I need opinions on the 317 .22.

[Stanley C.]

I am thinking of trading for a 3" 317 and was wondering what everyones thoughts are on them. I have actually shot it before. It not as easy to shoot as accurately as my other j frames, but considering how light it is I was pleased with its performance. I am curious about aftermarket grips, sight options, durability, etc.. Include pics. Thanks

 

[Loco Weed]

I had one and hated it. It was too light to be able to hold steady for accurate shooting. The fiber optic front sight and deep V rear sight were just awful and removed any last bit of accuracy in the revolver. I called S&W about a sight change and they quoted me an outrageous price. I might mention that I'm color blind and fiber optic sights do absolutely nothing for me. Overall I was very disappointed and quickly sold it off.
Good luck on yours.

 

[Munsterf18]

317

I have one. It's extremely light and easy to shoot, plus it's an 8 shot. My kids love it, even over a Buckmark semiauto. It's shot mostly in single action by them while plinking. It's a little light for accurate double action shooting. I don't have the hi-viz, just a black ramp.

 

[Stanley C.]

If I trade I was thinking of changing the sights to plain black. The hi viz front and shallow v rear are difficult for my eyes to see and shoot well.

 

[owenwd54]

the 317 is good gun

I have 2 317 and I love both of them . The 3"is bone stock and shoots real good and the 1 7/8 one that I have has wolf springs in it and the rebound slide has been polished as well as some other parts and it shoots good . I shoot both of them double action .
If you shoot the 317 a lot you will like it.

 

[cowboy117]

I have one[1 7/8] and like it-i use it as a trainer for my CCW[37-2-.38 Special].After 5,000 or so shots,send it to S&W for a rebuild.Cylinder gets loose front to back.I use it for point shooting.Stock springs[Wolfe shot 6 out of 8 ].I shoot DA.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I kind of like my 43 (3.5" bbl), but I guess it all depends on what fits in your pocket or on your belt. It fit my hand just fine with stock SB Magnas and a Tyler, and a good isometric hold makes up for the light weight. I paid much less for a practically new 43 than one would have to pay for an actually new 317.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Like cowboy117 we also use ours for point shooting, which is what it was actually purchased for. My wife will work with the 317 and then finish up her training session with a 642.........

 

[keithherrington]

I owned a 317 but sold it. It was not accurate enough for me, the sights were way off (It shot way low) and the J Frame was too small for my hand. Sold it and bought a 4" Model 18. Much happier now.

 

[inFALable]

I have had a 317 since they first came out. I got it for Christmas when I was in high school. I really want to like mine but it won't shoot to its sights with any load I've ever tried (about 20). I really have no use for it other than as a play thing. I guess I should send it in to Smith to get it zero'ed.

 

[Triggernosis]

... I really want to like mine but it won't shoot to its sights with any load I've ever tried (about 20). I really have no use for it other than as a play thing. I guess I should send it in to Smith to get it zero'ed.

Same trouble with mine.

Save your money, I sent mine back to S&W 3 times for various issues. Still couldn't get it to shoot accurately, even single-action from a rest. Sold it for a $100 loss just to get rid of it.

 

[tguil]

I thought about getting one, but read so much that was not all that positive about them that I changed my mind. They are light, but other than that....I just don't know -- accuracy problems and finish problems. I am planning to buy a new 3 1/2 inch Model 63 when they finally become available. J frame all stainless is hard to beat.

 

[ken158]

If you want a J frame 22, get a 34 or 63 - even a 43 is better than the 317. I have had 2 of the 317's and like some of the posts, just does not shoot straight or tight.

 

[Stainz]

Two years ago found me torn between a x10 4" 617, x8 5" 63, and the x8 3" HiViz 317K. That fall, I started with the 617 - wow! Last fall, I added the 63 - not as much of a wow. A great deal on a LN 317K presented itself earlier this year - I couldn't do it - just too light! Besides, S&W had announced a 3" 63 this year - I elected to wait... which I am still doing!

The 5" 63 came with the same grip as the 317 - too small for me. I found the Hogue square conversion monogrip - enough for my medium+ hands - at my pusher's. I also put the highest J-frame hammer coil spring that comes with the Wolff kit in - and changed the trigger rebound spring, too. The rimfire J-frames come with the most stout hammer spring available. S&W is being 'PC' - they want your revolver to go bang! A very little oil, and it was ready to plink away with. You bet I'll get a 3" when they hit the stores.

