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This gun single handedly got me into revolvers. It really let me know how important a good trigger is for accuracy; the very first time I shot it, was the most accurate I had ever been with a handgun in my life. Shortly after I purchased a 686, and now I'm hooked on quality revolvers.
Thats a 22lr for real men. He's not kidding when he said it's build like a tank,its got a life time warranty,and very accurate. You can't go wrong when you go Smith&wesson.
I just had my 617 6" out this afternoon. It is a pleasure to shoot, and is a real tac driver. On a sidenote, a person was next to me with a p22. I was floored at all the FTF's that gun had. When they were done, I told them to give me their ftf rounds, and I shot every 1 in my 617 without a single failure! Great video;)
I have had my 617 22 LR 10 years now, and I have been shooting thousands of thousands of rounds with it... simply said, I still love shooting it... high price = high quality... and awesome video like always, thank you 22plinkster
Had mine out yesterday along with my 617 8 3/8” barrel. Also have a couple colts and a couple 17’s. Gotta say that the 6” 617 is most probably my favorite firearm period and that is standing in some pretty good company.
Your video on the 617 was great fun and got me to thinking about the ones that got away. My first pistol 40+ years ago was an S&W Model 17 with a 4" barrel. Great gun to learn on, any misses were on me not on the gun. The .22 was not appropriate as a duty gun and since I could not afford more than one revolver it got traded for a Combat Masterpiece .38 also with the 4" barrel. I regret that trade to this day, also the later trade that sent the .38 to a new home. Enjoy the Smith and never let it get away.
I bought that gun a month ago. At 50, it's the first gun I've owned and I love it! It is heavy, though, but the weight absorbs the recoil. I'm thinking of getting a 642 as a lighter gun to mix into my range time, and for more stopping power and for concealed carry.
Just a great revolver. Mine has a 8 3/8" barrel and is a tack driver. A little heavy with that long barrel, but the smooth trigger on it really makes a difference in double action.. Nice range. I know you will enjoy it. Thanks for another great video.
Love the 617! I think it was the first handgun I ever fired. Pricey but worth every penny. Recently separated, so it’s definitely on my wishlist now that I’m allowed to exercise my rights. Also want a 686.
Another 22 revolver fan here so I'm glad to see this video. I have a Model 17, 51 (22 mag), 34, and 317 in Smith. Also have a Ruger 22/22mag single six, SP101 and an early Charter 3" Pathfinder (which taught me how to shoot revolvers back in the early 80s).. Everyone else at the range is shooting 22 autos and bitchin' about the ammo but my revolvers keep firing. My autos get kinda lonely sometimes. :) Would love to see more on 22 mag. Nice range!
Great vid 22plinkster! I'm glad to see you got the 6"- I also went with the 6 for the little bit of extra sight radius. Your new range is excellent! It might help the audience to see your hits If your targets were painted black. Also, if you can convince him to come over, it would be great to see you and Hickok go at the dueling tree!
After owning many Colt and Smith revolvers, I prefer the Smith & Wesson. I sold my Colt's and still have my S&W. My Colt's were investments and the S&W were keepers!
these revolvers are worth the money, i bought one about a year ago and it is soooo good, i use it for 25m (approx 80') target shooting at an olympic range and the thing is a tack driver! i can confirm that it is quite heavy though, but nothing the average person wont get used to. the trigger is so light in SA and breaks like glass, in DA it is not too heavy and smooth like butter.
Love S&W revolvers man I feel bad though, all I have are new production ones with key locks. They still seem to kick ass though. Even sent one back for backsplash and got a timely professional turn around.
I've got 2 of them. Very nice. But I found the trigger needed work, so I modified both mine. Filed my front sight to a point. I use it fishing to shoot my hook loose from branches on the opposite bank. But I have 22 ammo that I've filed flat on the ends. Cuts those branches good.
I bought a used 617, 6-shot, 6" barrel, in the 2000s. I literally wore it out. I sent it back to S&W for service, and they replaced the cylinder. So, it went back to being very reliable. I was happy that SW still had some 6-shot cylinders for the repair, since they discontinued 6-shot 617s.
This definitely was more hickok45 like which is great. A little informative length to a video is awesome! I for one didn't know about powderless 22 ammo.
