S&W 317 .22lr ammo issues.

[22-rimfire]

These "little" issues that have been reported over the last couple of years has been the reason why I bought a M63. Not to say the M63 can't have problems, but so far so good. I believe the M317 to be a good little revolver overall.

Eventually I do want to pickup a M317 just to have one, but only after I get the 3" M63. Prioritze that wish list.

 

[Pete D.]

317

I have had an 317 Airlite snubbie for - hmmm - about four or five years now. It goes in my back pocket when I am hunting, gets thrown into my range bag when I am heading out to the range. I have shot maybe 20 different types of .22 ammo through it. Never a problem.
Pete

 

[Onmilo]

I have owned a 317 Kit Gun for about 15 years and have yet to see any trouble out of it.
My wife shoots it more than I do now and if it was causing her problems I would hear about it!

 

[tubeshooter]

Update

No returned gun yet - but I did get a letter.

Long story short, they would kindly like $123.75 for the steel cylinder and $60 labor to fulfill my request.

Whine enough and I do believe S&W will install an 8 shot stainless steel cylinder from the Model 63 on your 317 for a very moderate charge. HTH

Doesn't sound too moderate to me... I guess I didn't whine enough.

_____________________


I am in chest-deep now, and I said I would pay. So I will.



Really hoping they fix whatever, considering all this. Did not set out to spend over $800 on a simple .22 kit gun, but here I am. Stay tuned...

 

[Onmilo]

I don't consider $184 an obscene amount to get what you want, especially for a revolver that retails for $650+ now and S&W is willing to do the work which means the warranty is still in effect.
Not a bad day if you ask me!

 

[tubeshooter]

Not obscene - but not moderate. At least not by my standards. It's 30% of the cost of an already pretty expensive gun.

I have not had a lot of major gunsmith work done, and I don't know what the ordinary going rate is to replace a cylinder.

But as you say - it is what I am asking for. And they are agreeing to perform the work. So far, so good.


I was under the impression that the warranty was lifetime. I understand that what I am asking for is a bit outside the scope of what a normal warranty would cover.

 

[Nullcone]

That's not a bad price for having some custom work done on a revolver, but it would be unacceptable to me as a solution from the manufacturer to a defective gun.

Sounds like they haven't done anything yet. Inquiring about the possibility of a steel cylinder doesn't obligate you to get one fitted.

If it were me I'd tell them to correct the original problem, and on their dime. If they feel they can do it in aluminum, fine. But I'd send it right back if it isn't 100% after it's trip to the factory.

I can't decide how cool (if at all... ) a steel cylindered, aluminum framed/shrouded gun would be. It would be neither fish nor fowl.

Keep us (me) posted... I feel like I have some skin in this game.

 

[tubeshooter]

I basically feel the same way you do. One the one hand, I am asking for something that would be considered custom work. On the other, the gun should have worked properly in the first place.

I told them that I'd pay up front. I am not asking them to "give" me anything for my inconvenience or any other reason.

In my mind, replacement with another aluminum cylinder should have been free. The testing and labor to install another aluminum cylinder should be the same as a steel one. So in that sense, my friend thinks that they should have thrown in the labor and I tend to agree with that.

But there is no use crying about it. These are the terms. I can suck it up and pay, or I can have a $600 gun that works only somewhat with .22 LR but is great with shorts and CBs. These are my only options; my gunsmith does not want to tackle this.


Again, I don't know what the going rate is for a cylinder replacement. I know my smith charges $35/hour for services. So the figure is probably not patently unreasonable. I told S&W I did not really trust or want an aluminum cylinder after the problems, so I am grateful that they are willing to fix it "my way" - even at a cost. I also can't decide how cool (or not) this hybrid gun will be, but if it works I will just call it good and move on with life.

 

[olafhardtB]

I stuff mine with cheap ammo, shoot it and don't clean it, it works. I never had a 22 auto that came close to it. That is why I buy revolvers and 22's. Maybe you shoot too fast.

 

[tubeshooter]

Somehow I doubt that I, my friend, my gunsmith and S&W (who "tested for function and safety" and probably would have told me the gun was fine and basically to kick rocks) all shoot the gun too fast.

