617....6 or 10 shot

[Carbon_15]

I am going to try to find a 617 this weekend at the gunshow. I could care less if its the 4 or 6 inch, both have advantages in my mind, but I dont know which I would rather have, the 6 or 10 shot. What are the pros and cons of each.
Thanks

 

[Bill2e]

If you get the 6 the timing wil more closely match your 686, if you get the ten you re-load less often.

 

[Master Blaster]

4" 10 shot is going to be most handy. The 4" full underlug will balance better than the 6" models, since full underlug is your only choice in a new gun.

I already have 4 6 shot K22s though and all are 6", I want a 4" 10 shot next.

 

[MrBorland]

If you get the 6 the timing wil more closely match your 686

I have a 6-shot K-22 and a 10-shot 617 I bought new as an understudy to my 686. If there's any timing difference between 6- and 10-shots, I haven't noticed it.

I've read some opinions that 10-shots can go out of time easier. My 10-shot did, in fact, go out of time after a few thousand rounds. It was quickly fixed by S&W, though, and many thousands of rounds later, it's still fine.

if you get the ten you re-load less often.

True. I prefer the 10-shot. Also, reloading the 10-shot seems to actually go quicker for me, since the charge holes are close together, as I can pick up 3-4 rounds at a time and drop them in.

 

[ClemY]

I have one of each. I kind of prefer the 6 shot, if only for tradition, but the 10 shot is great too.

 

[revolverforums]

It's a matter of preference, I just prefer the six shot. Had they not flutted the cylinder it wouldn't be so bad but the cylinder just doesn't look right with the ten flutes in it. Sometimes it is about asthetics. Good luck finding a six shot, the ten shots are everywhere but the six shots are much tougher to find only being made three years.

 

[Carl Levitian]

I've had a 4 inch 10 shot for 2 years now. I've shot the living heck out of it, and it's become my favorite gun to shoot. Being retired, I go to the range twice a week, and burn up a 550 round bulk box of Federals from Walmart every week. Been doing that for two years now on this gun with zero problems.

Did I mention I love this gun?

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Friend of mine must have got a bad 10 shot then. I would not get one as a matter of fact it just made me get a sig 220 22. Yes they now ship them like this as a 22 from the factory but they give you a coupon for the 220 slide in the box.

Look at my name (Revolverguy) you know this had to hurt going that route but after multiple trips to the range with the 617 10 shot I decided no freakin way. After the first range trip the cylinder would bind a bit and there was a very noticeable hang in the trigger. It was sent back to S&W. It came back, it functions and no more cylinder hang but when pulling the trigger it gets to a certain point where it wants to hang up and you have to pull a bit harder. I was and am so disappointed. Now this may smooth out if it is dry fired about 2 or 3 thousand times. But my experience with it is so bad to me I really can't describe it. I can't seem to get past it when I look at a 617 10 shot now.

 

[SeanSw]

I have the 6" 6-shot 617 and do not miss 4 extra shots. The cylinder staging is perfect and the trigger has become the best of all my revolvers. You can burn through a brick of .22 in short order with just the 6 if that's your goal. The 6" version is a large, heavy revolver and when I'm ready to track down a 4" version it will be another sixxer.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Now this may smooth out if it is dry fired about 2 or 3 thousand times. But my experience with it is so bad to me I really can't describe it.

Hopefully it was just an issue with that one gun. The trigger pull on my 617-no dash is like buttered glass.

 

[Owen]

i've heard the 6 shots tend to be a little more accurate.

 

[krs]

I have 3 K22's and a 4" Model 18 and love them more than most any other guns I own, but I traded a Ruger rifle for a 17-8 10 shot full lug 6" revolver mostly because I wasn't using the rifle and can always find a place for another Smith & Wesson.

Soon after I got it I took it with me while I brushhogged my front 5 acre pasture and had such an absolute blast plinking at the field mice as they scurried away from my tractor as I boringly cruised by that I felt like I was 14 years old! Of course I could have done that with a 6 shot, and I have, but it was better this way and that revolver has taken the place of one of my Colt Challengers for mouserousting at mowing time. It just feels so much more traditional to do with a wheelgun.

Hot sun,, slow tractor, a bagful of .22's, a tenshot sixshooter and my old Tilley hat.

 

[Carbon_15]

Thanks for the input guys. The 4inch 10 shot would have been my natural inclination...just wanted to see what the THR braintrust thought.
It isnt a pain trying to clean 10 charge holes roughly the same size as the cleaning rod?

 

[MrBorland]

The 4inch 10 shot would have been my natural inclination

Great choice.

It isnt a pain trying to clean 10 charge holes roughly the same size as the cleaning rod?

I don't find it to be a hassle. The chambers on mine are pretty tight, which helps it's accuracy, but they require relatively frequent cleaning so the rounds seat easily. The plus side is that because they get cleaned frequently, they stay pretty clean, and not much is needed to clean them. After shooting, I just run a Hoppes-soaked brush through the chambers, then swab them out with q-tips. Takes 2-3 minutes.