New 617 4 inch, walked AWAY!

[wnc wheelgun]

Went to the LGS to try out some new ammo in my 28, when I spied a new four inch 617 in the back of the case for $750. I asked to touch it since I have been looking for a 4 inch K 22 lr revolver for the wife. After reading so much about quality control on the new guns, I knew what to look for. First looked for the canted barrel, yep, there it was. Looked over the cylinder and frame, yep, tooling marks on several of the recessed chambers and small scratches. I figure if I quit looking a nice used one will fall in my lap. Yeah, right.

 

[JBnTx]

What are you trying to tell us?

 

[Dave T]

I think he's telling us S&W lost another sale thanks to their lack of QC in current production revolvers...but then I'm a skeptic. I know I wouldn't pay $750 for a new gun with a canted barrel and tool marks in the chambers (and I didn't even mention the IL - lol).

Dave

 

[Avery11]

Good for you. You did your job as a consumer and did not expect something to be perfect out of the box.

You saved your money and the aggrivation. I hope the dealer sent that gun back rather than selling it to the next guy.

 

[Florida Guy]

I hope the dealer sent that gun back rather than selling it to the next guy.

That's funny

 

[wnc wheelgun]

Knowledge is power

The 617 will not be sent back by anyone at the LGS, buyer beware. Right beside it was a 17-3 in 97% condition, no extras for $1,200. I already have one, I just wanted the little lady to have her own. What I really should have said in my post was I appreciate the wealth of information I get from this forum. Luckily the 3 new j frames I bought in the early 2000’s, a 60, 649, and a 640 did not have any manufacturing problems. I hope this changes soon, model 18 are scarce around here or unrealistically priced.

 

[stantheman86]

Not to draw flames but check out Ruger's new 4" SP101 .22 LR revolver. It's a lot less than $750 and it will last longer than any of us. The grips are easily changed and would be perfect for the wife as a .22 plinker.

I had a 6" 617 and ended up selling it, I already have a 6" K-22 and the 617 had 2 chambers that didn't carry up. I liked the gun well enough but I just had no desire to keep it. Honestly I plan to put the K-22 away just for occasional shooting and pick up an SP101 or Single Six one of these days.

 

[wnc wheelgun]

stantheman, pardon my lack of revolver terminology, but what does “carry up” mean? I saw the review of the Ruger 22 lr in a recent American Handgunner, looks like a nice piece, also heard there is quite a backorder on that one already.

 

[M3Stuart]

Not to draw flames but check out Ruger's new 4" SP101 .22 LR revolver. It's a lot less than $750 and it will last longer than any of us. The grips are easily changed and would be perfect for the wife as a .22 plinker.

Ditto on that. You can place an order for one for $519 plus tax at the LGS around here - problem is; Ruger cannot, or is not, shipping them at all. None, nada. Ruger has only shipped two batches; the original 'test' batch of several hundred and one later batch of, maaaayyyybee, a thousand or so. That's it. They are not actively producing them for some reason.

Sooooooo, if I worked at S&W, I would tell you; "$519? Really?!? Well, our price on the 617 is only $450 when WE CAN'T SHIP! But the ones we ACTUALLY CAN sell, we sell for $700ish"

Time will tell what Ruger's problem is.

 

[GerSan69]

Ruger has a backlog of a million guns, give or take, so they're temporarily suspending taking new orders.

 

[LewisBrew]

Feel your pain, OP. Finally got to look at my new 617 4" today at my LGS (ordered from Bud's online), and the barrel was canted as well. Also noted some tool marks, but they were in the ejector shroud. Called Bud's to ask for a replacement, and they were happy to help. Just hope second time's a charm.

Anyone got any idea of how prevalent the canted barrel problem is, specifically with these 617's? Are there any straight barrels being made???

