S&W 617 Barrel length

[hsc]

Simple question, I want a 617 but can't decide on barrel length, 4inch or 6inch

 

[hsc]

Simple question, I want a 617 but can't decide on barrel length, 4inch or 6inch

 

[john traveler]

Simple answer. 4" easier to carry and lighter. Some like the quicker handling and balance.

6" longer sight radius, easier for precision shooting. Some like the additional forward balance.

If you have 4" and 6" K frame centerfires, you might select one that matches your CF guns.

When I was young and sassy, and my eyesight was 20-20, I prefered the 6" guns for accuracy. Now that my eyes are much less accomodating, I find the 4" barrels easier to use.

It's certainly your decision, so which do you like more?

 

[hsc]

My wife got me a 686 plus w/6in barrel for Christmas so maybe I should get a 6in. It will be used as a range gun like all my other hand guns.

 

[Revolver King]

4"

 

[bellevance]

Originally posted by hsc:
My wife got me a 686 plus w/6in barrel for Christmas so maybe I should get a 6in. It will be used as a range gun like all my other hand guns.

Since you already own the 686 in 6-inch, it seems only natural that the 617 should also be a 6-inch barreled gun. I have both of them in that length, and they complement each other perfectly--weight, balance, and trigger.

 

[stevieboy]

It's impossible to choose. So, I did the logical thing and got both

Seriously, the handling characteristics of the two guns are quite different. The longer barrel plus the full underlug on the 6" model makes it quite front end heavy and not a really great gun for activities that require rapid target acquisition/shooting. However, I can shoot my 6 incher more accurately than I can the 4" gun, so it's a tradeoff. Indeed, the 6" 617 is, I think, one of the most accurate revolvers made. With it, I can almost (not quite, but almost) keep up with my wife and her 41.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

I am guessing that you are thinking more in terms of recent productions. I say this because there is one more difference between the 4" and the 6" 617s (in the 10-shot variety). If you are looking for an older one, the 6" ones are not very hard to find. The 4" ones are about as hard to find as hens teeth! It took me a long time to find one. Definately worth searching for IMO, but hard to find at a reasonable price.

I prefer the 4" over the 6" just because it seems to balance a whole lot better. To me, the shorter barrel looks very natural on this gun. I am sure that if I had the longer barreled version, I would like it very much, but not as much as the 4".

WG840

 

[AzShooter]

If you like a heavy gun go with the 6 inch. Sme people think it's too heavy. I like it even for bullseye shooting. It just hangs there and doesn't move.

 

[warriorsociologist]

My 617 is a 6"... and then (do what I did) and get a nice 4" model 18.

Long & heavy (6" 617-1) and light and short (4" 18-3)

 

[wproct]

I had a 617 no dash 6in full target that I sold like a dummy, and now have a 617-1 4in that I bought several months ago. I could shoot the 6in better, but found the 4in and thought it would be better weight and balance for my grandkids to learn to shoot on.

 

[beach elvis]

Having both a 6" 586 and a 6" 629 Classic DX (both w/ full underlugs, needless to say) I at first figured that a 6" 617 would be the logical choice due to my being accustomed to the weight distribution factor.

However, my wife2B messed all that up by giving me a 4" 617.

My own practical experience has been that the 4-incher feels to me like the balance is more to the center of things. In reference to rimfires where muzzle flip isn't a consideration, I'm diggin' it!

Regarding accuracy discrepencies due to the shorter sight radius, I prob'ly don't shoot well enough to be able to tell the difference.

I'm used to shooting .22's with my 8&3/8" mod. 17 no-dash and the difference in balance is obviously quite noticeable, not to mention the LOOONG sight radius. More accurate? In the right hands, quite possible if not probable. But heck, if I'm really bent on trying for 10 shots in the same hole @ 50 yds. or whatever with the 4" 617, I can always put a red dot on it to up the odds a good bit. The most important thing is to know your gun.

I'd guess that your best bet would be to rent one of each at a range if you can, remembering the ammo-finicky-ness of the beast in question, and you'll know the pros and cons of each for yourself pretty quickly. It should be pretty easy to choose by then, I'd think.

Whichever you decide upon, be ready for some serious FUN!!!!!

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I have the 6", but would prefer to have the 4".I could not turn down the deal on the 6".

 

[hesco]

get the 6 inch you can alway take a hacksaw to it, and cut a half inch at a time untill it feels right.

 

[robotoid]

I have a 17 6" and a 617 4". I'd put a 4" barrel on the 17 if I could find one, never shoot it anymore.

 

[Roger Norris]

I have a 6 inch, last week I was rabbit hunting with it, and I was thinking I would like it better as a 4 inch.

 

[kennyb]

i have the 4" 617 10 shot...put a red dot on it and weeeeeeee-doggie!its a tack driving fool now!

 

[RonJon]

6" beats 4" every time - Ask any woman!!!

 

[beach elvis]

Originally posted by RonJon:
6" beats 4" every time - Ask any woman!!!

Unless we're talkin' diameter.

Shutting up now...