opinions on SW 317 AirLite

[CAnnoneer]

Okay, I have converted one of my friends into a semi-regular shooter, and that from a latent anti. She is very recoil-sensitive, has small hands, and hates loading magazines. So, she likes and shoots .22 revos. She is thinking of buying her own personal one, since I suggested that regular exercise with snap caps at her home would improve her aim significantly.

We went to a store to check some .22 revos. She really liked the lightness of the 317, but has some trouble cocking it for SA shooting. Also, I am concerned that the short barrel is not optimal for target practice, especially for a beginner. We also looked at some SA Rugers, but loading them is annoying and they are a bit heavy for her.

My preference for her would be a Ruger SP101. I am concerned about the short barrel of the 317, as well as the heavier recoil she will feel because of the small weight of the gun. Am I a big jackass to insist on at least a 4" barrel in my recommendation? Also, what is the skinny about the 317 and the 101. I am a 9mm guy through and through, so I feel a bit underinformed about wheelguns.

Okay, wheelgunners, please advise me.

 

[treeprof]

I have a 317 w/the 2" bbl that I use to augment my snubbie practice routine. My wife has an SP101 (38/357) and she likes shooting the little 317 for practice as well. If your friend actually wants a .22 for defense, the 317 can be had in a 3" "kit gun" configuration. Recoil is not an issue in either bbl length, but she needs to be comfortable shooting DA is she intends to use it for defense. Personally, I'd see abt stepping up to a .32 mag over a .22. Or, she could try the steel frame S&W 36 Ladysmith in .38 spcl to help lessen recoil. The SP101 is heavy, but the extra mass has an upside in the centerfire versions; my wife is a tiny thing (5'2" and 100 lbs after a big meal) and also a bit recoil sensitive, and she has no trouble shooting 158 gr +P .38's out of her SP101. Light loads like standard 148gr wadcutters are very gentle from it, and IMO a much better defensive choice than any .22.

 

[280PLUS]

I know 2 women that have a hard time with the trigger and cocking the hammer. Their fingers / thumbs get all tuckered out halfway through a cylinder full. One even gets a blister on her thumb. I watched her take her sleeve over her thumb in attempts to cock it once it started hurting her. I was going to buy one for my wife but she had too much trouble pulling the trigger too. I also would prefer they made a hammerless model.

 

[lanceman193]

My little wife has small hands and is very recoil sensitive.I bought a no-lock 649 in the J Magnum 357 frame(2 1/8 in vs 1 7/8).had an excellent local smith do a trigger job on it,and put 110 gr 38special non +p hollowpoints in it.She can shoot it very well,very easily,and very little recoil.It is heavier than older J frames but it works very well for her.I have several J frames and let her pick out a grip she liked.

 

[Onmilo]

I own a Model 317 Kit Gun with 3" barrel and adjustable sights.
I am quite pleased with the gun.
The revolver features a larger hammer spur which will make it much easier to thumb cock.
If the lady likes the 317 then this is the model I would recommend and the newer versions come with a fiber optic front sight that should speed up target aquisition a little bit.
I have no issue with using a .22 for defense, especially if the shooter is intimidated by a larger caliber gun.
Better to hit once with a .22 than miss six with a .44.

 

[280PLUS]

I HAVE heard that a good trigger job helps. I recommended it to my friend but she hasn't gone yet. She lives about 20 minutes from S&W.

I've heard if you bring/send it to them and say you don't like the trigger they will do it up for nothing. Double check that though I know they will but I'm not sure it's free.

 

[rudolf]

Why not have her shoot a snubbie with .38 target wadcutters.

They have about a little recoil.

They beat the .22 in effectiveness for self defence.

She can later progress to more potent stuff in the same gun.

She also has a much bigger choice in models to pick from with smoother triggers an steel, aluminium or whatever frames.

 

[420Stainless]

I bought a 3" 317 specifically to teach my 96 lb. wife to shoot. She appreciated the light weight, and had no difficulties shooting it. However, neither her or I seem to get very good accuracy from it. I don't think it is the short barrel; she shoots her Taurus 85 noticeably better. I just think the feather-light weight makes it difficult to steady. I like the model from all other aspects. It is fun to shoot and easy to pack.

 

[Onmilo]

420Stainless, I have to tell you, I put at least four bricks of ammunition through my 317 before it began to settle down and group respectably.

Plain old Winchester SuperX high speed solids give me the best groups in this revolver.

Keep shooting your gun, they get better with lots of use.

 

[Master Blaster]

Take a look at the stainless taurus 94 9 shot in a 4" barrel.

I have a blued one from 1997 and I have put thousands of rounds through it. Its an excellent revolver and the one I use to introduce new shooters. I also have a model 43 S&W kit gun its similar to the 317, 3.5" barrel aluminium frame, and my 7 and 9 year old children shoot it, becuase it small enough to fit their hands. neither of them can shoot it double action but they learned to cock the hammer.

 

[RJM52]

I have had 3 female students that becasue of noise sensitivity or strength issues bought, practice with and carry the M317. All of them shoot both DA and SA for 2-3 hours during practice sessions with no problem. One is 73 years old...

Best shooting ammo so far has been the WW 40 HPs. Cut the groups of the WalMart Federal bulk ammo by over 1/2....and the bulk shoots great out of all my guns. But these seem to be a little more picky.

If your girlfriend can handle something bigger, try the S&W M60-10, or whatever the new number is. 3" J-Frame .357 Magnum with full underlug barrel and adjustable sights. Great little guns.

Bob

 

[JNewell]

.38 Special target load recoil is very tame.

If you go with a 317, consider swapping the hammer spring. There have been a lot of posts here and at Smith-Wessonforum.com about replacing the 317 spring with the standard Model 60 spring, which is lighter and therefore easier for DA use - no one has reported ignition problems after swapping, as far as I can recall.

 

[Rob1035]

I think some people forget that to non-shooters, even light recoil centerfire stuff might be difficult to manage, I think mainly due to the increased noise and mental factors.

I'd love a 3" 317, but man they are expensive!

How are the 317 triggers, compared to regular j-frames? My grandfathers Smith .22 that he bought in '34 has easily the best trigger I've ever felt, but that thing has literally years of break in. I don't want to shoot it much for obvious sentimental reasons (he bought it when he was in college, gave it to me recently before I graduated)

 

[420Stainless]

Onmilo,

Thank you very much for the tip. We've been busy having children in the years since buying the 317 and practice has been devoted to our defensive arms in the limited number of range trips we have made. I doubt there's been more than 200 rounds through the 317 - so now I have something to look forward to with hopes of better accuracy. I'll try the Winchester ammo.