ArchAngelCD
Member.
I chose other. I like the S&W M617 except for the fact it's built on the L frame and it's very heavy and bulky for a .22. I would buy a S&W K frame M17 or M18 instead. IMO both are great and they are forever guns...
S&W 617, Ruger SP101, or Taurus 94 .22's For Wife
- Thread starter sigbear
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Stainz
Member
Local stores are quit proud of the new Ruger .22 - even offering them at $600+. A new 4" 617 is less than a c-note more OTD - and well worth it. I am fortunate to have been able to afford a new 4" x10 617, LNIB 5" 63, and a new 3" 63 over the last 3+ years. I love the 3" 63, but that 4" 617 is the ultimate keeper. We A-B-ed the 3" 63 with a friend's new x8 Ruger SP101. No shocker - the 63 was better in accuray - far better in both DA & SA triggers. The 4" 617 is even nicer.
Disclaimer: I once owned Rugers - nothing but Rugers - from a SS .22 LR/WMR to a SRH .454 - even a #1H in .458 Lott. 8/02 found my wife buying me my first S&W - a new 625MG in .45 Colt... the seed was planted - by 5/08, the last of my Ruger revolvers, except for a SS 'Old Army' bp c&b, was gone. My last Ruger, a 4" SP101 in .32 H&RM bought 'as new' five years ago, would be the worst example, QC-wise, of any revolver I've owned, save a 5.5" .45 Redhawk I sent back to Ruger. Most all of it's roughness was patched - with loads of TLC. If you aren't mechanically adept, expect to pay your Ruger-knowledgeable 'smith some bucks. The new .22 SP101 felt similar to the older .32 I had, sad to say. On the plus side, I like the grips - and the fully adjustable rear sight. Still, I have fewer handguns now - but they are S&W's. YMMV.
Stainz
Disclaimer: I once owned Rugers - nothing but Rugers - from a SS .22 LR/WMR to a SRH .454 - even a #1H in .458 Lott. 8/02 found my wife buying me my first S&W - a new 625MG in .45 Colt... the seed was planted - by 5/08, the last of my Ruger revolvers, except for a SS 'Old Army' bp c&b, was gone. My last Ruger, a 4" SP101 in .32 H&RM bought 'as new' five years ago, would be the worst example, QC-wise, of any revolver I've owned, save a 5.5" .45 Redhawk I sent back to Ruger. Most all of it's roughness was patched - with loads of TLC. If you aren't mechanically adept, expect to pay your Ruger-knowledgeable 'smith some bucks. The new .22 SP101 felt similar to the older .32 I had, sad to say. On the plus side, I like the grips - and the fully adjustable rear sight. Still, I have fewer handguns now - but they are S&W's. YMMV.
Stainz
She Chose The S&W 617
Well, we went to the gun store and she chose the S&W 617. They didn't have a SP101 in .22 for her to compare but they had several Taurus Trackers and others.
The 617 was much heavier and the quality compared to the Taurus was apparent. She shot 200 round the day she bought it and her 1st. shot hit dead center of the target at 15' and by the end of the shooting day she was hitting the target every time at 50'.
I think either the SP101 or the 617 would have worked out fine for her, but this gun is heavy and recoil is almost non existent. Hopefully after firing a couple of thousand rounds with her new gun she will be able to start shooting .38's with my SP101 .357 with 3"barrel.
In time she should become recoil tolerant.
Thanks for your input.
Sigbear
Well, we went to the gun store and she chose the S&W 617. They didn't have a SP101 in .22 for her to compare but they had several Taurus Trackers and others.
The 617 was much heavier and the quality compared to the Taurus was apparent. She shot 200 round the day she bought it and her 1st. shot hit dead center of the target at 15' and by the end of the shooting day she was hitting the target every time at 50'.
I think either the SP101 or the 617 would have worked out fine for her, but this gun is heavy and recoil is almost non existent. Hopefully after firing a couple of thousand rounds with her new gun she will be able to start shooting .38's with my SP101 .357 with 3"barrel.
In time she should become recoil tolerant.
Thanks for your input.
Sigbear
Stainz
Member
Congratulations!
Stainz
Stainz
GAMALOT
Member
I have a S&W 686-1 L Frame 6 inch in .357 and shoot .38 wads in it. My wife loves my gun but wanted something in .22 cal.
I got her a S&W 617 6 inch that is the spitting image of my 686.
Right out of the box the trigger and action is as smooth as my highly worked action and it is a tack driver much to my embarrassment. She consistently gets better score than me on paper. I had to understand why and it became evident very quick the 617 is just a true pleasure to shoot with absolutely no recoil at all and perfect balance.
