I am S+W dumb...help please

[Zoner]

I am S+W dumb.A 17-5 came up for sale recently locally. 8 5/8" barrel, S+W target stocks,hammer,and trigger, 95%+ condition with a Leupold M8 4X scope mounted in Leupold base and rings.It came home with me for $350. The top strap is drilled and tapped to facilitate scope mounting. A forum member told me the factory didn't start drilling and tapping till the 17-7 came out. If not factory the person who did this did an excellent job,properly aligned and not buggered up in any way. I am a shooter not a collector and have listed the scope,rings, and base in the classified ads.My wife has recently started shooting with me and has arthritis and her best option is a DA revolver, she has trouble racking the slide on a semi auto. I have a 15-3 4" and would like a 4" k-22 as a companion piece to my 15-3 that she could use as a target revolver, so it looks like i have a couple different options.
1. swap my 8 3/8 barreled gun for a 4 inch M17
2. find a 4" M-17 barrel and have a gunsmith switch em out the sell the 8 3/8 barrel
3. Have a gunsmith shorten my long barrel and install a front sight( not too wild about this option)
Do any of these options sound reasonable or am i just nuts?

 

[H Richard]

The 4" Mod. 17 is actually a Mod. 18, or from before Mod. #'s were stamped, a K22 Combat Masterpiece. These are excellent guns. Finding a Mod. 18 isn't always easy, as they were discontinued in 1985. I believe some of the new "Classic" were made in the Mod. 18. My preferences would be to look around for an 18 or K22 CM. The cost to replace your barrel, and or cut your barrel down would be nearly as much as buying a nice used 18. Current prices depending on condition would run in the $350 up to $600 for a really nice one.

Another option for your wife, as at least a temp measure, would be mild wad-cutter target loads in your 15-3. These have hardly any more recoil than a .22 RF.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

A J-frame Model 34 (in stainless steel, it's a Model 63) might be a good option for you also. I have a Model 34 with a 4.0 inch barrel, and it's the only gun the wife will have on the nightstand. I also have arthritis in my hands, and my Model 432 in .32 H&R Magnum is my carry gun on days when my hands are really bothering me. The Model 432 will safely chamber and fire the .32 Long and even the .32ACP.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[Zoner]

thanks for the replies guys. Like i said i'm S+W dumb and will admit i've had some weird ideas in the past. Being able to bounce ideas off folks more knowledgable than me helps keep me on the "beaten path"....thanks again...Mike

 

[semperfi71]

If it's not too late I'd sell the M17 and go find a K22 Combat Masterpiece (pre M18) or a M18, they are quite common but sometimes pricey.

 

[Zoner]

well i'm not gonna get out the hacksaw and file or anything and i have a couple other guns my wife can shoot. Fact is i got a great deal on the gun and scope, by the time i sell the leupold i'll only have a couple hundred bucks in this 17-5.I spend most of my shooting time at the range and it'll work out real good there. When i brought it home with scope mounted it felt terrible but without the scope and mount it's starting to feel pretty good.......