Opinions on S&W 317 vs Ruger LCRx 22lr

I have an early no-lock 317 snub- no problems so far. I like that it interchanges grips and holsters with my other J-frames.

Handle a whole lot of them at a gun show. Buy the one with the best trigger. They will vary from gun to gun.

Love/hate relationship with my 317 bought early this year. Serious jam-o-matic out of the box. Sent it back..... twice.... to get it to an ‘Ammo sensitive’ status.

IMHO, the extractor star is a poor fit in the cylinder which causes a small unsupported gap. Thinner walled 22 shells will then bubble near the rim, which in turn, elevates the rim to contact the breech face (clicky). Then the cylinder jams from both ends (clicky). Federal bulk runs reasonably well, most CCI does not.

Otherwise I really like the idea of the gun - it’s accurate (for it’s weight), I can deep conceal it AIWB, so light you forget it’s there, and SA option for a more precise hunting shot. IMHO, 22s are ultralight recoil so you might as well take advantage of an UL gun. I actually like UL 22s for training... recoil is more proportional, and if you can shoot them accurately, heavier guns seem easier.

I should say my ~6-7yo 617 also has a bit of this shell-bubbling problem but it amounts to just additional drag/friction in the DA trigger pull - doesn’t actually jam.

A few months ago I was debating between the 317, the LCRx and the model 63. I ended up with the model 63 (which had to go back to S&W for cylinder gap issues and was repaired)

I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the aluminum cylinder of the 317 but I understand that you can get a 63 stainless cylinder installed at your cost. I figured it was cheaper just to get the 63.

The 3 LCRx .22s that I tried had distinctly different trigger pulls. One was a very nice DA & SA pull. The other 2 were heavy in DA and one had a slight hitch in the pull. I opted not to bother with them after that.

Never shot or handled either one.

Rule of thumb: don’t buy any gun that you are not yearning to own.

It sounds to me that you don’t want either one badly enough. I’d wait for something that really flips my switch.

I had a 317 for a short while and wasnt real happy with it. I didnt keep it long.

The FO and "V" notch sights flat out suck. They were confusing, the front sight wasnt "square", you didnt know what to hold or where, and they are basically a waste.

The rear sight would not hold zero (elevation) and constantly changing as you shot. I ended up replacing the front sight for a Patridge blade and a standard rear square notch. Should have just replaced the whole rear sight, but Id had it with the gun by then.

The finish wasnt holding up well at all, and the overcoat was coming off more and more every time I cleaned it.

Once I got the better sights on the gun, it seemed to shoot OK, while it held zero, but it wasnt anything spectacular.

If youre going to look at one, Id look close at it. Make sure those sights are going to work for you.

Do not own either. But will say empathically that the LCR which I do own is my favorite Trainer/plinker. Just cannot say enough about the gun. After training with it, I will just have some fun and shoot shot gun clays at 50 yds. I guess because it is a revolver I seldom get any of the normal 22.cal issues. Every now and then a light primer strike but that is very few and just a dud round. Trigger is a little heavy, but breaks in well. Still might be too much for a youngster. Shoot this revolver often and you will be surprised how well you can do with it. Excellent for Point and shoot skills. And again, JUST FUN!
I started my son off with a Single action, moved him up to some other semi's and then bought him a LCR22. Told him train with this short barrel revolver, master it and you will be able to shoot all guns well. And he has proven that.
Recently bought the LCP ll 22 for training. Personally I would save the money and get the LCR.

I have an S&W Model 317 and am pleased with it. I use it primarily for a short range critter gun around the farm and it performs well for that. I do not shoot it much at the range, just enough to keep familiar with it. I have other 22 LR revolvers for range duty.

It is light. I also have a Model 63 but it is a bit heavier to carry.

I cannot comment on the LCRx as I have never handled or shot one.

I had a 317 for many years. Bought it when they first came out. The very lightweight snub. I loved the light weight. But the trigger was the worst of any gun I ever had. I know that 22s tend to have heavy triggers, but this one was very heavy. And I had a hard time thumbing it back for single action. I finally traded it in to help acquire a Kimber K6S.

I've got an LCR 22LR, and as a understudy for a LCR 38 or 357 or a SP101, it is a good choice. As a pocket gun for when I am working in the yard for creepy crawlers, it is good. As a target gun, not so much.

sean m said:

I've got an LCR 22LR, and as a understudy for a LCR 38 or 357 or a SP101, it is a good choice. As a pocket gun for when I am working in the yard for creepy crawlers, it is good. As a target gun, not so much.

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Or, better yet, instead of having a .22 revolver in the same model as a larger caliber, a person could simply reload their own ammo using some reduced recoil loads, that way they're getting the exact same trigger pull.

I don't have an issue with .22 "trainers" for semi autos, but for a revolver the difference in feel is too great to be worthy of consideration.

I like my 317, but it’s not a love affair.
So far it has been very reliable and has held up well.
Yes, the rimfire trigger pull is heavier than a similar centerfire revolvers’ pull, but it’s not unbearable.
The sights aren’t the best, I will probably be changing at least the rear blade to get a square notch rather than the V. This should make my accuracy with the gun better.
Try to shoot them if you can, it’s the best way to truly see what you’ll like and dislike.
Stay safe.

I fell in love with my 317 the first time I picked it up. It has been utterly reliable, needing a cleaning after 200-300 rounds for best extraction. The sights are fine, but it's not really a target gun. I keep it in my Get-Home-Bag in the truck. What could be more handy than a .22 revolver...at least for a short-arm?

I’m a big fan of Ruger LCR pistols in .38 an .22 lr, but I do not like the LCRx at all. The trigger in DA is much worse than the regular 22 LCR and the hammer is very difficult to pull back in comparison to most revolvers. To get a fun 22 revolver to play with I would get a Smith 617 or one of the Rugers in single action.

Had a 317 LS - couldn't stand the trigger. Haven't shot the 22 LCR.

"Does the aluminum cylinder in the 317 make long range sessions an effort in futility due to binding from overheating?"

Yes, definitely. I had one that went back to the factory twice for new cylinders, but it still jammed if I did a lot of double action rapid fire which caused heat build up. I finally sold it at a big loss.

Now I have a model 63.

i have both the s&w 317 and ruger lcr. yes the 317’s aluminum cylinder heat binds, mine did after 60 fast rounds outdoors on a very cold february day. very disheartening as it is a handy sidearm. the lcr is a sometimes ccw. i would prefer having the hammer of the -x version except i got my lcr years ago before the -x was produced. no heat binding with the lcr but after 100 range rounds my trigger finger wishes it could shoot single action. so, as to o.p.’s question, i lean to the lcr-x.

Not a perfect comparison but I had an LCRx in 38.
It was never accurate enough for me even when playing around with different loads and bullet weights

I am not a Ruger fan boy, I love and prefer my S&W wheelies over all others, but the LCR .22lr has a D/A trigger than no S&W J frame in .22lr can come close to.

J-Bar said:

Rule of thumb: don’t buy any gun that you are not yearning to own.

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This is some of the best gun advice ever.

The only thing I would add is "Be knowledgeable enough to spot a screaming deal and wise enough to jump on it."

My 317 had a problem and ended up getting a stainless cylinder, which I prefer. It added a couple of oz. to the weight. Mine shoots well, but I like my 3" 63 a bit better.