Competition against the 617 at last…

[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.