And that's what I thought about revolvers, too.


But thanks.

 

[ClemY]

I had to send my 3” 317 back to the factory a couple of times because the blast at the barrel/cylinder gap was tearing up the front of the cylinder. The last time, they replaced the cylinder with a stainless cylinder from the 63. It picked up 3.8 oz. according to my scale, and I think it is now perfect. It was almost too light before.

 

[tubeshooter]

Thanks, ClemY. I hope my results are as good as yours!

I especially appreciate the info on the weight difference.


How long has it been since you have had the steel cylinder? Any issues?

 

[ClemY]

I don't remember exactly how long I have had it, but it has worked fine.

 

[tubeshooter]

Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.


Looks fine to me... certainly different, but fine.

 

[tubeshooter]

Another update, before this thread falls into the abyss...

No returned 317 yet. I called them 9 days after I sent the money, and they had no record of having received it. The service rep said he would look into it and call me back.

True to his word, he called about 4 hours later and said they have the money and also confirmed the return address. I was told that they are out of stock as far as the steel cylinder, and that they will begin work as soon as it is available.

That was two weeks ago. I called last week, got a different rep, same status.

Called today, different rep, same status. At least this one did not ask me "Did I pay?" as question #2, right after "What's the serial number?".


So it looks unlikely the gun will be back before the end of the year. After having researched around, it may take them 2 months to machine this cylinder for me.


ClemY has already pretty much stolen all the thunder with his pic, but I will still post a pic once this is returned. Just in case somebody cares; because I borderline don't now so I'm sure nobody else really does.

 

[dirt_j00]

I'm still following! The 317 may be under the tree waiting...

 

[tubeshooter]

Thanks for the kind words. I guess anything is possible...


For the record, I don't think S&W has bad products in general. But I do think that this particular model has issues, and is probably best avoided.

If I had read the S&W forums first and saw the history of problems, I probably could have saved myself some grief.

 

[tubeshooter]

Still no gun

Nothing yet.

I've called about every 10 days or so - always the same story.

I have had the concept of "backordered" explained to me about 5 times.

I have been told that there is a shortage of revolver parts in the last year.

This last time (today), I was basically told in not so many words that they would rather use whatever stock they have on making new guns than fixing problem ones.


I consider this ridiculous. I shouldn't have to post on 12 message boards and pitch a huge b*tch just to get my gun fixed in a reasonable amount of time. Surely it doesn't take 2 whole months to machine a cylinder. They sure didn't need two months to take my money...

 

[ClemY]

They make things in batches. I ordered a 3"Model 63 in Apr of '10 and finally got it in Dec. I had to wait until they got around to it with their production schedule. Something similar happened when I shipped my .44 Redhawk back to get a 5 1/2" barrel. I ended up waiting 6 mo. or more for that.

 

[tubeshooter]

Thanks ClemY. I needed a dose of perspective.

I know 2 months isn't all that long in gunsmithing time. I'm just impatient, I guess.



Seeing all the stories of "they got mine back in 8 days" hasn't helped...

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

I'd say that was very poor service all the way around. I looked at a 3" 317 last week, now I'm very glad I didn't buy it.

 

[Jim K]

FWIW, that doesn't sound like a problem with the cylinder, it sounds like a headspace problem caused by battering of the recoil bushing or the frame itself. Sometimes folks (including manufacturers) forget that the little .22 LR works up a fair amount of pressure, like 25,000 psi, and aluminum alloy just might not stand up to a lot of firing.

Jim

 

[paochow]

I've had binding issues with CCI velocitors in my 317, but not with the typical HV bulk ammo. Suits me fine as it has functioned fine over thousansds of rounds of federal bulk hv.

 

[tubeshooter]

Finally back, as of today (minutes ago, actually).

It looks like they increased the gap between the forcing cone and the front of the cylinder just a little as well.


I think I will get a rare opportunity to actually shoot it tomorrow evening. Looking forward to testing it. I will post a picture soon as promised, but other than the wood grips I had bought and will re-install it's no different from ClemY's earlier pic.

 

[Nullcone]

In before the Swamp People start telling you to...

"cheeeewt eeet!"

(I do want to know the conclusion to this adventure)