Advice Wanted Re. S&W 317 Revolver

[wbond]

Hi all. I'm having extra bad arthritis problems in my hands right now.

I've given up shooting 9x18 altogether. I can still shoot my Firestorm .380 or Ruger .32M when I'm better, which is sometimes.

When I'm a little worse, I can still shoot my Firestorm .32 ACP.

However, right now I'm much worse. I can barely walk and it hurts to type, let alone shoot anything with any recoil.

I'm looking for a nice, light weight .22 Mag with a 3" barrel.

I've seen on S&W's website that they have a new revolver called a Model 317 Kit Gun with a 3" barrel that can be had in .22LR or .22 Magnum. I like its specs because it's light and easy to carry with no recoil.

I want the S&W Model 317 Kit Gun in .22 Magnum with the 3" barrel. One reviewer said it has a 3.5" barrel. Either barrel length would be good. 3" or 3.5" is fine either way. I do NOT want a 2" barrel gun.

That said, where the heck can I buy one? My local gun store says there is no such thing, or that they can't get it. They've told me that many times before and then I bought whatever online.

However, it's often difficult to find things online if they aren't a brand I'm experienced with. I am very good at finding Taurus, Firestorms, Bersas, Rugers, and CZs because those are my normal brands.

However, in this case I specifically want the S&W 317 Kit Gun. Since I've never bought a S&W before, I have no idea where to look online.
Some advice would really help. Also, I can go to any gunstore in WA state and buy it in person too.

I'm looking for a S&W Model 317 Kit Gun, .22 Magnum, 3" or 3.5" barrel.

Please advise me of where to find one to buy. Thanks.

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P.S. - I am much more handicapped than usual right now and it is plainly visible to any possible assailants. I am currently unable to shoot any of the handguns I already own. Therefore, I'm not even carrying right now. I think a .22M would be much better than no gun at all. I'm sure I could shoot a .22M with good accuracy despite my current problems.

I hope to improve again in the future and then graduate back to .32 ACP and later .380 ACP, but for now .22M is my only option.

 

[Rover 'n Rugers]

Here is a link to the specific model i.d. on the S&W website:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=10001&productId=14742&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y

To buy online will still require a FFL to receive the gun. One website is:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/
with specific prices. An auction websites are:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Browse.asp?Cat=2325

There are other auction sites but I am not aware of what they are.

 

[roo_ster]

Try the S&W Dealer Locator:
https://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp...miuC82h8ZnpS0DvWn1MA9BwZz/O+24yhzDADAuyxxLnA=

 

[wbond]

Thanks, but so far those are turning up 2" barrel .22LRs.

The sources provided did turn up one 3" barrel .22 LR Kit Gun. That's close, but not quite. I want .22 Magnum.

I'm looking for a 3" barrel .22 Magnum S&W Model 317 Kit Gun.

The 3" barrel ones are called "Kit Guns".

Smith and Wesson's website says they make it, but finding it to buy is like looking for bigfoot.

Are there websites or gun stores that specialize in S&W revolvers? If so, maybe that'd be my best bet.

Any further suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Rover 'n Rugers]

Smith lists one SKU number. I don't see how it could be both a .22LR and .22Mag. In the past when they offered convertible .22's they had a cylinder for each. The bore was also a bit larger to accommodate the .22 mag. It might be worthwhile to contact S&W directly to see if they offer it in .22 mag. When I look at their website under calibers there are no .22mags. In looking at the posting on the 317 it mentions medium frames and .22 mag and the 317 is the small J frame model. All is not hopeless. It seems I recall in the past they made a Kit Gun Model 63 with a 4" bbl in stainless that was a J frame .22LR. I believe there was a .22 Mag version (651). Here is a link to a couple on Guns America:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976572877.htm
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976622874.htm

This will allow you to see what they look like.

 

[JNewell]

I am 99% sure the 317 has never been made in .22 magnum. I'm not sure that the cylinder on the 317, which is aluminum, would stand up to .22 WMR pressures.

There was a recent 2" alloy/ti J frame chambered in .22 magnum, but that's not what you're looking for. Similarly, there have been stainless .22 magnums, but again it's not your item.

I think you are out of luck.

 

[wbond]

Today I hobbled into my local gun store and bought a Taurus 4" .22M.

It's a bit heavier than I wanted because it's made from stainless steel. It weighs 25 oz, which isn't bad.

It seems a nice gun and only costs $300 at my local gun store brand new.

