I'm considering the purchase of a S&W 617 .22 revolver to have a quality revolver to use as a practice weapon for some action events I shoot. I would like to hear owner/shooter opinions on this gun before I invest the money.

Thanks!

A fellow I work with has one. We have compared it to our blue steel Model 17 4".
My friends is a 6" and the cylinder is aluminum. This was strange at first but we got used to it.
Since then we bought an Airlight Kit Gun and like our friend have had no trouble with aluminum parts.
The 10 shot cylinder on the M-617 is rather nice. Our M-17 is a six shot.
Both of these guns are regulated for a six o-clock hold on a bullseye at fifty yards. They need taller front sights to shoot point of aim at fifty yards.

I've never owned a 617, but have had several k-22's and several kit guns on the smaller frame.

For target shooting the larger K frame is much easier to make smoother and lots of smiths know how to tune the trigger to get excellent single and double action pulls on these fine revolvers.

For packing and plinking I've found the smaller J frame revolvers much nicer, lighter, easeir to carry and so on. The small frame guns with a four inch bbl are almost as accurate as the K frame guns. The new ultra-light J frame guns are not as accurate, simply because they are so light, not because they are inaccurate.

A few years ago I had my 22 kit gun that I had carried for a lot of years stolen. When I went to replace it the dealer had some Stainless Rossi 22's in J frame size in the shop. They sat along side the J frame Smiths and I found they were actually a nicer revolver. They were priced at $200 a hundred dollars less than the Smith so I bought one.

On dissembly I found they were identical inside to the point they looked like they were made on Smiths tooling. Anyway the outside looked like my old K frame 357 only shrunk down. After many years of use I and my son and my grandchildren are still shooting this little Rossi.

I would highly recommend the 617 as a well made accurate 22 unless you plan on packing it in the woods a bunch, then go for a steel or stainless steel J frame model with a 4 inch bbl.

Thanks for the comments.

Bob, your comment about the Rossi is interesting. I've been looking at some Taurus 970's, which look pretty similar to the 617's but about $200 less. I've been told that Taurus is owned by Rossi, and that they bought the old S&W tooling. The 970 I looked at felt good and I liked the appearance, trigger pull, and sights, but some aspects (cylinder rotation cuts, cylinder latching, and finish on some parts) looked a little marginal. I'm wondering how they hold up over the long haul, and if the Smith 617 is worth the extra $$.

One other question: Is the cylinder on the 6-shot model aluminum, or stainless? I understand (from william iorg's comments and from a gun dealer's comments that the 10-shot version has an aluminum cylinder).

Thanks for the comments.

Bob, your comment about the Rossi is interesting. I've been looking at some Taurus 970's, which look pretty similar to the 617's but about $200 less. I've been told that Taurus is owned by Rossi, and that they bought the old S&W tooling. The 970 I looked at felt good and I liked the appearance, trigger pull, and sights, but some aspects (cylinder rotation cuts, cylinder latching, and finish on some parts) looked a little marginal. I'm wondering how they hold up over the long haul, and if the Smith 617 is worth the extra $$.

Rossi was bought out by Taurus. It's my understanding that they have discontinued all but two centerfire Rossi guns and concentrate on the Taurus line.

My Rossi is an old one and all stainless. I've been told that some of the parts on the new Taurus 970's are injection molded steel. I've only glanced at a couple in the local gunshop and they looked pretty nice.

My old Rossi is exactly like the Smith j frames and shoots like a house afire. I've only had one problem with it, my son dry fired it and broke a firing pin and peened the cylinders where the firing pin hits. I sent it off to Rossi/Taurus figuring on buying a new cylinder and firing pin. Got it back three weeks later, no charge. It was a good lesson for him about dry firing 22 lr guns.

Taurus has a lifetime fix it warrentee that is good no matter who owns the gun. I've just bought a stainless 41 mag Tracker and though it is simular to Smith K frame guns it is different inside some. Unlike the K frame smith it used a coil mainspring like rugers. These are not as amendable to tuning as the Smiths, but are tougher than the dickens.

I don't think you would be amiss buying the Taurus, but the Smith 617 is a very fine revolver and I'm sure you would like it very much. Another one to look at is the Ruger sp-101 at 33 oz, 22 double action revolvers, there priced a little lower than the Smith and are very fine machines.

The only thing I can tell you is the smaller "J" frame size revolvers with a four inch bbl are much easier for smaller hands to shoot and a lot easier to carry than the heavier 617 "K" frame guns and they are accurate if you stay away from the 12 oz to 15 oz guns.