Those tracers were the bomb. My 617 is my most used gun. Fun and cheap to shoot. I got one used for $450. The previous owner probably shot it alot and the cylinder was getting sticky, difficult to put the cartridges in. Flitz metal polish! They now slip right in. Get the Speed beeze Re-loader and re loader blocks. I go thru 160 rounds real fast. I need more reloading blocks.
Good to see videos out of you again. Sweet range dude!... Being compared to fellow Volunteer Hickok45's range I'd take as a compliment as I'm sure you do... Not all you tubers from afar realize that in Tennessee most of our back country that is able to shoot in out in the counties looks like your's and Hickok45's unless one is out in a cow pasture.... Them ole July flies ain't as bad at your place as Hickok45's I hear. 😉 Looking forward to seeing your range in the future; I know you are just getting started, but looking good already.
Great video! Thanks! Awesome pistol! Good shooting! I really like the range. I have the exact same revolver and I love it - more fun than should be legal and worth every cent!
The model 617 is in a class by itself. Would love to see a comparison of the model 17 with six inch barrel and Ruger Single Six with six and one half inch barrel. My two favorite trail guns.
Nice new range! Shops around me are getting .22 ammo, prices are coming down. Wideners had the .22 Shorts I needed for my 1890 too. So perhaps the worst of the drought is coming to an end.
I hope you got to keep the gun for the wonderful Comercial you did for Smith & Wesson plus fair renumeration because I defiantly want one after watching you very enjoyable entertaining video. love the new range and happy happy to see you back on RU-vid.
Good to have you back 22. Love the new range. I feel like I might have seen one very similar somewhere before... Now there are two ranges I have to be jealous of. Can you hear shots from H45's place?
The S&W 617 is also available with a 4" barrel making it lighter for smaller shooters. There is also a very hefty 8 3/8" Barrel variant. The 617 was designed to replace the .22lr Model 17 which was offered as a blued steel revolver. the Model 17 was offered with, or more commonly, without the full underlug (the solid, rod-like piece of steel that runs the full length of the barrel to add weight & balance) whereas the Model 617 is/was only available with the full underlug. .22Plinkster is a good shot but commits the most common sin with revolvers - he is not counting his rounds and stops firing to reload when the hammer drops on an already shot, empty brass case. But not as bad as dry-firing the 617 : the firing pin can split and /or strike the edge of the steel or alloy chamber hole when it hits the non-centerfire cylinder... The pre-lock S&W .22lr 'K' frame revolvers with the 4" barrels (models 17-18 & 617) have become very popular since ammo prices have doubled during the Obama reign. They are the same dimension-size-weight as their siblings offered in calibers up to .38/.357 so yes, they are heavy. Also of note: A new S&W Model 17/617 is the most expensive .22lr revolver (in factory stock configuration) you can buy.
I have a 6” 617 with an aluminum 10 shot cylinder. It weighs 37.5oz. It has many rounds thru it, with no sign of wear in the cylinder chambers. S&W quickly discontinued the aluminum cylinder model for lack of sales and made a steel cylinder 6 shot to replace it. Researching the internet, there were problems with the aluminum cylinder, though not because of wear. My 617-2 is accurate and reliable, so I assume it one that was manufactured correctly.
I do miss a blued lineup of Smiths, seems like only custom shop models are available blued. I always had a weakness for the 617, especially with that heavy underlug of an ejector rod shroud on the 6". Wonder how it would stack up against my S&W .22 Combat Masterpiece from the early 60's. THAT'S a sweet shooter! I totally understand your "rediscovery" of revolvers. They are a LOT of fun!
Brilliant video, a good range, just an observation, I think you should set your targets up in sets to give an idea of what you are shooting at and what the range is, and have a special target like..... The 2 litre or something, and even a gong because I really like what you and Hickok are showing us, a 22 version of this format would be very entertaining and informative, keep them coming.....
Dear Plinkster, Really enjoy your videos, the are excellant . I, and maybe some others, would really appreciate a video on how to properly hold a revolver. I really think this would be very helpul and much appreceated by your viewers! Thanks, Bill
I like the new range, are you going to put in an 80 yard gong. Really like the S&W 617, but the price talk about sticker shock. Keep the great videos coming.
For a unique experience and a revolver your wife might like is the S&W 317 kit gun. IMHO the 317 is the perfect kit gun. The most remarkable feature is the 8 shot aluminum cylinder. I can get about 2 cylinders full before the cylinder expands to the point it won't revolve. A few minutes cool down and you're back in action. Not a very good range gun. A couple years ago, customers that complained about the sticky cylinder had to return their guns to S&W where a stainless cylinder was fitted, Making the 317 just another aluminum frame J-frame in weight. I like it just the way it is. Ultralight on the hip, and hardly noticeable in a pack.