Let your gal try them all and drag her around to shops where you can find the guns you mention, shows are usually good for variety and selections.
I would have a hard time prying the 617 from her cold hands and her only complaint is that it is a bit heavy but so much fun to shoot and very inexpensive for the ammo. She also loves the Ruger Mark 1 but the 617 burns the X out of her targets.
I got her a S&W 617 6 inch that is the spitting image of my 686.
Right out of the box the trigger and action is as smooth as my highly worked action and it is a tack driver much to my embarrassment. She consistently gets better score than me on paper. I had to understand why and it became evident very quick the 617 is just a true pleasure to shoot with absolutely no recoil at all and perfect balance.
Let your gal try them all and drag her around to shops where you can find the guns you mention, shows are usually good for variety and selections.
I would have a hard time prying the 617 from her cold hands and her only complaint is that it is a bit heavy but so much fun to shoot and very inexpensive for the ammo. She also loves the Ruger Mark 1 but the 617 burns the X out of her targets.
22-rimfire
Member
Sigbear, I am very pleased that she chose the S&W M617 and you feel good about it. I hope you got the 4", but they are less common than the 6" (because the sell faster).
Now you need to find yourself a good DA 22.
I have yet to see the new Ruger SP-101 22LR revolver. I suspect my general feeling will match Stainz's experience. Gun shops selling the Ruger for $600, guess they can keep it. I have too many other DA 22 revolvers to ever buy one if I wasn't comfortable with the price and quality. There is no hurry and I still have not purchased a 3" M63 which comes first. Guess I need to get out more.
Now you need to find yourself a good DA 22.
I have yet to see the new Ruger SP-101 22LR revolver. I suspect my general feeling will match Stainz's experience. Gun shops selling the Ruger for $600, guess they can keep it. I have too many other DA 22 revolvers to ever buy one if I wasn't comfortable with the price and quality. There is no hurry and I still have not purchased a 3" M63 which comes first. Guess I need to get out more.
Snowbandit
Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2007
- Messages
- 314
If it's going to be her's, she needs to choose it herself. The Smith will hold value better and has a better trigger.
I noticed a bunch of posts indicating the S&W 17/617's are L-frames. This is incorrect. They are built on the K-frame.
I noticed a bunch of posts indicating the S&W 17/617's are L-frames. This is incorrect. They are built on the K-frame.
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robctwo
Member
4" S&W 617, Burris FastFire, Ahrends retro combat grips, Wolff Spring kit.
Of course this is a 1k gun.
weregunner
Member
Yes, sir that is a beautiful gun. Good wishes and happy shooting to you and the wife.
.22
@ sigbear, im new to site,seen ur post ...im female,im not real good with the difference with all the diff types guns,i do know gun safety he made me go tho the course with each one of the kids...along with him teaching me years ago..husband has many diff kinds couldnt tell you all of them only the one i bought him one time was a rem 30-6... my very first one was a .22 rev. longhorn w-102 high standard 9 shots per round.. 4 1/2 bar with pearl sides,he let me shoot for a while,then he let me try other ones...and as to what : (GP100man posted ).. he was right,i dont like the others, i only like my first one..all the others either lien to much forward or to much backwards for me..like to top heavy or back heavy...but that longhorn, i hit the target every time on the nose no matter how far he moves the target on me..love it..just saying
...but i could use some help getting little more info about my longhorn he says hes giving to me and i guess after 25 years,i can say its mine...lol...but i would like to find out some about it,so when im older,or when im ready,i can pass on to my son with history.please if someone can help me would be great thanks..not sure what our info you may need off of it but let me know i can get it for you or if you can pass on to someone who may can help me thanks again,not to go with this pc...ps i find this is all so far if it helps http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/HSD9/hsd9.html
@ sigbear, im new to site,seen ur post ...im female,im not real good with the difference with all the diff types guns,i do know gun safety he made me go tho the course with each one of the kids...along with him teaching me years ago..husband has many diff kinds couldnt tell you all of them only the one i bought him one time was a rem 30-6... my very first one was a .22 rev. longhorn w-102 high standard 9 shots per round.. 4 1/2 bar with pearl sides,he let me shoot for a while,then he let me try other ones...and as to what : (GP100man posted ).. he was right,i dont like the others, i only like my first one..all the others either lien to much forward or to much backwards for me..like to top heavy or back heavy...but that longhorn, i hit the target every time on the nose no matter how far he moves the target on me..love it..just saying
...but i could use some help getting little more info about my longhorn he says hes giving to me and i guess after 25 years,i can say its mine...lol...but i would like to find out some about it,so when im older,or when im ready,i can pass on to my son with history.please if someone can help me would be great thanks..not sure what our info you may need off of it but let me know i can get it for you or if you can pass on to someone who may can help me thanks again,not to go with this pc...ps i find this is all so far if it helps http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/HSD9/hsd9.html
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GAMALOT
Member
I think you are mistaking about this! The 6 inch 617 does have the full lug and looks identical to my "L" Frame 686 but I do believe it is built on the K frame.