My Rossi is around 34 oz and easy to carry and shoot. The 41 mag Tracker for comparison is 35 oz. I think the 617's are like 41 oz, but without the specs in front of me I'm just guessing. It looks like the cylinder in these ten shot guns is the same stainless as the frame and barrel. It's the smaller J frame guns that have the alloy cylinder and frame.

I shoot my little Rossi a lot and so does my son and his two little girls. It seems to just go on forever and I am so pleased with it. Both the 11 and 12 year old girls can take the head of a snake off with it at 15 feet with no problem.

Their now fighting over whom gets to carry it in the woods fishing and hiking. Looks like I'm going to be in the market for another this summer.

These are the girls at the reloading bench

Thanks for the extra information. I didn't realize Ruger made a .22 double action until you told me, so I looked it up on their web site. The SP-101 looks great, and I love Ruger rugedness, but it appears to be available only with a 4 inch barrel. It would probably be my first choice if I could get it with a 6 inch barrel.

It's great that your daughters enjoy shooting with you. My two sons are avid shooters. Both my daughters enjoy shooting .22's, but without quite as much enthusiasm. :)

I shoot a M617 and it's a great revolver, no complaints, very accurate. Mine is the 6 shot version with the stainless cylinder though, so not exactly the same thing you are contemplating.

Ruger makes a great rugged gun, but I've yet to shoot one that had a trigger that compared to a S&W, at least the ones I have.

I shoot a M617 and it's a great revolver, no complaints, very accurate. Mine is the 6 shot version with the stainless cylinder though, so not exactly the same thing you are contemplating.

Ruger makes a great rugged gun, but I've yet to shoot one that had a trigger that compared to a S&W, at least the ones I have.

kciH is right about triggers. The Smiths probably have the best factory triggers on the market and a pistol smith that knows how can make them even better.

Rugers can have an acceptable trigger, but they are extremly hard to get to a tuned Smith's level. Most revolvers sold today use coil main springs except the K, L and N framed Smiths and though these can be tuned, polished and timed they never approach the smoothness than can be achieved with those K, L and N framed Smiths.

Probably the nicest 22 lr I've ever owned was an old Smith Kit gun with a six inch bbl. Accurate, easy to carry and just plain fun. Don't hardly ever see one today, to much collector value.

kcih,

Actually, I am contemplating a 6-shot version (I'm looking at a couple of possiblities, 6 shot and 10 shot). I didn't know if the cylinders were stainless on the 6 shot version (which would tend to lean me that way).

My limited experience with a friend's 686 did confirm that the Smiths do seem to have a nice trigger. My Super Redhawk has an excellent single action pull, but a fairly stout double action pull. My Ruger Old Army has a superb pull, but obviously it's in a different category.

I've had my 617 for about 4 years, and someone else had it before me, so I don't know if the newer ones have the metal cylinder...you'll have to check that out if it's a factor for you..it would be for me.

If you want to use it to target shoot, and the $$$ isn't an issue, you will never regret buying the S&W. You need to shoot S&W that has had the trigger worked on by a good gunsmith...you'll forget Ruger makes double action revolvers.

For me, regardes of whether the cylinder is aluminum or steel, I would get the ten shot version. It would equaal most semi-autos in a package I prefer!

My friends 617 has had a lot of ammo shot through it and looks fine. Our 317 Airlite is the same way. Lots of plinking and looks fine. Our three incher does not weigh as much as the blue plastic box it came in!

I have the six shot version and couldn't be more pleased. I had it reworked by Alpha Precision so everything is very tight and the trigger is set at 1 3/4 lbs.....pretty light but works great for the NRA Bullseye shooting for me. I use a red dot scope, but the iron sights are excellent and younger eyes wouldn't need any help. While I'm partical to the old hog leg grip of the Blackhawks, the S&W grip gives me a steadier two handed hold. Plus loading and unloading is sure a lot easier and quicker than with the single action revolvers.

Dan

I have the 617 ss 6" 10 shot, bought it last year and its all steel. Not only a great gun that is fun to shoot, but I believe a great investment. A friend of mine in herited a K-22, which is why I jumped up for a 617. With this model you will never be sorry.
Jim

I have a 617(no dash) with an 8-3/8" barrel. It's the best .22lr handgun I have ever shot.

I own a MKII Target and a SP101 and neither of
them, in my hands, compare to the 617 for accuracy.

Another plus is that wonderful S&W lock work.
It's so smooth, like an old fine swiss watch!!!!