (effort in the reloading department...)

Now I'm going to be thinking about this when at hthe range...

As ammo prices stay high, shooting .22's more is something that I see happening when I go to the range...

 

[BAM-BAM]

The pre IL/MIM 617 is more collectable,
If you are going to be shooting it alot advantage goes to the 10 shot cylinder , if you fire 600 rds of .22lr the 6 shot would be opened, ejected and loaded 100 times, the 10 shot only 60, that's alot less wear n tear on the cylinder/ yoke plus more trigger time less loading unloading time.
If you want a trainer for your Model 14 or 19 the 6 shot spins up exactly the same, the 10 shot has a much quicker / shorter cylinder spin so it feels very different in double action. Single action trigger feel is the same because you aren't advancing the cylinder with the trigger if that makes sense.

Damn; thought my steel frame 617 would be GTG for decades..............cus I never use the "wrist snap closure" ............. just not cool I guess!

 

[357 shooter]

Have a lgs selling a model 617 6 shot. So is the 10 shot or 6 shot a better deal ? They want 949 for a 6 shot .
Thanks for all and any information.

In 2020 I paid around that much for a 4" 617-1 with box and papers. And last year $725 for a 6" 617-5 with box. Both 6 shooters. The older 4" guns seem to sell for more. I paid a little more than I wanted on the 617-1. The 617-5 I was pleased to pay $725 at local auction.

 

[Moo Moo]

Say you had an older 6 shot 617 (without the lock), would it be possible to buy a new 10 shot cylinder and just swap them over?

 

[Green Frog]

My first handgun, obtained in a trade literally a half century ago, was a High Standard Sentinel Snub Deluxe with alloy frame and a nine shot steel cylinder. There was nothing wrong with it but it was the last poly-shot revolver I got until my Ruger Eight Shot Blackhawk was purchased for its 327 chambering, not number of shots. In most cases, I’ve found 5-6 rounds sufficient unless I want a higher capacity automatic. JMHO-YMMV!
Froggie
PS My 22 caliber Smiths are a 22 HFT and an old K-22.

 

[BAM-BAM]

When the 7 and 8 shot 686s came out....... thought about it; but decided to pass.

After decades of shooting 6 shot revolvers ( 17/18/617s, 19/66s and 686/586s) figured I'd follow my muscle memory and shoot 6 and dump the rest under stress.

That pesky "Old dog and new trick" thing!

 

[Engine49guy]

While I'm not a fan of the 10 shot K frame I prefer the 7 shot L frame in .357,
If you examine the 7 shot cylinder (and 5 shot J frame cylinders) you will notice the cylinder stop notches are in the solid metal between cylinder holes, the 6 shot cylinder puts the stop notches right over the charge holes where it is thinnest.

 

[CH4]

Found this 617 earlier this year with the original combats for $1050 OTD. If it were anything other than a no dash, I would have left it behind. I need it to match my 17-6s and 648. Just need to find a 4” 617 with combats. 10 shots, I don’t need no stinkin’ 10 shots.

 

[357 shooter]

While I'm not a fan of the 10 shot K frame I prefer the 7 shot L frame in .357,
If you examine the 7 shot cylinder (and 5 shot J frame cylinders) you will notice the cylinder stop notches are in the solid metal between cylinder holes, the 6 shot cylinder puts the stop notches right over the charge holes where it is thinnest.

I hear this form time to time but don't see what difference it makes. I have never had any cylinder issues with any Smith and Wesson regardless of where the cylinder notches are located , even the 29/629 have notches over the cylinder. I shoot the same loads in my 6 shot and 7 shot 686s .

 

[TANZER]

617 6 Shot

While I do own several 10 shot 617's this 6 shot is my favorite .

S&W Model # 617-1
SN # ETC0001 through ETC0306
Product Code: 170122
Special Order 8190

Description
Stainless Steel Bead finish
Profile barrel ( 6" )
Round butt
Grips: Are Nill ( Photo Attached ) Pretty sure the Nill grips were added after weapons arrived in Germany
Target trigger 0.400" / target hammer 0.500"!
617PC revolvers were special ordered by German distributor ( Wischo )

 

[kamloops67]

I have a 6” no dash , could have chosen a new 10 shot but prefer the 6 shot model because I want it to be a trainer for the bigger guns ,.
Also, in my opinion a revolver should have six shots - unless there is only room for 5

 

[DS-10-SPEED]

My 617 no dash was bought new, probably my nicest 617 but soon after I got into speed shooting sports and needed 10 shots. I don't think I've shot it in 25 years but I still admire it.

 

[Camster]

Found this 617 earlier this year with the original combats for $1050 OTD. If it were anything other than a no dash, I would have left it behind. I need it to match my 17-6s and 648. Just need to find a 4” 617 with combats. 10 shots, I don’t need no stinkin’ 10 shots.

My LGS has one like that. Very early -1, with original combats.
My first revolver was also a -1, but with a RB, and rubber grips.
I want it, but not for $1599 plus tax.
Even in today's market, I figure it as a $1200 gun.
The consignor probably does as well. The shop wants 25% of such sales.
Deduct 25%, and the seller is realizing 1200.

 

[wproct]

I've done some pretty dumb things.

My 617 no dash was bought new, probably my nicest 617 but soon after I got into speed shooting sports and needed 10 shots. I don't think I've shot it in 25 years but I still admire it.

I had one exactly like yours, and like a fool I sold it to fund buying a different gun. That different gun has been gone a long time and I sure don't miss it, but I sure do regret selling the 617 no dash full target with wood combat stocks.

 

[SmithNut]

While I do own several 10 shot 617's this 6 shot is my favorite .

Ouch.....

Love that model, extremely scarce export model......

Thanks for showing it, I was just about over with my lust for that M617, now it's been rekindled....