Competition against the 617 at last…

[LouisianaJoe]

I paid $600 for a 617-6 8 3/8" 2 weeks ago at a gun show.

 

[tgd31968]

I never understand why you can't love both.

I was in the market for a .22 DA about 3 months ago. looked at a new model 17 because I dislike Stainless. Price from a buddy with an ffl was $850. Retail was close to $1000.
Sorry, Smith or no, that was crazy talk.
I opted for a K-22 because the other option was a Taurus 94, and if you have handled them, which I did a lot when looking, you will never complain about a Ruger again.
A also own 4 Rugers, a Mk II, a Vaquero, an LCP and a GP100, and have had zero problems with any. The Mk II is mid 80's vintage, and has eaten several 100,000 rounds in it's life without any problems. I just replaced the slide stop because it was worn, but that is to be expected.

Ruger produces a pretty darn good gun at a reasonable price point.

I admire Bill Ruger as much as Horace Smith or Daniel Wesson. I like thier products, and think a decent quality new $450-550 .22 DA revolver will be a hot ticket.

 

[H Richard]

This little Ruger has been in development for a couple of years now. I had the opportunity to handle and fire one over two years ago, while they were still having problems with getting the sights regulated to POA. There are some pre-production ones out there, and their Face-Book article mentions they are due for release about the first of August. My guess is they will be on the shelves in time for Christmas shopping. My guess is the street price will be about the same as a good used Mod 63. The SP101 is much closer in size to a J Frame than a K Frame. I do think they will do well, but are still priced a little too high for the average consumer who just wants a .22 revolver to plink with, and only wants to spend in the $300 range. I don't think they will fly off the shelves.

 

[epj]

It seems that a lot of people are reminiscing about prices in the oast without considering the wages at the same time. They also want to purchase manufactured items on the cheap while expecting to earn high wages - a natuional dilema. If you want jobs in the USA then you have tompay prices comensurate with the wages earned in the USA. The other option is to purchase items from low cost producers abroad untilthe last person in USA manufacturuing turns the lights out.

Sad, but true. We've been heading down this road for a long time. I doubt we'll ever turn around.

 

[M3Stuart]

I agree that a S&W or Ruger .22 revolver in the sub $500 range would be a hot ticket. I have a Taurus 94 and it is what it is. But it's not a Ruger or Smith.

 

[jughed440]

good luck on your search for a 617. they are out there, and you'll probably find a good deal on one long before Ruger ever produces anything.

buy the cheaper Ruger and you'll either spend more money on a trigger job, or spend countless hours snap cap firing it thousands of times to loosen it some.
i bought a 101 for my mother (that is what she wanted because of its size...and begging her to take my 4" RB 66-4 was all in vain). i have to admit, that Ruger is rugged, but good lord, the trigger felt like it had a 50 lb. pull out of the box. she'll probably get carpal tunnel trying to smooth out the trigger. i gotta make amends and find her a J frame before she disowns me.

 

[410bore]

I have more fun with my 617's at the range than any other handgun (or rifle) i own. they are a blast to shoot, very accurate, and cheap to feed

As for the price, new ones are a little pricey but the older, more desirable pre-lock guns can be found.....i had ZERO 617's as of 01/01/11 and have had 6 and currently own 4.....they are out there!!!!

 

[Maximumbob54]

I have yet to spend money on a trigger job for either brand. With minimal research I have found it to be pretty easy to learn to smooth either one out. The Ruger actually takes less time for me. And I find the SP101 to me much closer to a K frame than a J frame. But to be honest it is somewhere between the two. The Model 63 is a slightly smaller gun in my hand from the one I have held. It was really nice but just smaller than what I'm looking for. At some point I may own a good example of all of them.

 

[Titegroups]

Ruger just came out with a 10 shot single action, the sp101 will fill another hole, smart moves for ruger IMO.

 

[dgludwig]

I agree with those that equate the (proposed) new Ruger .22 revolver with the Smith Model 63, .22/.32 J-frame "Kit" gun as opposed to the K-frame Model 17/617. I shoot Bullseye competition and a K-22 (or Colt Officers Special/Match) sized revolver is more of a target revolver than anything much smaller.

 

[Timbo22]

I just paid too much money for a no-dash 617, but it was the exact version that I wanted; 4" barrel and a 6 shot cylinder. S&W only made the no dash 617 for three years then started to do things to it which were not to my taste, like aluminum and 10 shot cylinders, not to mention the dreaded lock. I plan on keeping it, so who ever gets it next will have to deal with my heirs or be more foolish with their money than I am.
I see the new SP-101 as being a pretty good option for those whose can't find or afford a 617. I think that it will compare in size more closely to a K frame than a J frame especially with more hand filling grips.

 

[tgd31968]

Several after market spring kits availible to help reduce the trigger effort by reducing the trigger return spring. Also reduced mainspring to make double action better. Very easy to install and it helped my GP100 a lot.
Check Midway, Natchez, or Brownells.

good luck on your search for a 617. they are out there, and you'll probably find a good deal on one long before Ruger ever produces anything.

buy the cheaper Ruger and you'll either spend more money on a trigger job, or spend countless hours snap cap firing it thousands of times to loosen it some.
i bought a 101 for my mother (that is what she wanted because of its size...and begging her to take my 4" RB 66-4 was all in vain). i have to admit, that Ruger is rugged, but good lord, the trigger felt like it had a 50 lb. pull out of the box. she'll probably get carpal tunnel trying to smooth out the trigger. i gotta make amends and find her a J frame before she disowns me.

 

[fyimo]

I have a bunch of S&W revolvers including a no dash 617 with 6 inch barrel and several other S&W 22LR revolvers and they have all been great. However, over the years I've also owned many Ruger Rifles and revolvers and they have all functioned flawlessly so I won't bash them because they have always made a very good product. I owned a Ruger Mark II and recently gave it to my son because he loved it and it's as accurate a shooter as either of the two S&W Model 41's I own and the Ruger mark II has never had any feeding problems or have the S&W Model 41’s.

I don't get the brand bashing and it having to be one over the other. I own many bolt action rifle brands including Sako, Sig Sauer, Winchester Model 70 pre 64, Ruger Model 77, Browning, and HR and all of them are excellent and accurate. Yea I have HR on the list because in the 60's they imported Sako and FN Mauser barreled actions and put a California style stock on them and they built them into the 300 Ultra Rifle and they were about as good as it got for 1/2 the price of the those brands factory originals.

The wonderful thing about our hobby is we all have choices and different tastes and we can spend our hard earned money any way we want.

 

[weldernewt53]

I agree, Smiths up north here go for what ever the market bears. A good model 17 around $6-700. Thats pretty good money. Ruger will have a real seller out there. Can not wait to see one.