I picked this new pal up from my FFL on Thursday. Friday evening I spent a few hours "tweeking her" by installing a Wolff mainspring and rebound spring, as well as shining her up nice and bright with Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish. To finish her off I installed a SDM green fiber optic front sight, a Hogue extended cylinder release lever and swapped out the OEM rubber grip for a Hogue Monogrip in rosewood laminate.
Fired over 600 rounds through her on Saturday and Sunday.... and boy, after dailing-in her mainspring she shoots as good as she looks!
FWIW, acquiring a couple DS-10-Speed loaders as well as the 40rnd loading block is a truly "must have" for anyone really interested in enjoying the Model 617 at their local firing range. The DS-10-Speed products make a world of difference in convience.
I can convey upfront that if you purchase the Wolff reduced power mainspring set, you will experience many FTFs with your revolver. To correct that situation you will simply need to replace the mainspring's strain screw with a hardware store purchased socket head #8-32 x .5" SS hardened set screw. They come two in a small packet for approximately .56 cents from your local hardware store.
To better depict what I am conveying, the below image shows my S&W Model 617 with the Wolff reduced power mainspring inserted, using the S&W OEM strain screw. The strain screw does not provide enough pre-load on the mainspring, partly due to the fact that it lines up directly into the tunnel-backed power rib of the Wolff product. Here, the screw is tighted as far as she will go.... and I received approximately 20% FTFs in double action.
This next photo reflects the same Wolff reduced power mainspring, but with the OEM strain screw having been swapped-out with the socket head #8-32 x .5" set screw. As you can clearly see, a heck of a lot more pre-load can be achieved. For visual comparison purposes, immediately to the right of the revolver's frame is the second #8-32 x .5" set screw next to the S&W OEM strain screw.
You will need to "dial in" your Wolff reduced power mainspring with this hardware store purchased set screw at the firing range. Because the Model 617 is a rimfire, the firing pin and hammer strike needs to consistently impart adequate energy for rimfire ignition. It is my understanding that such is not the case with centerfire revolvers (but I wouldn't know because I don't own one nor have I ever replaced a centerfire revolver's springs).
When dialing-in the mainspring's pre-load tension, via tightening and/or backing out the set/strain screw, you will need to find that "sweet spot" when you achieve zero FTFs. Once you find that ideal tension setting, screw in the set/strain screw approximately 1/4 to 1/2 turn tighter, just to be sure. Additionally, you should have applied a drop of blue loctite to your hardware store purchased set screw, just prior to performing this process.
I can enthusiastically report that my revolver's trigger pull and break with the Wolff mainspring, both in SA and DA, is greatly improved. The Wolff spring set (I didn't mention how I replaced my revolver's OEM rebound spring with the Wolff's 13 lb. rebound spring) is a product that I believe every S&W revolver shooter should strongly consider.
Happy shooting to ya!!!
Fired over 600 rounds through her on Saturday and Sunday.... and boy, after dailing-in her mainspring she shoots as good as she looks!
FWIW, acquiring a couple DS-10-Speed loaders as well as the 40rnd loading block is a truly "must have" for anyone really interested in enjoying the Model 617 at their local firing range. The DS-10-Speed products make a world of difference in convience.
I can convey upfront that if you purchase the Wolff reduced power mainspring set, you will experience many FTFs with your revolver. To correct that situation you will simply need to replace the mainspring's strain screw with a hardware store purchased socket head #8-32 x .5" SS hardened set screw. They come two in a small packet for approximately .56 cents from your local hardware store.
To better depict what I am conveying, the below image shows my S&W Model 617 with the Wolff reduced power mainspring inserted, using the S&W OEM strain screw. The strain screw does not provide enough pre-load on the mainspring, partly due to the fact that it lines up directly into the tunnel-backed power rib of the Wolff product. Here, the screw is tighted as far as she will go.... and I received approximately 20% FTFs in double action.
This next photo reflects the same Wolff reduced power mainspring, but with the OEM strain screw having been swapped-out with the socket head #8-32 x .5" set screw. As you can clearly see, a heck of a lot more pre-load can be achieved. For visual comparison purposes, immediately to the right of the revolver's frame is the second #8-32 x .5" set screw next to the S&W OEM strain screw.
You will need to "dial in" your Wolff reduced power mainspring with this hardware store purchased set screw at the firing range. Because the Model 617 is a rimfire, the firing pin and hammer strike needs to consistently impart adequate energy for rimfire ignition. It is my understanding that such is not the case with centerfire revolvers (but I wouldn't know because I don't own one nor have I ever replaced a centerfire revolver's springs).
When dialing-in the mainspring's pre-load tension, via tightening and/or backing out the set/strain screw, you will need to find that "sweet spot" when you achieve zero FTFs. Once you find that ideal tension setting, screw in the set/strain screw approximately 1/4 to 1/2 turn tighter, just to be sure. Additionally, you should have applied a drop of blue loctite to your hardware store purchased set screw, just prior to performing this process.
I can enthusiastically report that my revolver's trigger pull and break with the Wolff mainspring, both in SA and DA, is greatly improved. The Wolff spring set (I didn't mention how I replaced my revolver's OEM rebound spring with the Wolff's 13 lb. rebound spring) is a product that I believe every S&W revolver shooter should strongly consider.
Happy shooting to ya!!!
