617 range report

[Nightowl]

I picked up a 10 shot 617 a few weeks ago. It will misfire on 2 or three cartridges out of the 10 in the cylinder. I have tried SuperX, and Federal and some Champion. Makes little difference. Sometimes it is only one per 10. Usually they will fire on the second or third try and mostly they will all fire single action. Gun appears to have been little used, very little endshake, good lock up, strain screw tight, firm hammer drop. My 1948 K22 shoots everything. No misfires from the same ammo. I could play with it but am seriously considering send it back to the factory for a tune up.

 

[ken158]

Tighten the strain screw - usually the problem. This screw is not an "adjustment" as it is designed to be tight all the time.

 

[varmint243]

IMO low end 22 LR ammo has been pretty unreliable in general lately.
check the strain screw as mentioned and try some medium-high quality ammo

 

[scooter123]

You may also want to consider replacing the strain screw with a new one. It's been my experience that the Stainless Steel strain screws wear a lot faster than the Blued Steel strain screws. Pull the strain screw and if you feel a burr around the tip that presses on the mainspring it means that the strain screw is shorter than it was when it was brand new. BTW, let them mushroom too much and you'll have to use a diamond needle file to remove the burr before you can remove it from the frame. If you find that the strain wont screw out of the frame easily, don't fight it out and risk damaging the threads in the frame, get out a needle file and clean up that burr.

 

[alec.mc]

All 22 ammo is not created equally, personally - I find the best results with regular old federal bulk .22 LR.

Replace your main spring with a Jerry Mickulek spring from Bang Inc.

 

[Nightowl]

This gun looked like it had barely been fired and the trigger was strong with a apparently sufficient strength hammer to ignite the primer, even in a rimfire. The old K frame had a lighter action. Well, lo and behold, I took it apart and found a bent mainspring just at the top where it hooks to the hammer. I appears to be an aftermarket spring and the strain screw is longer than the ones I have on hand for round butt guns.
Since I don't have any other K frame round butt, MIM guns, and not familiar with them, my question is this: Is this the standard mainspring, or do I have an aftermarket spring?

Neither Brownells or Midway list factory mainsprings and I do not have any laying around at the moment. I have another Michelik reduced power mainspring, but I do not like aftermarket springs.

Does anyone have a 617-4 RB mainspring for sale? And maybe a strain screw?

 

[alec.mc]

This gun looked like it had barely been fired and the trigger was strong with a apparently sufficient strength hammer to ignite the primer, even in a rimfire. The old K frame had a lighter action. Well, lo and behold, I took it apart and found a bent mainspring just at the top where it hooks to the hammer. I appears to be an aftermarket spring and the strain screw is longer than the ones I have on hand for round butt guns.
Since I don't have any other K frame round butt, MIM guns, and not familiar with them, my question is this: Is this the standard mainspring, or do I have an aftermarket spring?

Neither Brownells or Midway list factory mainsprings and I do not have any laying around at the moment. I have another Michelik reduced power mainspring, but I do not like aftermarket springs.

Does anyone have a 617-4 RB mainspring for sale? And maybe a strain screw?

I think i've got some factory main springs.... if you really want them... Ussually I just throw them away.

Throw in the Jerry Main spring and rebound spring ( comes with 14# rebound, experiment with lighter ones), set it to around 7.5-8.5 lbs and experiment with that, it yields a much nicer (lighter) pull and will still light off rimfire.

 

[glenncal1]

You could also call S&W and probably get the parts from them. I have also had good luck with Wolff springs. One of which resurected our k-22 OD that has been in the family since 1936.

 

[H Richard]

I can relate to having a 617-6 10 shot and it has never misfired, with any brand of ammo. Highly accurate, probably the most accurate rim-fire revolver I have, which includes K22 Outdoorsman and a 17-4 and a Pre 18. I have no complaints. (But t is the only I.L. S&W I own).

 

[Nightowl]

Alec.mc: I sent you a private message.

Thanks

 

[Nightowl]

I was not sure this was an aftermarket 617 spring, or a factory install. I will experiment with the springs I have until I can find a factory spring. I will check with the factory.

 

[Nightowl]

I sent Smith an email regarding parts for the 617. A few days later, I received a call from Smith and after a pleasant conversation, the rep decided to send me a shipping label and have it fixed under the warranty. I took it to FedEx today. Now the waiting begins.

 

[vito]

Where is the strain screw and what does it do? Thanks.

 

[Cooter Brown]

The strain screw is in the front of the grip frame toward the bottom.

It goes thru the frame and bears on the mainspring, serving to preload the spring.

Some people loosen the strain screw which takes some of the preload off the mainspring, resulting in a lighter trigger pull. It's a bad idea because it lessens the force the spring exerts on the hammer and can lead to light strikes.

J frames have a coil spring and do not have a strain screw.

 

[glenncal1]

The strain screw is in the front of the grip frame toward the bottom.

It goes thru the frame and bears on the mainspring, serving to preload the spring.

Some people loosen the strain screw which takes some of the preload off the mainspring, resulting in a lighter trigger pull. It's a bad idea because it lessens the force the spring exerts on the hammer and can lead to light strikes.

+1 Especially important on rimfires, because they need a good solid strike for ignition.

 

[Neumann]

Rimfire cartridges need more striking force than center fire, and have a heavier trigger pull as a result. It is very tempting to lighten the mainspring. One way is to shorten the tension screw, so even if tight, it may not configure the mainspring properly. A quick fix is to put a shortened .22 case over the end.

I have a Kit gun, model 34-1, which I haven't shot much in the last ten years or so. I recall some misfires in that gun, which has a coil spring and has never been modified. 22 ammunition is not what it used to be. I just found a cherry M17 (no dash), but no time to go to the range yet.

 

[H Richard]

If you are shooting Remington rimfire ammo, I would not be surprised by misfires. That brand has a terrible reputation for misfires. At one jpoint a few years we saved up the misfires of Remington Target at our club and in just a few weeks had a double handful. I had heard last year Remington had improved and brought a brick of Rem Target, and with the first box I had 3 misfires. I gave it away.

 

[Nightowl]

Winchester SuperX and Federal Champion and Federal American Eagle.

 

[Nightowl]

Today, I received my 617 back. I have not taken it apart, but it obviously has a harder trigger pull than when I sent it in. They replaced the firing pin, mainspring, hand and extractor. It was not consistent in timing and so they fixed that too. That is pretty spectacular service, especially since they had a Christmas break after I sent it in. That is just great customer service!! All warranty work too, not a dime out of my pocket.

 

[Tom C]

Glad things have worked out well. The 617 is a terrific gun.