Model 617, now it's mine

[hi-power man]

You fellows convinced me. I picked it up and brought it home today. It needs a good cleaning but it's tight. Thanks for the info fellows.

previous post below

I've been looking in my area for a Model 17 that I can use for a shooter with out any luck. Today I ran into a shop with a 617, 10 round, 6 inch barrel. It has a very low round count, with an extremely light ring on the cylinder. I'll be using this for target shooting.

If you have a 617 with 10 round cylinder, are you happy with it ? The trigger double action movement seems very short to me, I expect due to 10 stops as opposed to 6.

Have you had any problems with the star ejecting the cases ? I had a 8 shot Taurus ( I know - not well made ) that the ejector star would push past the cases and catch one or two underneath. I would expect S&W to be much better design, but 10 rounds is a lot in the cylinder circumference, which results in a smaller ejector star.

 

[mtscout]

I have the 617-6, 4 inch.
It's still a honeymoon, but it is a fun shooter.
The double action is not bad, (it's not perfect), but I can hit gopher size targets at 25 yards.
I got this revolver as a 'kit' gun to pack around everywhere.
After 500 rnds, I have never had an extraction problem, other then being too slow and having a shell case slip under the extraction star.
If you plunge the rod sharply it never occurs.
My previous experience with revolvers or this type was a 'bear cat' and a 'sportsman-HR 9 shot'.
Both were good in their own way, but this SW is superior in every way.
My 2 cents.

 

[surfdog76]

I have a 17-3 that I love and will never part with. I also have a 617 6" 6-shot and a 617 4" 10-shot...
Correction: I HAD a 617 6" 6 shot. I recently sold it and bought a 617 6" 10-shot (I now have two 617 10-shots).

Yes, the timing in DA is a little different than the 6-shot, but once you get used to it (no big deal for me), you will never go back.
No difference in SA mode for target shooting. I have experienced no problems ejecting cases.

Accuracy is at least as good as my 17. Go for it!

 

[james56]

I havent had a problem and 1300 rds so far. I love it and the DS10speedloader are fantastic and makes shooting this baby a blast. Heres mine

 

[7shooter]

I've put thousands of rounds through my ten shot 617 six inch and it continues to work flawlessly . I only shoot it double action and it is a very enjoyable gun to shoot. I have had no extraction problems.

 

[Deckard]

I have a 617, 4 inch 10 shot model and have no complaints. I've only put about 900 rounds thru it but I've not had any problems with it. Now I've got to get me one of those DS10 speedloaders and loading blocks for it.

Deckard

 

[tom327]

As Surfdog76's photo shows, they are extremely accurate. The action is reliable and predictable. I find it easier to shoot my model 617 effectively in double action than my model 18. I've never had a problem with the revolver's functioning, including extraction. The only drawback--you can sure go through ammo quickly'

So put me down as another model 617 lover.

 

[hi-power man]

Thanks for the info fellows. Sounds like the 617 is a good substitute for the 17 for my needs.

 

[pea shooter]

617

I had to send mine back when it was new with an overtorqued barrel.when I got it back the gun was excellent.I don't know all that they did to it but it is a dream to shootand very accurate. p.s.the gun was only gone 12 days

 

[mikey52]

, I've had my 617, ten shot for several years now. Thousands of rounds fired and no problems. It is as accurate,as any out of the box .22. Lots of bowling pin shoots, lots of fun; just an outstanding gun. No ejection problems other than like all .22's, they get extremely dirty. You can't go wrong with a Model 617. With lots of patience, elbow grease and Flitz, you can make them look like nickel. I'm talking 40-50 hours of hand rubbing. Mikey

 

[valkyriekl]

I like my 617-4. I've had it for about two years now, and I've put about 25,000 rounds through it. It is my .22 Bullseye gun. I shoot it almost exclusively single-action, and I like that the cylinder locks up very early. Also, when it had the original MIM trigger (I've swapped it for a forged trigger) its double-action was very smooth and didn't have the usual break/overtravel of my other stock S&Ws--it would lock up the cylinder, then the trigger would go almost all the way back before the hammer fell. With my other S&Ws, the trigger would still have a little ways to go before the hammer fell in double-action.

