New to me S&W 17-3

[woolfam]

Picked up a 17-3 today.


S/N 8K39XXX.
Interesting target grips. Not sure if I'll keep them.

Previous owner must have only fired .22 longs in it, because there was a pronounced carbon ring in each of the chambers that made it hard to chamber the rounds.

Also, has after-market sights which, although make it easier for my old eyes, the rear one doesn't fit tightly and rocks back and forth a little...



...and it made my groups string vertically a little.

Nice trigger, though. Didn't think I'd ever get to have one of these.

 

[Pat Riot]

Congratulations!

I also have a 17-3. I love mine. I bought it used at the Gun Library in Tualatin, OR in 2015. Mine came with factory target grips. I don’t care for them and I tried a bunch of different grips and once I tried Altamont Ropers I am very happy with them. I have those grips on the 17 and my 19-4. They are slimmer at the butt than the factory grips.

 

[cfullgraf]

Nice Model 17.

I like Pachmayr Presentation grips on my K-frame revolvers.

Choice of grips is definitely a personal thing.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The M17 is one of the true gems of the entire firearms panopoly- enjoy!

 

[Tallball]

Nice purchase!

 

[film495]

I've never been a fan of any of the grips I've tried on K Frames, but out of them all I seem to go back to the service grips.

 

[ontarget]

My 17-2 came with the factory target grips. I like them fine, but I am also a fan of the magna grip with a BK grip adapter.
You will not regret buying that 17!
Now you just have to find a model 18 to go with it.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I bought my Model 17-3 brand-spanky new in 1975. I still have the box and all the goodies that came with it. For reference, the Serial Number is 6K719XX

It is still wearing the original grips that came with it.

For what it's worth, 22 Longs have the same case length as 22 Long Rifle, so I doubt if shooting a lot of them would build up carbon in the chambers. The shorter case of 22 Shorts would.

 

[StrawHat]

As DJ mentioned, the 22 Long Rifle and the 22 Long share the same case. It is only the bullet weight that is different. The Long Rifle, traditionally, used the bullet from the 22 Extra Long and the 22 Long utilized the bullet from the 22 Short.

Kevin

 

[woolfam]

Thanks for the clarifications on the 22 Longs. It was an assumption.

I scrubbed the cylinders really well and rounds drop in and out freely now.

 

[Riomouse911]

Very cool! The Model 17-3 was my first experience with S&W rimfires, and the positive experience with the gun has led to a bit of a collection built up over the years.

Mine was originally the rimfire understudy gun for a local bullseye shooter of some renown. She usually shot a Model 14 .38 Special in competition, so the 17 was used for low cost practice, etc. It is as smooth as glass and shoots very accurately, making it one of my favorite guns to shoot. I suspect that you will also find your 17 becoming a favorite of yours, too.

Stay safe.