Thoughts on a Modern S&W model 17

vanfunk said:
Personally I am not surprised the 617 wasn’t a good’un. I really want one but I haven’t been able to find a single one (out of 10?12?) that has been put together well and has at least an ok trigger. My LGS has a 17 “classic” like that and I haven’t tried it yet; I may have to do that next, or just give up and find an old one on Gunsmoker (probably a better idea).
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617 That trigger was horrible and gritty and messed up. one a certain position, the hammer was stuck 1/2 way. Now I know why people have problems with modern Smith. Try Before you buy… And gun was NEW

17-7 has potentials like an old Smith, it just needed more time to smoothen out like a old Smith. If it’s still there tomorrow, I’ll buy it. only $800 and I need a new target/ practice 22 DA
 
Someone mentioned a Ruger single action? Good guns, but I just can't make myself like shooting a S/A AT THE RANGE. Out in the field, is a different matter.

My wife picked this one up some years ago, right after she escaped from the Chicago Suburbs and found out she could buy a gun of her own. She said she wanted a "cowboy gun." A Ruger 50th Anniversay Single-Six, used, but in like new condition, in the box, with all the paperwork. 22 Mag cylinder has still to our knowledge never been fired. She doesn't shoot it much anymore, but it's HER gun and don't you forget it.

100_0546_zps8871f981.jpg


I didn't know that Ruger had ever made the Single-Six with traditional "hog trough" sights. Pretty neat little gun. Plenty accurate enough for plinking and I've even managed to scare a squirrel or two with it.
 
Mark_Mark said:
Reason I ask if anybody owns a modern S&W revolver is:

Yes: And had bad quality issues
No (me): because every says it not good quality
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I own several modern ( lock) S&W’s and several pre-lock Smiths, too.

My DA modern rimfire S&W’s are a 4” Model 48 .22 WMR 6-shot, a 3” Model 317 AirLite 8-shot, and a 6” Model 617 10-shot.

My older revolvers are a 6” S&W Model 48 .22 WMR, 6” Model 17, 4” Model 18, 4” Model 34 (.22/.32 kit gun), A 4” 9-shot Taurus 94 (Model 34/63 clone) and a 4” 8-shot 941 .22 WMR, and finally a Dan Wesson .22 with a 6” V barrel/shroud and a 4” VH set.

The new Model 48 is great. Very good trigger, very good sights, nice fit and finish, been 100% reliable since I bought it. It booms pretty heartily for a rimfire, but recoil is just about zero.

The 317 is a nice backpacking-hiking gun. The FO front/V notch rear were not the best so I put in a square notch rear blade. The trigger is ok, but the gun is so light that it is tough to hold on target through a J-frame DA pull compared to heavier guns. Teeny ejector rod can make ejection stiff, especially with cartridge cases on the high side of spec (Like recent-production Aguila SE.) I do wonder how long the alloy cylinder will last, it doesn’t seem as sturdy as a steel cylinder.

The 617? <sigh> This gun has been the biggest disappointment in my revolver handgunning career, bar none. I really wanted a .22 King Cobra, but they were nowhere to be found when I was in the market. I bought the 6” Model 617 instead with high hopes.

The finish is ok, but the cylinder was polished more than the frame/barrel. I took Mothers Mag Polish and evened it out more. The sights and the sight picture is good. Other than those things here is my list of complaints:

The chambers badly needed honing to allow cartridges to easily seat and eject. When 6 cases stick its tough enough to eject them, with 10 it can be REALLY tough. If they aren’t fully seated light strikes causing FTF situations will happen. With this gun it happened too often.

The SA trigger pull was ok, nothing to gush over but on the better side for a DA rimfire revolver. The grips are blah. I replaced those with Thai grips from Amazon.

The DA trigger pull is, by far, the WORST revolver trigger pull I have ever fired, period. I have cracked it open 2x trying to work on the awful pull to no avail. I have allowed others to shoot it, everyone hated it. I have put easily 3,000 rounds through this gun vainly hoping the trigger pull will smooth out. I should have just thrown those shots in the trash and saved the time and effort.

