I NEED an M17 or 617 or something

[357 shooter]

My 617 6” shoots great, it’s a -6 though, so it’s ugly above the cylinder release. But, it’s a dream to shoot, and with the right ammo(RWS high velocity) nails golf balls at 75yds. 8 3/8 has to do better, yeah they’re cumbersome, but they hit.

Have a 617-5 6" and as fantastic as it shoots could care less whats above the cylinder release! Its a far better shooter than my 617-1 4" and is more on par with my Model 41 target pistol. Picked up the 617-5 last year at auction and it has been my most fired Smith revolver since then.

 

[pasound]

I have one of each - a 6" 1947 Pre-K 22 Masterpiece, and a 6" 2018 617-6. I find both like almost any .22LR, and are equally accurate. The 617-6 is nose heavy with the full underlug, and the DA is a bit heavier. I think the Pre-K is my favorite, but there is nothing to compare to dumping off 10 from the 617, refilling with my SpeedBeez and dumping 10 more within seconds. Other shooters at the range sometimes think I have a semi on my bench.

 

[John_M52]

Thank you to all the historians and enablers here. I guess I need a 6 and an 8 3/8 M17 and an M18 to round it out.

Yeah I get it with the 8", you get some looks. I flew out of an airport where LEOs can go into x-ray when they check firearms in checked bags. TSA guy took my M14 out of the case (not sure why) and waved it around saying damn look at this thing, it's like a cannon! I was amused and pissed at the same time.

 

[billj47]

617-6 found its' way to me.

Searched long and hard for a.22 revolver and found this one finally. I love shooting it. Also had it at the range and the young guys hanging around tried it out and had a hard time getting them to stop wanting to do one more time.
They were really impressed with their ability to hit the steel.

 

[Narragansett]

Thank you to all the historians and enablers here. I guess I need a 6 and an 8 3/8 M17 and an M18 to round it out.

Yeah I get it with the 8", you get some looks. I flew out of an airport where LEOs can go into x-ray when they check firearms in checked bags. TSA guy took my M14 out of the case (not sure why) and waved it around saying damn look at this thing, it's like a cannon! I was amused and pissed at the same time.

That is exactly what I have, only with 2 m18's

 

[twodog max]

I have a Model 34 4 inch and a newer 617 10 shot. The 34 is the easiest carrying 22 ever IMO. I have had mine going on 40 years.
The 617 maybe 8 years. I sure like it to lock and all. Shoots great. It surely is not a 17 but then I have a lot less in it and do not worry so much about how hard I use it.
I carry my revolvers in the woods and of course over time that takes a toll on the aesthetics.
I had several Diamondbacks and I loved them but after hard use all developed timing issues. I was doing a lot of beaver trapping at the time I had them and using them in that work. They just could not take the mud, water and dirt on a daily basis.

 

[GSP Fan]

I've never had a bad S&W 22 revolver from either the "good old days" of 34's, 17's 18's and a 48 to my 617's.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I have to agree Smith makes a top notch 22. Last year I picked up a beautiful 1955 K22 6”, my wife’s birth year. The strain screw had been filed to short but I wound up finding a new old stock for a few dollars. Now with a replacement mainspring it works and shoots great. It’s probably the most accurate 22 I’ve ever shot and my wife agrees.

About three or four years ago one of the local dealers had a super nice 4” 617. Unfortunately it has the nasty internal lock but 617’s don’t come along very often around here. I had a Remington 1100 light 20 field that I inherited and had no interest in and worked out a trade that I’m quite happy with.

The 617 is a fantastic gun with a great trigger and is about as accurate as my K22. Other than the lock, my only suggestion to Smith would be cut the full length lug back to the same length as the K22/17. There’s no need for a heavy under lug like that in a 22. To me a 6” is way too front heavy but the 4” is much better balanced but could be improved by getting rid of the full length under lug. I also have a sweet 34-1 4” in factory nickel that’s great but harder to shoot due to sze and weight.

My wife has a 317 that she shoots well and wouldnt part with.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I have the 8-3/8" Model 14-3 and a 6" Model 17-3. Both have beautiful bluing and case-colored target triggers and hammers. They are also extremely accurate and a real joy to look at, handle and especially, shoot.

As far as I can tell, the barrel length doesn't make any difference. I can shoot a tight group with either one, and my 4" K-38 might be the best shooter of the set. Bottom line, if you find a good 6" Model 17 or 4" Model 18, grab it.

 

[GSP Fan]

As far as the 617's go I have both a 4 and 6 inch versions. There both very accurate. I really like the feel and balance of the 6 inch it's very easy to shoot.

I have a NIB 617 (no dash) in the classifieds by the way, pardon the self promotion

 

[jcs266]

I have the same 617-6 in the 4" version and LOVE IT. One of my absolute favorite handguns by far. It's carried frequently around my little chicken ranch here in the high desert. I always have my eye open for rattle snakes and coyotes. Fun to plink with needless to say.

Searched long and hard for a.22 revolver and found this one finally. I love shooting it. Also had it at the range and the young guys hanging around tried it out and had a hard time getting them to stop wanting to do one more time.
They were really impressed with their ability to hit the steel.

 

[Green Frog]

My father lectured me years ago that if you buy a revolver you buy a smith. I have strayed from his edict - maybe need to add a diamondback too!

An old gunsmith friend of mine, now deceased, taught me the mantra,, “Smith builds revolvers, Colt builds automatics.” Other than High Standard 22s, I have found this to be a good rule of thumb.
Probably one of the last firearms I would allow to leave is my 1948 vintage K22. It has a 6” barrel and narrow rib tapered barrel, and I would highly recommend it to the OP.

Froggie

 

[Lightfoot4]

I have a 617-6 that I love to shoot. I don't really like that it has a 10-shot cylinder because I like a traditional 6-shot, but beggars can't be chosers when buying these sorts of things. Still a great gun.

 

[stansdds]

I will admit that the 10-shot cylinder is a more efficient use of all the real estate available in the K-frame 22 LR cylinder.

 

[GSP Fan]

Call me old fashioned but at least for me a revolver should have 6 shots no more.

 

[CH4]

Don't you Blaspheme in here!!

Sorry, a bad habit I picked up on the 24 hour campfire.

 

[CH4]

Call me old fashioned but at least for me a revolver should have 6 shots no more.

You don’t own any J frames except.22s or .32s?

 

[GSP Fan]

Nope 2 kit guns thats it

 

[PMRet]

I recommend getting both...