617 vs King Cobra 22lr ?

[Journey]

I have been looking for a 617 no dash 10 shot for a while. Every time I visit a shop, I have to hold their 617 display gun. Yesterday, I held a 617 10 shot and a King Cobra 22lr together. The Colt felt like a J frame, and looks skinny between the hammer and trigger. It may just be the grips, but the Colt just feels smaller like the Taurus and Charter Arms. Any comments?

 

[Yendor357]

I have a 4 inch 617.
My friend has a 6 inch Colt.

I think you nailed it. The Colt feels like a J frame.
I prefer the more substantial feel of the Smith. I think the 617s look better. Mine is super accurate.
Smith and Wesson can make a very good gun if they try.

I think Colt set a price, and built the best gun they could for the money. My friend's Colt has very sticky extraction.

 

[Kevin G]

Isn't a 617 no dash six rounds?
Kevin G

 

[Toxophilus]

I have both; my 617 certainly feels more substantial, the trigger in single action mode breaks like glass. Since S&W fixed the cracked frame & spitting that was occurring afterwards it now has about 1.5k through it, for now I've painted the front sight.

The King Cobra target .22 is lighter, I find it more nimble when moving from one target to another, I bought it in November 2024 and it now has North of 3k rounds through it, for my aging eyes I like that I can easily pick up the fiber optic front sight.

I use the DS-10 speed loaders & loading blocks for both of these which makes reloading quicker which = more time on those triggers

Both of them now wear Altamont stocks...

 

[Jerry in SC]

The Colt is between a J frame and K frame in size. The Colt single action is not going to be as good as a S&W without an action job. Even then it won't be quite as light. I have both, and like them. Personally, I think the S&W is easier to tune, but you better fully inspect a new one, I've seen some awful 617 4" guns in the last year.

My 6" 617 weighs 46 ounces on my postal scale, it's a chunk, but very accurate.

 

[DS-10-SPEED]

I prefer the 617's, I had an early Colt 10 shot but it didn't work and Colt replaced it 2 times, none of them worked right. I've read that people have better luck with them now. It is a nice looking revolver but some things I don't like was the lack of a recessed cylinder, a non-serviceable firing pin that hits against the extractor, fiber front sight and a weird feeling trigger V spring. I guess I'm used to S&W'S.

 

[Journey]

Isn't a 617 no dash six rounds?
Kevin G

You are right. The10 shot version started with 617-2 which also had an alloy cylinder. I wanted the no dash because of no MIM parts. Looks like the 10 shot steel cylinder didn't come out till the-4. I would have been looking a long time for a no dash 617 10 shot. Thanks for the heads up. You just can't know it all.

 

[Journey]

The Colt is between a J frame and K frame in size. The Colt single action is not going to be as good as a S&W without an action job. Even then it won't be quite as light. I have both, and like them. Personally, I think the S&W is easier to tune, but you better fully inspect a new one, I've seen some awful 617 4" guns in the last year.

My 6" 617 weighs 46 ounces on my postal scale, it's a chunk, but very accurate.

Thanks for the size info

I prefer the 617's, I had an early Colt 10 shot but it didn't work and Colt replaced it 2 times, none of them worked right. I've read that people have better luck with them now. It is a nice looking revolver but some things I don't like was the lack of a recessed cylinder, a non-serviceable firing pin that hits against the extractor, fiber front sight and a weird feeling trigger V spring. I guess I'm used to S&W'S.
View attachment 796079

I prefer the 617's, I had an early Colt 10 shot but it didn't work and Colt replaced it 2 times, none of them worked right. I've read that people have better luck with them now. It is a nice looking revolver but some things I don't like was the lack of a recessed cylinder, a non-serviceable firing pin that hits against the extractor, fiber front sight and a weird feeling trigger V spring. I guess I'm used to S&W'S.
View attachment 796079

. That sets my mind to ease a little. It's hard to tell sometimes with all the variables. Nice looking set of shootin irons.

 

[bobsguns]

I have the 10-shot alloy cylinder 617, 6" bbl. Also have the KC 6". Love them both!

I have not yet shot them against each other, sadly. Would not trade either one for the other, FWIW.

My .o2

 

[Harv 24]

It took awhile to get where I wanted my 617-6 to be. It's there now, and I'm happy with it. but like others have said, S&W CAN make a great gun, but there hit and miss. They do make it right, but you need patience. I too looked at the king Cobra, but I'm a S&W guy.

 

[CH4]

The 617 no dash is a six shooter - I have a 4 and 6 inch. I prefer it over the beer Smith and Colt ten shooters. I'd be interested in the Colt if it had recessed chambers. Must have eliminated them as a cost cutting measure.

 

[Journey]

The 617 no dash is a six shooter - I have a 4 and 6 inch. I prefer it over the beer Smith and Colt ten shooters. I'd be interested in the Colt if it had recessed chambers. Must have eliminated them as a cost cutting measure.

I was corrected above about the no dash being a 6 shooter. I have a 17 and 48. They are both great shooters, but the 48 hangs up on ejection.

 

[DS-10-SPEED]

You are right. The10 shot version started with 617-2 which also had an alloy cylinder. I wanted the no dash because of no MIM parts. Looks like the 10 shot steel cylinder didn't come out till the-4. I would have been looking a long time for a no dash 617 10 shot. Thanks for the heads up. You just can't know it all.

The steel 10 shot cylinder started with late model -2's like mine with the satin finish, there are a few out there. I have an after market LPA rear sight and a Hogue grip on it. I also have a no dash 6 shot.

Here's the box label from my -2.