I'm torn about shooting my mint condition S&W 17-4, tell me it's ok!

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BeornLS

BeornLS

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Good morning everyone,

So, I have a beautiful mint S&W 17-4 .22 revolver, 6" barrel, blued, looks like it just came from the factory. I was with my dad when he purchased this at a gun show in 1978 I believe it was (I would have been 7 or 8 then). Growing up, we shot it a few times here and there, maybe has 100 rounds through it at most.

Well I've recently returned to recreational shooting and I'm wanting to start on some .22 DA revolver shooting.

Should I leave this mint gem in the safe and just get a newer .22 to pound at the range? Or should I say to heck with pristine mint condition and use this gun for what it was designed for!

I'm sure many of you have had similar situations, give me your thoughts!
 
It's already used but not much. It's your gun and you can do with it as you please. Me, I'd enjoy it at the range.
 
W.E.G. said:
Are you saving it for somebody else so that somebody else can shoot it?
Click to expand...
Well I do have a son who loves guns and three grandsons that I hope love guns someday :) So I'm sure it'll pass down to them at some point...which I guess is part of the dilemma as well. I seriously doubt I'll wear it out, but it would be nice to give them a mint Smith too...
 
I'd shoot and enjoy the revolver. But, I'd make the extra effort to make sure it was properly cared for.
 
"I'd shoot and enjoy the revolver. But, I'd make the extra effort to make sure it was properly cared for."

Chuck summed it up.....

I have a S&W 17 from the 70s....shot it a lot....made the effort to care for it.....and still have it.....looks just like new.

does rest now.....that I have a S&W 617....
 
It was made to shoot. While I understand sentimental attachment to it, in the end it's still a common firearm. You can shoot it and still take care of it, as Chuck has already said.
 
BeornLS said:
Good morning everyone,

So, I have a beautiful mint S&W 17-4 .22 revolver, 6" barrel, blued, looks like it just came from the factory. I was with my dad when he purchased this at a gun show in 1978 I believe it was (I would have been 7 or 8 then). Growing up, we shot it a few times here and there, maybe has 100 rounds through it at most.

Well I've recently returned to recreational shooting and I'm wanting to start on some .22 DA revolver shooting.

Should I leave this mint gem in the safe and just get a newer .22 to pound at the range? Or should I say to heck with pristine mint condition and use this gun for what it was designed for!

I'm sure many of you have had similar situations, give me your thoughts!
Click to expand...
Given current socio-economic situation and what is coming in the future I would sell that gun and buy something to shoot. Frankly given that in not so distant future America will undergo fundamental changes and be a different country i'm not sure boxed revolver is something worth holding on to.
 
I used to worry over this myself. My wife finally to told me, "When you're dead either the kids will shoot it, or they'll sell it to someone else who's going to shoot it. Might as well be you."

Made sense to me.
 
CajunBass said:
I used to worry over this myself. My wife finally to told me, "When you're dead either the kids will shoot it, or they'll sell it to someone else who's going to shoot it. Might as well be you."

Made sense to me.
Click to expand...
This reply makes the most sense so far to me! :)
 
Shoot It Bro

^^^^^
Ditto to the two above (and others).
We know you'll enjoy it and take good care of it too.

What are guns made for ?
The obvious answer is, "To shoot", of course.

Do it !:)
 
I was pondering this myself as I pulled my unfired 15-3 out of the safe and realized that I have two daughters who aren't likely to give me grandsons who will appreciate guns in my lifetime. Made my decision.

Me, I'd say, shoot it. Your heirs will appreciate it just as much knowing you took enjoyment from it.
 
I seriously doubt I'll wear it out, but it would be nice to give them a mint Smith too...
Click to expand...
Do you think it will be worth more to them if it spent its life in a box, or if they have memories their entire childhood of their father/grandfather shooting and enjoying it, teaching his boys to shoot with it?

I have a 17-4 that I've been shooting the piss out of for 20yrs. I learned to shoot a DA fast and killed a truckload of small game with it back in the 1990's and because of that, I'm extremely attached to it. Does it look worn out?

IMG_5657b.jpg
 
I had the same situation. I shoot my Dads guns. Every time I pull the trigger, I feel his pat on my back and see his smile.

Jot
 
shoot it. the grandkids will also want to hear the stories of grandpa shooting that gun.

murf
 
Shoot it man! The more prominent the turn line, the more people know you loved that gun. Safe queens are no fun.
 
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