What model is best for 22LR target shooting.

[NDAR15MAN]

New member here. What model S&W 22LR revolver 6 inch barrel to 8 1/2 barrel would make the best 25 yard target pistol ? The one choose I am going to put a Burris 2-7x32 pistol scope on it.
I want a good out of the box trigger and pistol should be drilled and tap from factory for the scope. You thoughts. Thanks. MD

 

[Beemerguy53]

New member here. What model S&W 22LR revolver 6 inch barrel to 8 1/2 barrel would make the best 25 yard target pistol ? The one choose I am going to put a Burris 2-7x32 pistol scope on it.
I want a good out of the box trigger and pistol should be drilled and tap from factory for the scope. You thoughts. Thanks. MD

I love my 617...

 

[hkcavalier]

With the scope requirement it's pretty much a 617 or nothing. The triggers will all be decent, but if you want world class smoothness you're going to have to have that work done by a pro.

 

[Dave Lively]

Your best choice is a 617. Since you want a long barrel ready for a scope it is your only choice from S&W. But for a target pistol it would still be your best choice even if it wasn't your only choice.

If you are expecting an out of the box trigger as good as the centerfire versions you will be disappointed. It takes a strong blow to reliably ignite a 22 LR and that means a heavy DA pull. Out of the box the SA trigger pull on mine was crisp but heavier than I wanted. The DA pull was heavy as expected but very smooth.

I wanted a lighter pull so I put a lighter aftermarket rebound spring in which helped in both the DA and SA. The rebound springs is what pushes the trigger forward after you fire a shot and will not affect how hard the hammer strikes. But a lighter rebound spring will mean the trigger does not reset as briskly and if you go too light can result in the trigger not returning at all. Since my 617 is strictly a range gun that was a small price to pay for a lighter trigger pull. I used a 13 pound spring which on the light side but has never failed to reset the trigger. Those that shoot mostly DA and are trying to be as quick as possible tend to prefer the heavier pull but more forceful reset of the stock rebound spring.

Mess with the hammer spring and expect more misfires.

 

[gwpercle]

A 617 with a Target Trigger Job from a place such as Clark Custom Guns .
Their trigger jobs are legendary .
They can also mount the scope for you .
Gary

 

[stu1ritter]

All depends. Are you planning on competing? If so, what type of competition or is this a target plinker?

Stu

 

[rockquarry]

I bought a new Model 17 forty years ago and it's been shot a great deal, straight -out-of-the-box, single-action only, Bullseye style at 25 yards. I continue to shoot this gun regularly, but not competitively. It's always been quite accurate; I've used mostly CCI Standard Velocity ammo.

 

[357 shooter]

The 617 6" is a great 25 yard target handgun! I picked one up (617-5) a year ago at a local auction and since that time it has proven to be one of the most accurate revolvers I've ever owned.

I started out with a a Leupold steel base and rings with an Ultradot and then later for weight reduction went with an aluminum Allchin mount and Vortex Venom.

The best targets are on par with my semi auto target pistols - Smith 41 and Ruger MKIIs.

 

[NYlakesider]

Have a Model 17 I got years ago! In my hands its just a bit more accurate than my 18!

 

[H Richard]

As others have asked, it depends on what you plan to do with it. If you are planning on competitive Bullseye then you may want an older Mod 17 which may be a little smoother trigger, but would have to have the top strap drilled and taped to mount a scope. I would plan on a 6" barrel unless you plan to only do benchrest shooting. For all around non-competitive shooting I love my 617-6, which is 10 round, and already drilled and tapped for scope mounting. I prefer a red dot sight out to 25 yards, but for 50 to 100 yards a scope would be preferred (if you are shooting from a stable rest. The scope magnifies your every movement).

 

[Mehutch]

Love me 617-4 ten shooters. It's one of those forever guns. I'll change the scope for standard sights.

 

[TAROMAN]

This one caused me to leave the 17s and 18 in the safe.

 

[22shtur]

I had a 35-1 that was extremely accurate. I had just finished practicing bullseye, and shot the 35-1 for fun. That fun was impressive at holding the X ring and 10 ring at 25 yards with iron sights. I don't know if it's D&T for scope.

 

[lscocoa]

Any k22 will be your best choice. Older 17’s up to-6 or 7 will need something like the b-square no gunsmithing mount . 17-8 and present manufacture 17-9 are drilled and taped . 6” no lug barrel is the same in weight basically as the 4” full lug , 6” full lug same as 8 3/8” no lug barrel. Thoughts as weight can be an issue and then a scope is being added . 17/617 you can’t go wrong . My main 2 are a 4” 617 with a red dot and a 17-2 6” with a b-square mount and 2x scope . ( no clamps as I’ve found with 22’s you don’t need it) .

 

[NDAR15MAN]

617 target revolver

Thanks for the good info. I am going to print hard copy of all this good info fir my local dealer. Hope he can find me one. So it sounds like I should go with a 617- 8 and above target model ? Does any one know what dash number I should be looking for ? Are they up to a dash -8 model now in 2021 or 2022 ? Just want to make sure I am looking for the target model , drilled ad tapped for scope , the best out of box trigger model they make. Thanks. Marty

 

[lscocoa]

Here’s a pic from the standard catalog of engineering changes and variations. From the pics from the other members you’ll find they have cool set up’s to wet one’s appetite, cause one k-frame 22 is not enough it’s only a start !!
Larry

 

[jayjay23]

With the scope requirement it's pretty much a 617 or nothing. The triggers will all be decent, but if you want world class smoothness you're going to have to have that work done by a pro.

Recently picked up a new 617 S&W 617. 22LR revolver with a 6'' barrel and the trigger is as good as one can expect from a factory trigger. I absolutely love mine.

 

[ericrlarson]

Mine is one gun that will NEVER leave.


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[rockquarry]

I guess I'm in the minority here. I didn't realize so many used optical sights on handguns, but I suppose there would be a definite advantage over factory open sights at long ranges, beyond 50 yards.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a Super 14" Contender barrel that is pretty hard to beat. I know it isn't quite Apples to Apples, but it is a good alternative!

Ivan