It's my contention that a 3" HiViz sighted revolver, even a J-frame, is too big for a pocket, so Airweight Al or SS won't matter - and I don't want any Al, etc, in my 'fun' firearms - a 642 & 296 for CCW/protection is enough. YMMV.

Stainz

 

[Triggernosis]

A 3-1/2" model 63 should be really nice!

 

[noah228]

I was at the range this morning and one of the handguns I had with me was my 317 Kit Gun with 3 inch bbl. I find it a fun little shooter. The only modifications to it are some very nice wood grips I bought off ebay (around $10.00 IMC) that are designed for the round butt J frame and the grips give it a more square butt look and feel. They fit great and are bigger than the stock grips and feel to me so much better than the S&W rubber grips. They improved my accuracy for sure.
I had some 22lr Aguila Interceptors and also some CCI Mini Mag 40 grain with me. Now the 317 is not a target gun. Its more of a true, in your pocket, woods walking, Kit Gun, and with its light weight and 8 round capacity it fills the job well IMHO. It will deliver minute of pie plate accuracy at 10-15 yards and for a kit gun that should be adequate. Over time my double action trigger pull has eased quite a bit. At 30 feet I can put all 8 rounds in a paper plate, firing double action, with either the Aguila or the CCI. The CCI Mini Mag is a bit more accurate to dead center than the Hyper Vel. Interceptors, but the Aguila rounds are quite powerful for a 22LR and penetrate well into wet pack. My 317 also handles Stingers quite well. The 317 is very light and handy and I do carry it right in my front pants pocket, out of sight. The 317 probably won't break any records for accuracy (I got used to the Hi-Viz sights) but with practice and frequent use I believe it will prove to be a nice little plinker and kit gun and that's what it is best suited to do. At least it did for me. Your results may vary. I do try to keep my 317 very clean so after a couple thousand or so rounds, it is still reliable every time. and never had a FTF. They are pricey for sure. The new (coming soon) stainless S&W 63 with 3inch bbl. should be a great kit gun. Another good choice for a kit gun would be the Ruger Bearcat. Good luck with your choice.
Noah

 

[mfoley]

My 317 Story

I needed a light .22 to carry with me while hunting small game.

I purchased a 3 inch 317-3 and noted that the Vi-Viz sights caused severe elevation problems.

The round front sight had both a top and a bottom that had to be aligned vs the normal square notch rear and blade front sight where you just have to align the top of the sights.

I called and talked to S&W about replacing the sights with normal notch and blade sights.

I ordered a set of sights for a 3 inch model 60 J Frame and swapped them out. This required drilling the new front sight and re-pinning it.

I had a trigger job done on the 317 and had the springs changed to lighten the double action trigger pull making sure I had good ignition all of the time.

The gun is very light and I have to practice regularly with it to shoot it well double action but it works for me.

 

[MTKTM]

I bought one about three years ago and still have it, but don't use it a lot. I find that many of the criticisms made in this thread apply, too light, sights a bit hard to line up, heavy DA trigger-pull. It isn't a bad gun, but if I had it to do over again I'd spend the money on something else. I love the 617, am surprised that S&W gave the 317 that designation since the 17 denotes a K rather than a J frome.

 

[BubbaBlades]

I bought (actually traded a Colt Python) a 2" 317 when they first came out. I shot it a few times and was not happy with it other than the size and weight. I sold or traded the 317 and didn't think about them until last year when Allen-frame asked me to zero the Crimson Trace laser that he had on his 3" 317. I adjusted the laser for a ten yard zero and it produced a single hole group. I informed Alan that if he ever wanted to sell his 317 I would like to be first in line. Alan did sell me the 317 several months later and I rezeroed the laser for 15 yards. The above 7 shot single hole group was shot off hand at 15 yards. I would have been glad to shoot this size group with my S&W M41 or even my Ruger 10/22.
Mark

 

[Gebe]

I love my 3" 317 and don't quite understand what all the complaints are about. It's an early model though with the plain black adjustable sights. I personally don't like the HIVIZ sights. Too large for a gun this size and just don't look right.

Mine was very accurate right out of the box and though shooting double action is slightly stiff, to me it's fine. The incredible light weight, (not to mention the 8 shot cylinder), is what astounded me and sold me on it.