It is so bad, and the accuracy suffers so much, that I outshot the 617 with six of my other .22 LR revolvers on Tuesday, including the 3 J frame-sized rimfires (My 4” Model 34 and 4” Taurus 94 AND the 3” 317!) My 6” Dan Wesson, 6” S&W Model 17 and 4” Model 18 .22 LR revolvers have far, far, FAR better DA and SA trigger pulls, and all three are much more accurate as a result.

Yes, this one may just be a lemon. But IMHO, there is zero comparison regarding construction quality and DA/SA trigger action with the older .22 Smiths and the new model 617. It is a massive downer to look at it in my safe, especially for a revolver with a $950.00 OTD price.

Attached targets aren’t stellar, but were fired DA from 5-15 yards with the various guns. The 617 was so bad (scattered all across the 8-ring!) I didn’t even waste a picture. 😞
IMG_4458.jpeg IMG_4459.jpeg IMG_4461.jpeg IMG_4463.jpeg IMG_4464.jpeg IMG_4462.jpeg

Caveat Emptor is all I can say on a new Model 617.

Stay safe.
 
Riomouse911 said:
I own several modern ( lock) S&W’s and several pre-lock Smiths, too.

My DA modern rimfire S&W’s are a 4” Model 48 .22 WMR 6-shot, a 3” Model 317 AirLite 8-shot, and a 6” Model 617 10-shot.

My older revolvers are a 6” S&W Model 48 .22 WMR, 6” Model 17, 4” Model 18, 4” Model 34 (.22/.32 kit gun), A 4” 9-shot Taurus 94 (Model 34/63 clone) and a 4” 8-shot 941 .22 WMR, and finally a Dan Wesson .22 with a 6” V barrel/shroud and a 4” VH set.

The new Model 48 is great. Very good trigger, very good sights, nice fit and finish, been 100% reliable since I bought it. It booms pretty heartily for a rimfire, but recoil is just about zero.

The 317 is a nice backpacking-hiking gun. The FO front/V notch rear were not the best so I put in a square notch rear blade. The trigger is ok, but the gun is so light that it is tough to hold on target through a J-frame DA pull compared to heavier guns. Teeny ejector rod can make ejection stiff, especially with cartridge cases on the high side of spec (Like recent-production Aguila SE.) I do wonder how long the alloy cylinder will last, it doesn’t seem as sturdy as a steel cylinder.

The 617? <sigh> This gun has been the biggest disappointment in my revolver handgunning career, bar none. I really wanted a .22 King Cobra, but they were nowhere to be found when I was in the market. I bought the 6” Model 617 instead with high hopes.

The finish is ok, but the cylinder was polished more than the frame/barrel. I took Mothers Mag Polish and evened it out more. The sights and the sight picture is good. Other than those things here is my list of complaints:

The chambers badly needed honing to allow cartridges to easily seat and eject. When 6 cases stick its tough enough to eject them, with 10 it can be REALLY tough. If they aren’t fully seated light strikes causing FTF situations will happen. With this gun it happened too often.

The SA trigger pull was ok, nothing to gush over but on the better side for a DA rimfire revolver. The grips are blah. I replaced those with Thai grips from Amazon.

The DA trigger pull is, by far, the WORST revolver trigger pull I have ever fired, period. I have cracked it open 2x trying to work on the awful pull to no avail. I have allowed others to shoot it, everyone hated it. I have put easily 3,000 rounds through this gun vainly hoping the trigger pull will smooth out. I should have just thrown those shots in the trash and saved the time and effort.

It is so bad, and the accuracy suffers so much, that I outshot the 617 with six of my other .22 LR revolvers on Tuesday, including the 3 J frame-sized rimfires (My 4” Model 34 and 4” Taurus 94 AND the 3” 317!) My 6” Dan Wesson, 6” S&W Model 17 and 4” Model 18 .22 LR revolvers have far, far, FAR better DA and SA trigger pulls, and all three are much more accurate as a result.

