Successful 617 Sight Upgrade

[one eye joe]

Being an old geezer with compromised vision, I was having a difficult time acquiring a proper sight picture with the standard rear sight and Patridge front sight of my 617. The sights were just blurring together on my 4 inch revolver. With input gleaned from my inquiries on the forum, I replaced the rear sight with a .140 wide notch rear sight from Jack Weigand and a Red Ramp S&W front blade from Midway. I went to the range this AM, and the difference was nothing short of phenomenal. Despite the RR blade being 1/8 inch taller than the Patridge, there was MORE than enough range of elevation to zero the revolver. I was able to quickly pick up the front sight and center it properly. After 100 rounds of CCI Standard Velocity ammo, I went from being off-the-paper low @ 50 ft. to being in the X-ring. It took 25 clicks up, but there's still more available. It's a GREAT combo, and I'm one happy pistolero.

I FINALLY have my camera up and running, so I'll post some pics...........

 

[Hunting Red]

Thank you very much. That will help with a number of S&W's. I was thinking of trying to put a Dot on my 617 but I will try that. I'm going to shoot a 625 5" for Icore with iron sights. I will try it on that. Brownells should have the Weigand rear and I already have the fiber optic front. Thanks.

 

[one eye joe]

Hi Hunting Red. The fiber front sights are difficult to align in a square notch rear sight properly--for me at least. I installed them on three Mountain Guns, and removed them shortly after. The problem is that the fiber front is round and the tops of the rear sight are square. It's hard to get them straight across. If you try the bottom of the notch--it too is square. There are better alternatives for use with fiber front sights. There is a V notch, and a rounded bottom notch that is used to orient the fiber sight's round bottom edge. I don't know who makes them, but an inquiry on this forum, or Google may point you in a good direction. Take a peek at what setup is being used by successful shooters that you compete with who use fiber front sights. The guys that I've shot with through the 50+ years I've been at it have always been more than willing to help a fellow shooter out. I'd hate to see you spend the money buying the Weigand and having it installed by a professional gunsmith (as they recommend) based on my post, AND be unhappy with the results. Do some research before you decide.....

 

[Hunting Red]

My fiber optic has a square top. That's what I see.

 

[BrianE]

I'd definitely be interested in some pictures... . I have poor eye sight and could maybe benefit as well. Thank you...

 

[one eye joe]

My fiber optic has a square top. That's what I see.

GREAT, THIS SET UP SHOULD WORK FINE IF THAT'S THE CASE.....

 

[one eye joe]

Brian go to Jack Weigand's website for a great close up and info on the rear sight. The front is just a standard Red Ramp, as found on any S&W, BUT there is a great pic of just the blade on Midway. When I get my camera back from servicing, I'll try to add a pic of my 617 to my OP.........

 

[AveragEd]

At age 65, I can no longer bring the sights on a revolver into focus. I opted for drug store reading glasses - I held my pen out at arm's length and tried different strength glasses until 3.5x brought the pen into sharp focus. The target is very blurry but I can put 50 rounds into a 1" hole at 50 feet off a rest so it must be working.

Ed

 

[one eye joe]

I'd definitely be interested in some pictures... . I have poor eye sight and could maybe benefit as well. Thank you...

I hear ya, Brian. I posted some pics for you on my OP above........

 

[S&W forever]

I too have fiber optic red front on my 617. No problem at all, best sights ever!

 

[Tom C]

Sights, of course, are a very personal thing which is a good reason why I like the quick change sight blade on some of my other S&W revos. On my 6” 617 I carefully replaced the front sight blade with a black serrated ramp, which is my preferred sight. After doing that I mounted a little Ultra dot L/T on it just for fun. It makes it a whole new ball game for us old geezers.

 

[one eye joe]

Sights, of course, are a very personal thing which is a good reason why I like the quick change sight blade on some of my other S&W revos. On my 6” 617 I carefully replaced the front sight blade with a black serrated ramp, which is my preferred sight. After doing that I mounted a little Ultra dot L/T on it just for fun. It makes it a whole new ball game for us old geezers.

Tom, could you post a pic ? ?

 

[Tom C]

Tom, could you post a pic ? ?

Not until I get home from work tonight. Uploading photos is blocked by the system here.

 

[one eye joe]

Not until I get home from work tonight. Uploading photos is blocked by the system here.

Thanks, Tom. I'l be watchin' for it.........

 

[Tom C]

This is my collection of 4 K frame .22s: a 1958 vintage Model 17, 6", 5" and 4" 617s and the 6" 617 with the Ultradot L/T.

 

[Stainz]

The HiViz #SW617 is short enough to work with the stock rear sight on my 4" 617 - and with my 'mature' eyes (I am rapidly approaching 64!), I have used +1.00 Diopter full lens magnifier safety glasses for years. My reading requirement for twenty years was +1.75 - changed to +2.75 in the last two years. I have since gone to +1.25 - +1.50 Diopter dollar store readers and found them better under most lighting conditions. The idea is to use no more than you have to - and keep the depth of field acceptable for the front sight to the target. This is still possible with revolvers held at arm's length in dull overcast conditions with targets out to 50yd. With a rifle, like my .22 rimfires, AR-15 Sport, and Puma M1892 .45 Colt levergun, I've reverted to peep sights - problem solved... as long as I understand I will never be the legendary bullseye shooter I think I was!

I guess it is what is 'acceptable' as far as accuracy is concerned. Hand shake helps - it's another excuse! Hey, a steel plate goes 'ping' whether you hit dead center or on the ege... and the fo sights 'help' my acquisition - I have them on all of my .22 LR rimfire revolvers (3" & 5" 63 & 4" 617). Still needing a fo front - my 4" 651!

Stainz

 

[fyimo]

One Eye Joe

That's a great looking sight upgrade and I'm glad it worked out so great.

 

[one eye joe]

One Eye Joe

That's a great looking sight upgrade and I'm glad it worked out so great.

Thanks for the kind words, fyimo........

 

[one eye joe]

This is my collection of 4 K frame .22s: a 1958 vintage Model 17, 6", 5" and 4" 617s and the 6" 617 with the Ultradot L/T.

Thats a great collection of revolovers, Tom. I like the Pachmayr grips and the Ultradot.......

 

[Falguy]

Like the sights and love the grips