 

[ab4ka]

I've got a 617 that I've owned for about two weeks, shot it once, and it's become one of the last guns I'd ever get rid of. I absolutely adore it!

 

[Stainz]

Regrets over buying my 4" x10 617? You betcha! Why did I wait so long to get one?

When mine leaves, it won't have to turn the lights out - mine will already have been dimmed - and my grandson can turn the room lights off as he exits - with the 617. I just hope he's old...

Stainz

 

[Dyerbill]

In my opinion the 617 is the best 22lr revolver you can buy...go for it!

 

[NavyFrank]

617 10-shot

In .22LR revolvers I started with a Model 63 kit gun when they first came out. Something to carry the campsite. My NRA training counselor had a K22 6 inch barrel that I shot and liked. At the time I couldn't find a new 17-3 in a 6 inch barrel so I picked up a 17-3 in a 8 3/8 inch barrel. That shoots like a rifle but the length is a problem in the carry mode also too heavy for the wife so I got her a Model 35 Target. I started to shoot .44 Specials a lot and .45ACP revolvers and got away from shooting the .22LR guns. Since ammo prices and availability changed I started to dust off the old .22LR's. Since then I picked up a Colt Diamondback and Troooper MkIII in .22LR and a Pre-17 dated from 1952 then year I was born. It looks better and works better than me. I needed a range shooter that would be my training gun with my students and I picked up a used 617 10 shot 6 inch barrel with the stainless steel cylinder I found out earlier in my shooting career that alloy frames and cylinders don't holdup to a lot of shooting without replacement. Now the 617 goes in the range box first thing every weekend. SS is easier to clean also.

 

[surfdog76]

Try handling the 4" model as well... With its full underlug, the 4" balances better than the 6", making it a closer match to the 17 in this regard.
Some find the 6" excessively muzzle heavy. I don't, and for target shooting, I enjoy the longer sight radius. However, the 4" is more in demand
in the used market.

It sounds like that 6" 10-shot was fired very little, and it's trigger may still be stiff. Don't worry, it will improve. 1) Try removing the grips
and adjusting the mainspring's strain screw. If that doesn't satisfy; 2) Try a Wolff Factory Standard Mainspring. Easy install and significant
improvement. Go for the Type 1 (not Type 2):Springs for SMITH & WESSON Revolvers

In either case... Follow with 5K dry fires w/ snap caps!

, "... You can't go wrong with a Model 617. With lots of patience, elbow grease and Flitz, you can make them look like nickel. I'm talking 40-50 hours of hand rubbing." Mikey

That's a nice benefit to SS... You don't have to live with the scratches and dings that magically appear... Grab an old t-shirt and some Mothers
or Flitz while watching the boob-tube. Thumbs up!

 

[.460V & XVR Magnum Man]

I found a place on the web that has both 4" & 6" 617's in stock!!!

I got an email notice of a sale going on, I went to their website and was looking around. I was amazed to see that they had listed to be able to buy NOW, 617's both 6" and 4". I have both myself already, and they are my favorite of all my S&W's, fun accurate and the best .22 revolver out there. They want $682.00 each, I did a dummy test to purchase one, and it went all the way to shipping and credit card info. So it looks like they have them. It even asked for a FFL and gave a fax number. So if anyone is interested let me know. I am not sure if I am allowed to put the name here of the company, if I can please let me know it is ok, and I will post the Business name for anyone who is looking for one.

 

[StingrayG4]

I've got a 617 that I've owned for about two weeks, shot it once, and it's become one of the last guns I'd ever get rid of. I absolutely adore it!

It's like you're right inside my head, man! I just got my 6" 617 10 shot and it's already my favorite gun. I'll never part with it, and have no idea how I lived so long without it. I've shot it every day since buying it. A buddy is on his way over right now and as soon as he gets here, we're going to shoot it again.

-S

 

[TSQUARED]

I shoot both an old 6in. K-22 and a 4 in. 10 shot 617. They both perform flawlessly. The action on the older K-22 is smoother that the current 617. I found the 6 inch 617 with the full underlug a bit too muzzle heavy for my taste and went for the 4 inch version.

 

[kennyb]

great guns...i added a red dot to my 4" 10 shot and it's a monster!