Yes, this one may just be a lemon. But IMHO, there is zero comparison regarding construction quality and DA/SA trigger action with the older .22 Smiths and the new model 617. It is a massive downer to look at it in my safe, especially for a revolver with a $950.00 OTD price.

Attached targets aren’t stellar, but were fired DA from 5-15 yards with the various guns. The 617 was so bad (scattered all across the 8-ring!) I didn’t even waste a picture. 😞
View attachment 1198227View attachment 1198228View attachment 1198229View attachment 1198230View attachment 1198231View attachment 1198232

Caveat Emptor is all I can say on a new Model 617.

Stay safe.
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Thank for the write up, Sorry to hear about your 617, read every word carefully. I learned a lot over a year of messing with you revolver guys. Gap, Lock, shake, pull, feel, finish, grip, sight picture, hammer….. and so on.

and the 617 was BAD, knew it the second I trying it. The gun was also extremely dirty for a new gun. Told the salesman too, but they don’t care, just waiting for a high on idea person to buy it.

Well the search goes on.
King Cobra…. sounds like a new thread! but in a few weeks, need to recharge my gun money and do more shooting
 
S&W clearly CAN make a nice trigger these days, but in my experience, the good ones are few and far between. I bought this 629 new about 8 months ago. Out of the box the DA was about 9lbs and SA was a very crisp 2.5. It’s gotten better with the 2k or so rounds I’ve put through it.

IMG_3663.jpeg

My 66-8, also bought new, was fine save for a heavy pull. That was quickly fixed with a reduced power Wolff mainspring. It’s awesome now. But honestly I have handled SO many others, mostly K and N frames, with triggers that would be thoroughly embarrassing on a Charter Arms. The DA pulls, in addition to being 14 lbs, go through about 6-7 crunchy “steps” that are glaringly annoying when trying to maintain a good sight picture. I am sure S&W would say the triggers are “within spec” if sent back.

Colt triggers have been highly variable in weight, but all have been smooth. Colt seems to be refining them as they go as the Pythons, Cobras and King Cobras I have handled in the past several weeks have been even better than the ones I bought a year ago.
 
vanfunk said:
S&W clearly CAN make a nice trigger these days, but in my experience, the good ones are few and far between. I bought this 629 new about 8 months ago. Out of the box the DA was about 9lbs and SA was a very crisp 2.5. It’s gotten better with the 2k or so rounds I’ve put through it.

View attachment 1198430

My 66-8, also bought new, was fine save for a heavy pull. That was quickly fixed with a reduced power Wolff mainspring. It’s awesome now. But honestly I have handled SO many others, mostly K and N frames, with triggers that would be thoroughly embarrassing on a Charter Arms. The DA pulls, in addition to being 14 lbs, go through about 6-7 crunchy “steps” that are glaringly annoying when trying to maintain a good sight picture. I am sure S&W would say the triggers are “within spec” if sent back.

Colt triggers have been highly variable in weight, but all have been smooth. Colt seems to be refining them as they go as the Pythons, Cobras and King Cobras I have handled in the past several weeks have been even better than the ones I bought a year ago.
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I’m not giving up on a smooth 617 10 shoot for steel challenge. Just keep trying before buying.

I’m also going to try Colt, I can live with the QR code if the trigger is good

And yep… crunchy trigger was my experience too. And the Gun was DIRTY as crud! zero pride in that Smith
 
@vanfunk "But honestly I have handled SO many others, mostly K and N frames, with triggers that would be thoroughly embarrassing on a Charter Arms."

That is an unfair statement. The "Charter Arms Trigger" that all of my examples have is light and pretty decent. :)

I definitely agree with the sentiment, though. Could we try this? "A S&W with a stiff trigger and poor finish is just a Taurus that you paid way too much for."
 
Tallball said:
@vanfunk "But honestly I have handled SO many others, mostly K and N frames, with triggers that would be thoroughly embarrassing on a Charter Arms."