I realize that a .22M is no man stopper, but I think that with proper markmenship (and 3 shots) it will do. It will have to do because that's my recoil limit at the moment. The 4" barrel will help velocity a lot (compared to a 2"). So I think I can rely on penetration. Penetration + accuracy + 3 shots beats not having a gun.
I'm satisfied.

Here's the link to the gun I bought.
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?model=941SS4&category=Revolver

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If anyone ever sees a S&W Model 317 Kit Gun with 3" barrel in .22 Magnum, please let me know. I'd like to own that and my new Taurus.

 

[GEM]

The 317's have a notoriously DA heavy trigger pull. The standard model has a very stubby hammer that is hard to manipulate.

There is a LS model with a full hammer. Before I bought one - if you have weak hands - I would want to try the trigger.

Some of the Tarus light weight 22's have lighter DA pulls. However, their reliability is iffy. Some are great, some have to go back to the shop.

How do the lighter weight 22 semis work for you? Not the PT-22 - another jammer.

I've also seen suggested the Ruger 22 LR Blackhawks. It's SA but if you can't manipulate anything else, it has been recommended for older women with bad hands. It's not really a CCW gun but it could be done.

 

[wbond]

To Gem:

I'll consider what you said.

Regarding .22M autos: I don't trust rimfire autos because a misfire can put an auto out of business. A revolver can just go to the next round.

Regarding trigger pull of .22M revolvers: My trigger finger is decently strong and healthy.

My problem has more to do with the fact that my right wrist is fused and does not bend at all. Worse, it is fused in a slightly bend forward position that is ideal for typing, but NOT for shooting. To line up on target, I must rotate the gun in my hand a bit so that the gun is not lined up with the web of my right hand, but instead with the right thumb's knuckle.

Since my wrist can't bend and the gun is lined up with the thumb knuckle, the right thumb's knuckle takes a beating from recoil, which really aggravates arthritis in right thumb. However, my trigger finger is 90% healthy and 90% as strong as any normal man.

So I don't think a stiff trigger is going to bother me. Also, I hold the gun in a right handed, two handed grip and work the hammer with my healthy left thumb. That's what I've done with my .32M Ruger SP101 and it's worked great. I can shoot .32M accurately and reasonably fast, even DA. The only problem is that my thumb knuckle gets really swollen and sore from .32M recoil. Same with .380. The .32 ACP is not bad.

However, a .22M recoil will not bother my thumb at all and my trigger finger is strong enough for the .22M DA trigger pull.

The Taurus .22M with 4" barrel is a good gun, as is the S&W 317. The Taurus is quite affordable. So I ordered a Taurus, which isn't here yet. However, I am still interested in the S&W 317 Kit Gun and S&W 651 too.

 

[wbond]

S&W 651 Questions:

How many rounds does that hold?

 

[JNewell]

Pretty sure they were all 6-shot cylinders like the 63, which is the .22LR version. Both are built on a stainless J frame and were sold as the stainless "kit gun."

 

[thales]

*


It sounds to me like you might want a Model 351, the alloy framed .22 Magnum.
Check S&W's online catalog.


*

 

[wbond]

Model 351 would be great if it came with a longer barrel.

I really like 3" barrel J-Frames, especially lighter ones because the extra inch helps velocity a lot and it still fits in my coat pocket.

However, with .22M there is a lack of power which an even longer barrel, such as a 4" helps a lot.

In .32M and .38 Spl I prefer 3" barrels. (of course I can no longer shoot a .38 Spl due to hand problems)

In .22M, I prefer a 4" barrel to increase the power over a shorter barrel. I thought I wanted a 3" .22M, but now that I've ordered a 4" I prefer it.

The Taurus holds 8 rounds, which makes me happy. I only wish it held 9 or 10.

Weren't there .22M revolvers that held 9 or 10 rounds?

I've heard the S&Ws can have an optional 10 round cylinder. Is that correct?

Does the Taurus have any higher capacity cylinders for it?

 

[dbarale]

Hi there,

I just registered to be able to post this.
We had the same conversation with a gentleman the other day who has really bad arthirisis and wanted a hangun that he could shoot and could protect himself with.
He tried a few revolvers, one of 'em being a 4" model 10. With an action job and by using .38 wadcutters he was able to shoot it pretty well and recoil was tolerable.
But then somebody suggested the FN Five-Seven.
After trying one he ordered one. You get roughly the ballistics of a .22 mag from a rifle, very low recoil, 20 rds magazines and absolute reliabilty.
The gun and ammo are pricey but since that's the only one he can shoot now that's not really an issue for him.
I do not know if that can help you but I just wanted to give you another option.