Why Are 617s In Such High Demand

[Bob1943]

The ones on the S&W site are really close looking to yours. Looks like they have a little more checkering. They look pretty good at $79.81, way cheaper than similar Hogues.

I may have to go ahead and order a set of those and hope I can find a new 617 in the next 6 months to a year.

 

[AveragEd]

You might want to wait until you actually have a gun as there are two very distinct grip frame shapes, known as round and square. Newer guns are made with round butts only while the older ones like mine came both ways with square being more common with barrel lengths four inches and longer. Stocks for one won't fit the other however you can buy "conversion" stocks that make a round butt gun look and feel like a square butt but those stocks won't fit a square butt.

I can only wish that attractive original factory Checkered Target Stocks could be bought for $79.81. I have north of $150 in some of mine and factory Combat stocks can fetch twice that amount.

Ed

 

[Bob1943]

The description for both the 4" & 6" 617 on Davidson's Gun Genie site indicate that current production has a square butt. Guess that could change by the time I find one for sale.

FEATURES:

Square Butt, Target Hammer, Smooth Target Trigger
Full Lug, Drilled and Tapped, Internal Lock

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

AveragEd, the figuring on your 4-inch's Combats is spectacular. I'd love to have a pair like that.

 

[madmikeb]

The description for both the 4" & 6" 617 on Davidson's Gun Genie site indicate that current production has a square butt. Guess that could change by the time I find one for sale.

FEATURES:

Square Butt, Target Hammer, Smooth Target Trigger
Full Lug, Drilled and Tapped, Internal Lock

I just bought a 6", the envelope with the fired case says June of this year and it is a round butt.

 

[peterthefish]

I don't think there are modern day square buts out there on anything but the classics series.

 

[Bob1943]

Guess Davidson's needs to update their model specs.

 

[Snowwolfe]

I own a 617 10 shot, 6 inch
Ruger 4 inch SP101
Ruger Single 9
Ruger Single 10
S&W 41
Ruger Hunter

A lot of guns in my safe come and go. But the 617 will not leave, ever. I bought my son the same revolver about 6 years ago and he will most likely pass it onto his kids (if he ever blesses me with grand kids!)
However, I do have a Freedom Arms on order in 22 LR with a 6 inch octagon barrel and the extra 22 mag cylinder. Not matter how accurate it is the 617 will still stay. One of these days I may sell the SP101 and replace it with a 4 inch 617.

 

[bbqbob51]

Quite simply the 617 is probably the finest .22lr handgun available today. It certainly is the best revolver chambered in .22. I have a .22lr Ruger SP101 and there is no comparison, the trigger is much better and the 617 is more accurate.
I bought my 6" bbl 617 last year and it took me 7 months to finally get my paws on one. Everyone that has shot it loves it with 2 saying it was the best handgun they have ever shot. One of them is my buddy who owns several Smith & Wesson revolvers in every caliber up to .44mag including an older 6 shot .22 Smith (model 17 I think) with the 8-3/8" barrel. He liked my 617 so much he went out and bought one (He only waited 2 months) and says it is the best revolver he has ever shot out of the box and is now his favorite Smith.

 

[TTSH]

The love being expressed for the 617 is starting to get a little deep. Yes, it's a great revolver for sure, but I can't say it is superior to my other K and N-frame S&W revolvers... or to the older S&W K-frame .22's that I've had the opportunity to shoot. Let's stay real here folks.

Yes, it is generally superior to the SP101. I admit that. I'd own a 4" non-IL 617 (instead of the SP101) if I could have found and afforded one. But all other things being equal, I still have to believe that an older pre-17 K-22 or older Model 17 or 18 would be even better.

For those folks with terrible SP101 triggers, all I can say is send them back to Ruger for tuning to spec... or maybe try a lighter spring set first... or, if all else fails, save up the money to trade it in on a 617... that is, if you can find one.

 

[steamloco76]

On what basis would you condemn alloy cylinders?

I had an aluminum 10 shot cylinder on my new old stock 17-8 purchased about five years ago. It was an early production gun and in less than 1,000 rounds the revolver had gone seriously out of time. Wear of the cylinder ratchet due to improper hardness of the aluminum. S&W replaced the cylinder with a stainless version, nearly 6,000 rounds later the timing and carry up are perfect.

The 17-8 (blued steel 617) with its original aluminum 10 round cylinder.

Same revolver with the replacement stainless cylinder living a happy life as my wife's favorite revolver.

And, since this thread is about why 617's are so darned popular, here are my two favorite .22 LR revolvers, both will out shoot my 1954 K-22 and 1974 model 17-3 with the ammo I've used so far.

 

[at_liberty]

I had an aluminum 10 shot cylinder on my new old stock 17-8 purchased about five years ago. It was an early production gun and in less than 1,000 rounds the revolver had gone seriously out of time. Wear of the cylinder ratchet due to improper hardness of the aluminum. S&W replaced the cylinder with a stainless version, nearly 6,000 rounds later the timing and carry up are perfect.

The 17-8 (blued steel 617) with its original aluminum 10 round cylinder.

Same revolver with the replacement stainless cylinder living a happy life as my wife's favorite revolver.

And, since this thread is about why 617's are so darned popular, here are my two favorite .22 LR revolvers, both will out shoot my 1954 K-22 and 1974 model 17-3 with the ammo I've used so far.

So, in the worst case scenario, S&W will replace the cylinder without cost.

 

[shawn mccarver]

OK, only a few people (at least that I saw when reading through this thread) mentioned these, which I think were one of the best versions of the 617.

These are not mine. . . I only wish they were!

There are so many guns that I would produce if I were in charge. . . .

 

[Snowwolfe]

Quite simply the 617 is probably the finest .22lr handgun available today. It certainly is the best revolver chambered in .22.

I agree with you the 617 is the finest double action revolver available but when you include single actions the Freedom Arms takes that title. When the NRA dope bag tested the FA years ago they declared it the most accurate .22 handgun they EVER tested and that included semi auto's used in Olympic competition and other high end models.

 

[Dstyles75]

They're in high demand because they're awesome!



617-1 with S&W combats.

 

[mike from st pete]

Because S&W doesn't make a Model 17-X anymore?

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

I wonder how may .22 LR chambers S&W could shoehorn into a X-frame cylinder?

 

[Engine49guy]

OK...Time for more K22 porn...617's and 17-6's