Model 17-4, what is the best ammo?

[Hammerless-12]

Hi,
I have been shooting handguns for better than thirty years and have just brought a really nice S&W model 17-4 with a 6 inch barrel. It belonged to a family member and I know it was not shot much. When I first got it the trigger and action felt very dry. I took the side plate off and did find the action so dry I do not believe it ever had any lubrication at all. I removed the entire action and properly lubed it, now it has a really smooth action and I completely fell in love with this little gun. My question is, and I'm sure I read something about this elsewhere on this forum but cant find it now, what is the best ammo to use in this revolver? I took this gun out and at a measured 25 yards the best groupings I could get was just shy of three inches. I was useing CCI standard and CCI Blazer ammunition. The good news is it was very consistant and I was shooting off a sandbag. I think it is an ammunition problem and would like to hear some of your excperiances with different ammunition and what works for you. I also wecome any other thoughts you might have.

 

[Smith357]

I don't belive there is one ammo that works well with all M17s. If they are anything my target .22s, each one prefers different ammo. I will reccomend that you go out and get a nice variety of standard velocity ammo and bench test them all to see which ones work best in that particular revolver. Then go back and buy a couple of bricks of that ammo.

 

[au2183]

I agree with the above post 100%. I find about any rimfire is an individual when it comes to it's preferred ammunition. Finding out what that is can be one of the best parts of buying a new gun IMO. One thing I always try is CCI SV. That shoots well in more of my 22's than anything else.

 

[20nickels]

Also agree with above, but would add that if you want a bulk bullet to get the feel of the 17. I like Federal Auto Match from Wal-Mart, clean and relatively accurate... if you can find it

 

[fyimo]

I'm watching this treadf with interest becasue I haven't shot my new 17-4 with 8 3/8 inch barrel that I bought about 6 weeks ago. I find these comments facinating only because I have a k22 with 6 inch barrel that eats anything and is accurate with all but a few rounds that I have put through it. The worst in the k22 is some old Winchester wildcat 40 gr lead bullets. I am pleased that it shoots Remington bulk pack golden hollow points really well.

I will take the 8 3/8 inch 17-4 out in the next few weeks and try a varitity of different ammo and see how it does.

My Model 41 on the other hand is super ammo sensitive and can shoot great with one round and look aweful with another.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

.22's are the most ammo sensitive guns out there. I know that hyper-velocity ammo isn't supposed to be all that accurate, but Remington Yellow Jackets will outshoot any other ammo I've tried...consistantly. In every .22 I own, including my 17-3, and my Remington 541T, both of which have match chambers in them. In the 541, I get 1/2" 5 shot groups at 50 yards with Yellow Jackets. I always take at least 10 different kinds of ammo to the range when I am trying a new .22 out. FWIW

 

[jbouwens]

Agreed, Take many brands with you, I have found that most shoot good through my 17-4 but they all hit in different spots. I stick to Winchester silver box and adjusted my sights to it. What a great little shooter. You will love the gun. My other 22 pistols and revolvers are collecting dust since I bought the 17 a few year ago.

 

[m657]

....ditto on what they said above....

FWIW further....avoid the Russian "Junior" 22 brand....so filthy it will totally clog a Ruger MkII in less than 50 rounds!

I've found my 17-4 8 3/8" will shoot ANYTHING better than I can hold, without some kind of bracing/support. I'm at the point where the combination of decreasing eyesight and the general wobbles conspire against the notion of "x-ring accuracy" . Years ago I was pleased with such scores as 98 point rapid fire indoor competition. Not great, yet satisfying for a country boy. Now however, falling plates at 25 yards are my favorite current targets.

I've tried all the 22 ammo of late. My observation is 1) I need a LOT more practice; 2) Even given the variability of the ammo, my groups vary depending more on what I do with trigger break/sight alignment that day.

 

[H Richard]

As everyone has stated, .22 RF handguns are very ammo sensitive, and all are "individuals". Two mod 17-4's with consecutive S/N's may each like different ammo! That's why I have a large box with probably one or two boxes each of around twenty some different brands/variants. My current 17-4 does real well with Aguila SE, 40 Gr. Standard Velocity. Surprisingly, it does not like Fiocchi SM320, which most of my other .22's do like. Over the years, I have found that most "target" level .22 pistols usually like standard velocity. But there are always exceptions.

My biggest problem is my age, and the eye's just aren't what they used to be. A red dot sight helps a lot.

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, as has been noted, each .22 is a law unto itself. FWIW, my 1955 K22 is most accurate with Winchester T22, CCI Green Tag, and Fiocchi SM 320, so you might try those. It does not do well with CCI Mini-Mag, Winchester PowerPoint, or some "el cheapo" Peters stuff that I've had for 20-ish years.

Interestingly, my Browning Buckmark is far less finicky about ammo. It'll feed and shoot almost anything accurately, even the old Peters stuff. [shrug]

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[44wheelman]

The bulk packed Federal from Wally-World works well for me. My experience with match-grade ammo was that it just eliminated an occasional flyier... try a variety; you never know what your specific gun might like.

 

[Stranglehold]

As already stated, each .22 is a law unto itself. I try to keep a good supply of various brands and styles of .22 ammo available, to wring out each new gun.

I have also found Yellowjackets to be the most accurate in a few different .22's. A 17-3 will consistantly group them into 1" at 25 yards, but the 17-4 in the picture above, abhors them.

Roe

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Cci standard velocity

CCI standard velocity does real well in my 617 and the bulk target from wall-mart is second on the list that it likes to eat. I keep about the top twenty brands on hand to test with.

 

[Joed49]

I've had the best luck with standard velocity in my .22's. I have tons of the Winchester stuff and all seem to like it. Another is Federal, has always done fine by me.

For some reason I seem to get a lot of bad ammo from Remington.

 

[beb42503]

Just based on my target rifles both CCI Mini Mags & CCI Standard Vel. generally give target accuracy. Federal 510 & Federal 714 are also good cheaper ammo that shoots well in most .22's if and when you can find it.