Mine is the 6-shot model, 6". prefer those in part because the timing cams on the cylinder are a bit thicker and more robust than on the 10 shot model. I seem to have worn out the firing pin, so it will need a little work. Nice trigger, especially for a DA .22. Also have a Model 17. I shoot the 17 with iron sights and the 617 with a Burris FF2 red dot.
Great range 22 and as always excellent content but from one viewer's standpoint your new environs need a little attention like a little more lighting when you are in the shade, maybe a close-up camera on a couple of the targets when you are shooting at them, definitely a gong of some sort, and maybe some paper just to see the spread of shotshells and the like. Fantastic job so far sir, keep having fun and please keep 'em coming. Thank you.
Good to see you back! Was missing your videos and hope the move went as well as a move can go. On a serious note, am I missing something? I was really liking that S&W until I _literally_ had to go back to see if I heard you right... $830 for a 22lr revolver! That is s steep price. I can outfit three people with ruger Mk III bull and have enough left over for a days plinking for that price. I'm sure there are a plethora of other 22lr target pistols for half that of this gun having same accuracy and longevity.. My Mk I is still going strong and that came down from my Grandfather to my Dad and now I've put thousands of rounds through it. My MkIII bull has to be above 3000 by now and soon to go to the nephew... They both still drive nails and are reliable. Don't get me wrong, my absolute favorite wheel gun is my S&W 357 Mag, but $830 for an off the shelf 22lr wheel gun? Negative.
For targets, I think the soup can on a steal rod is brilliant fun. Also, protect the finish on your guns by putting a 8 -11 oz leather hide on your table. You can order them from a tanner. I would stage your targets better so the viewer can get an idea which target your aiming at ahead of time. Having animal, color, shaped targets, and calling your shots is very helpful. Haha, have you seen a ghetto brass catcher...a semi auto inside a mesh laundry bag.
The S&W 617 is a great plinking revolver is you're going to plink for less than 10 minutes. Super accurate as expected, but at the range, by the second time I reloaded it, I was done with it. Great trigger on this thing, but the shear heft of the gun for such a small caliber was a deal-breaker and decided not to buy. Exceptional video though, as always 22plinkster. Always enjoyable.
i haven't seen .22 ammo in stores in years, the stuff i see online cost as much as 9mm! lucky i have a few thousand rounds in storage. last .22 i bought was $4.95 for a 500 round brick!
You mentioned in an earlier video that you thought you and Hickock45 were now shooting along the same holler. The locals are gonna have start calling it lead slinger holler. Or, would that be lead slanger holler. Good to see you set up in your new (wooded) range!
I have that exact same gun. My dad gave it to me. I never knew it was worth so much. Probably less that 500 round through it. It is indeed heavy. The only drawback is how tedious it is to clean.
The 617 IS A GREAT REVOLVER ,( that's me shouting this out.) I have it's big brother the 686 in.367 magnum, it looks just like the 617, but it "barks" a lot louder ! By the way, have you tried out the Mexican Mendoza .22 rifles yet ? I'd like your opinion on these, by way of a shooting review.
Now, you should lay a concrete slab for a shooting platform. Now, it will keep the mud off you, provide good footing, easy clean up, and if large enough it will make it super easy to sweep the brass into a corner. Now, don't forget a curb cut for vehicle access to range and a slope for drainage. Now :)
...I inherited my dad's K22 (Pre Mod 17 mf'd ca 1956)...If I could have one .221 LR revolver it would be the 617 bu the K22 ain't goin; nowhere - it's a gorgeous classic in about 99%...
You might want to look for a Colt Police Positive in .22, nice old revolver, about S&W J frame sized, very well finished, they make my Mod 17 look quite bulky. I think your wife would like one.
My 617 was dead on for windage but 8 inches high for elevation good for plinking steel out of the box. but you might want to zero before hunting the sights are a flat black color okay for target shooting but difficult to sight for hunting 1st thing I did was paint the front sight
I paid $640 for my S&W model 63. It is an all stainless 8 shot revolver. Weighs 24.8oz. Also has a fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear sight. If you want a nice shooting 22LR revolver that does not have the heft of the 617 the 63 might be for you.