 

[one eye joe]

Went to the LGS to try out some new ammo in my 28, when I spied a new four inch 617 in the back of the case for $750. I asked to touch it since I have been looking for a 4 inch K 22 lr revolver for the wife. After reading so much about quality control on the new guns, I knew what to look for. First looked for the canted barrel, yep, there it was. Looked over the cylinder and frame, yep, tooling marks on several of the recessed chambers and small scratches. I figure if I quit looking a nice used one will fall in my lap. Yeah, right.

YA DONE GOOD, SON ! ! !

 

[one eye joe]

Ruger has a backlog of a million guns, give or take, so they're temporarily suspending taking new orders.

You're on the money, GS69. BTW--I have not read any review that speaks well of the Ruger's trigger vs the 617's......

 

[arc2x4]

Last week I was in a large local Gunshop that had hosted a Smith and Wesson Days. They had 4, 4" 617s and a 5 inch 63 and a 3" 63 in the case to choose from. Every one of the 617s had a huge gap 1/4", between the top of the Crane and the bottom of the barrel area of the frame like they had used the wrong jig to Machine it. As I though about it the crane is probably the same one used on the L frames so the gap is a new parts compatability design feature to reduce production costs.
The "finish" looked like they had been thrown in a bag of gravel and shaken up. One had an uneven barrel crown. The 3 inch 63 failed to carry upon three chambers in Single action with cases inserted. The 5" 63 practically needed a mallet to close it.

Blech, I had to pass on all of them, all brand new no QC what so ever. Very sad and disappointing. I wanted a 4" Kframe 22 as I have 4 six inchers spanning 1956 to 2003. I will have to look for a used one.

 

[hsc]

I would like to see pics of a canted barrel.

 

[Lefever]

I recently bought a 4" 617, put some Herrets I had on it and am very happy with it. Also have a 6" I've had 2-3 years which I wanted to scope. That has worked out well also. Probably I don't know what to look for as to all these problems but they get shot a lot, are accurate and work perfectly. Triggers are nice. If something goes awry I'll call S&W and it will surely get fixed.
Bo

 

[Stainz]

To the OP and others who have told us of all of their recent poor examples of new S&W .22 revolvers found at your LGS: I appreciate your desire for anonymity, but not at least indicating the locale in which the mentioned LGS is located is poor form. It conveys information with little real value. Also, just what is meant by the expression, "... failed to carry upon three chambers... "? Do you mean that the timing was off... on three of eight chambers?

I am not being insensitive to folks poor luck in finding new S&W .22 revolvers - it happens - or so I hear. My new 9/'08 4" 617 and new 11/'10 3" 63 were - and remain - as near perfection as one could expect from a manmade production firearm. The same goes for my ANIB 5" 63 from 9/'09.

I've had the opportunity to A-B a new 4" SP-101 with my 3" 63 last fall. My 3" 63 was smoother, more accurate, and, after a year of quite frequent use, looked newer than the Ruger - which was new. Is it worth nearly a C-note more than the Ruger to buy the 3" 63? Yes! (Hey, what did you expect... it's a S&W site!)

If the OP is near C.A. (Central Alabama!), contact me - I'd gladly meet you and your wife at a local range to evaluate the 3" 63 or 4" 617 re her needs.

Stainz

 

[wnc wheelgun]

Thanks for the offer Stainz, my wife loves k frames especially the 6 inch 17-3 I have. If I stumble across a 4 inch 22lr I should be covered if she decides the 6 incher is hers. I showed her my “new” model 10 from 1963 and she wanted to trade her 649 for it. She liked the frame weight and extra round. The search continues.

 

[stantheman86]

Carry up is the timing of the cylinder, 2 of the chambers stopped short of lock up when the gun was cocked in SA slowly. This is common in heavily used S&W's, under "normal" speed in SA and DA it's not an issue. I have a 67-1 that fails the "slow cocking" carryup test but the gun is fine when used normally.

I am a Ruger fanatic as well as a S&W fan, and I am also frustrated that I can't get a new .22 SP101 or an SR1911. I would be happy for now with a nice, solid used Single Six just to plink around with.

 

[Titegroups]

Tons of SR1911 on gunbroker.