That is an unfair statement. The "Charter Arms Trigger" that all of my examples have is light and pretty decent. :)

I definitely agree with the sentiment, though. Could we try this? "A S&W with a stiff trigger and poor finish is just a Taurus that you paid way too much for."
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New Charter Arms trigger is good?
 
Sorry Tallball! I was unkind to Charter Arms. I actually really, really like my new Bulldog .44. The trigger is all kinds of “meh,” which is actually just fine for a revolver that cost $400 brand-spankin’ new. It’s heavy, but less “crunchy” and “gravelly” than so many of the Smiths I’ve tried lately. What I should have said is… “with triggers that would be embarrassing on a 30’s-era Ruby .32 Long pocket revolver.”

With apologies due of course to those who own and love Ruby revolvers. :)
 
vanfunk said:
Sorry Tallball! I was unkind to Charter Arms. I actually really, really like my new Bulldog .44. The trigger is all kinds of “meh,” which is actually just fine for a revolver that cost $400 brand-spankin’ new. It’s heavy, but less “crunchy” and “gravelly” than so many of the Smiths I’ve tried lately. What I should have said is… “with triggers that would be embarrassing on a 30’s-era Ruby .32 Long pocket revolver.”

With apologies due of course to those who own and love Ruby revolvers. :)
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I was pretty much kidding, though my CA's actually do have decent triggers for cheap revolvers.

Don't have a Ruby, but maybe...

"Did you ever pay $1,000 for a S&W revolver, and the trigger felt like this?" :)

Harrington and Richardson top-break 32 caliber revolver

Harrington and Richardson top-break 32 caliber revolver

 
My 17-4 has tight chambers as well, a quick cleaning, no issues. I, as mentioned above, think it's more likely the brass, mixed with the grud, causing the issues. I'd only polish the cylinders if there was a need for it, meaning, like mentioned above, shoddy work from the factory. But that's just me.
 
Steve Milbocker said:
Kind of apples to oranges in light of the red dot on the 617 but this is as good as I could do with my 17-4 with open sights. But there’s no way I’m drilling this one for a red dot 😁View attachment 1198573
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Is that a custom front sight or did you paint it?

That model 17 reminds me of my Dad’s K22 with the 8 3/8” barrel. I loved shooting that revolver.
 
Pat Riot said:
Is that a custom front sight or did you paint it?

That model 17 reminds me of my Dad’s K22 with the 8 3/8” barrel. I loved shooting that revolver.
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It’s just white out with a gip. I took a sharpie and put a little dot at the top of the blade. It works well out in the daylight but you can’t see it shooting indoors at the clubs range. I wear progressive bifocals so I have a tough time with iron sights
 
Steve Milbocker said:
It’s just white out with a gip. I took a sharpie and put a little dot at the top of the blade. It works well out in the daylight but you can’t see it shooting indoors at the clubs range. I wear progressive bifocals so I have a tough time with iron sights
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That’s funny. 😆 I thought I was the only one that used white-out on a front sight. Years ago I put a white stripe up the center of my 1911 sight. I was shocked how long it lasted.
I didn’t think the “new” white-out would work as well.

You have a great revolver. Thanks.
 
At the gunshow in Springfield last weekend, the only gun that I examined was a 1947 K22 with a lot of obvious use. The owner had it tagged at $875. I would have taken it at $500 tops but I didn't make an offer, figuring that it wasn't worth the hassle of trying to bargain him down to a more realistic price. I already have K22s in much better condition and don't need a project gun that bad. Other merchandise at the show was also high priced. I made no purchases.
 
J-Bar said:
At the gunshow in Springfield last weekend, the only gun that I examined was a 1947 K22 with a lot of obvious use. The owner had it tagged at $875. I would have taken it at $500 tops but I didn't make an offer, figuring that it wasn't worth the hassle of trying to bargain him down to a more realistic price. I already have K22s in much better condition and don't need a project gun that bad. Other merchandise at the show was also high priced. I made no purchases.
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My brother lives in Arkansas, been there for a very long time. He said, it’s hard to find a good gun deal in that area. Everyone thinks there guns are worth gold.

Her also said the the flea market pretty much a gun show
 
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