S&W 317 v. 351

[RAMS]

Question: Generally, for deep penetration purposes, would the current-day powerful .22 LR ammo (Aguila Super Maximum 30 gr. or CCI Mini Mag 36 gr., etc.) out of the 3" 317 bbl. be at least equal to the most powerful .22 WMR ammo (Winchester Supreme 34 gr., etc.) out of S&W 1 7/8" 351 bbl.?

Fifteen or so years ago, after my informal but repeated testing in phone books with both of those revolvers, no .22 LR ammo from the 317, including Stingers, even came close to the penetration of Win. Supreme 34 gr. WMR HP's from the 351. Expansion is a separate matter and a little info on the internet about expansion can be found..

Today, however, I don't have a 317, an indoor place to do repeated, measured penetration testing or current-day ammo such as the hot Aguila Super Magnum .22 LR or 36 gr. Maxi Mag ammo. Nor have I found any actual testing of those two revolvers pitted against each other on the internet.

 

[AJ]

Question: Generally, for deep penetration purposes, would the current-day powerful .22 LR ammo (Aguila Super Maximum 30 gr. or CCI Mini Mag 36 gr., etc.) out of the 3" 317 bbl. be at least equal to the most powerful .22 WMR ammo (Winchester Supreme 34 gr., etc.) out of the 1 7/8" 351 bbl.?

Fifteen or so years ago, after my informal but repeated testing in phone books with both of those revolvers, no .22 LR ammo from the 317, including Stingers, even came close to the penetration of Win. Supreme 34 gr. WMR HP's from the 351. Expansion is a separate matter and a little info on the internet about expansion can be found..

Today, however, I don't have a 317, an indoor place to do repeated, measured penetration testing or current-day ammo such as the hot Aguila Super Magnum .22 LR or 36 gr. Maxi Mag ammo. Nor have I found any actual testing of those two revolvers pitted against each other on the internet.

I have owned both the 317 and still have a 351C. I have never really done a penetration test. My 317 only had a 2 inch barrel and I used CCI Velociters in it. Just shooting them at the range, I would have to give the "shock & awe" value to the 351C.

 

[RAMS]

Roger that, but I miss my old 317 as a much more quiet fun gun, and wonder how much more powerful today's hot .22 LR ammo is if it ever had to be used for self defense in a 3" bbl. 317 compared to the 1 7/8" bbl. 351

 

[Injunbro]

I have both 317 & 351PD w/ 1 7/8" barrels, my wife has a 317 w/ 3" bbl. The 351PD way outshines the 317's in either barrel length even w/ stingers - flatter shooting & nearly double penetration. No contest. Also now the new .22 WMR ammo made for short barrels is even better yet. .22lr is a good plinking, snake shooter round but it's not in the same league as a .22WMR.

 

[RAMS]

I have both 317 & 351PD w/ 1 7/8" barrels, my wife has a 317 w/ 3" bbl. The 351PD way outshines the 317's in either barrel length even w/ stingers - flatter shooting & nearly double penetration. No contest. Also now the new .22 WMR ammo made for short barrels is even better yet. .22lr is a good plinking, snake shooter round but it's not in the same league as a .22WMR.

Yep, it's looking like I should just stick with the 351. Sure wish Smith would put a 3" bbl. on it though--better sighting, better velocity and still concealable.

 

[AJ]

The real downside to the 351C is the trigger pull. Wish there was a way to lighten the trigger pull.

 

[RAMS]

The real downside to the 351C is the trigger pull. Wish there was a way to lighten the trigger pull.

It can be done to some extent, but only by a good Gun $mith so as not to lighten it so much that ignition reliability is lost. That's why I like only the double action 351; the PD model.

 

[Nevada Ed]

+1 on post #2;

the heavy 40gr is the best medicine for most 22 weapons.
Plus they work a lot better in my rifles than the light 29gr or light "Speed balls" out at 50-100 yards.

 

[ralph7]

The real downside to the 351C is the trigger pull. Wish there was a way to lighten the trigger pull.

My 317 has the heaviest trigger pull I have felt on a revolver.