Stainz
Member
The 17, 18, & 617 are K-frames; the 686 series are L-frames. In comparing the 6" 686 with the 6" 617, they are close... they mount exactly the same size grips - and the six shot 6" 686 weighs 44.9 oz - a whole .7 oz more than the ten shooter 6" 617. The seven shooter 6" 686P, with that extra hole in the cylinder, weighs .3 oz less than the x10 6" 617's 44.2 oz. Weights are from the S&W 2011 catalog. Grip them the same, and the feel of a 6" 617 would be hard to distinguish from a 6" 686/686P.
Stainz
PS To further muddy the waters... the 317 series, lite weight .22's, are J-frames!
Stainz
PS To further muddy the waters... the 317 series, lite weight .22's, are J-frames!
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oldfool
Member
outlaw88
welcome to the forum !
"I would like to find out some about it"
Your Longhorn is a High Standard 9 shot double action revolver, most often shot in single action by cocking the hammer (stiff DA trigger)
They made "same" under several label names, mine is the Double Nine, 6" barrel, all steel, both cylinders, 22lR and 22 mag
Well made revolvers, very similar in look and feel to the Ruger Single Six, though the Ruger is single action only, no flip out cylinder you know
(try a Ruger Single Six, I bet you will love that as well, feels identical in hand)
Suggest you surf the www.rimfirecentral.com forum
I think they have a High Standard sub-forum over there
High Standard used to be a rimfire famous name Olympic class target pistol maker back-when
their revolvers not competition grade, but nice enough, much to enjoy
PS
yep, Stainz nailed it
I have only made the mistake of calling the 617 an L frame about half a dozen times (so far); it' the full underlug that thows me off on 'em
welcome to the forum !
"I would like to find out some about it"
Your Longhorn is a High Standard 9 shot double action revolver, most often shot in single action by cocking the hammer (stiff DA trigger)
They made "same" under several label names, mine is the Double Nine, 6" barrel, all steel, both cylinders, 22lR and 22 mag
Well made revolvers, very similar in look and feel to the Ruger Single Six, though the Ruger is single action only, no flip out cylinder you know
(try a Ruger Single Six, I bet you will love that as well, feels identical in hand)
Suggest you surf the www.rimfirecentral.com forum
I think they have a High Standard sub-forum over there
High Standard used to be a rimfire famous name Olympic class target pistol maker back-when
their revolvers not competition grade, but nice enough, much to enjoy
PS
yep, Stainz nailed it
I have only made the mistake of calling the 617 an L frame about half a dozen times (so far); it' the full underlug that thows me off on 'em
GAMALOT
Member
Mine wanted 6 inches just like mine!
roaddog28
Member
That is typical of most double action 22 LR revolvers. Heavy double action triggers. The only 22 LR revolver I have ever used that a decent double action trigger was a S&W model 17 6 inch barrel revolver. I place the model 17 and 18 at the top when it comes to a double action 22 LR. But a person will paid a higher price to get one.
Regards.
Howard
GAMALOT
Member
When I bought the 617, 6 inch for her I searched a lot of shops before I found this one with the target trigger and target hammer. I think when they go with the target options they go a few steps further with the actions themselves. I have had a lot of S&W revolvers over the years but have never bought one with such a fine action as this 617 right out of the box.
LongTimeGone
Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2011
- Messages
- 152
I went out this morning to buy a .22 revolver.
I had read this thread yesterday after handling the SP 101 the day before.
I really wanted to the 617 4 in. but I didn't want another really heavy handgun. I have a S&W M41 7 in. that I can't hold for long, due to age, arthritis etc.
I held both but still really wanted the 617.
Both felt good but the SP101 felt better balanced for me and the Smith feels heavier than the specs would suggest.
I only had time for 60 rounds and I already love it.
So, here it is;
I had read this thread yesterday after handling the SP 101 the day before.
I really wanted to the 617 4 in. but I didn't want another really heavy handgun. I have a S&W M41 7 in. that I can't hold for long, due to age, arthritis etc.
I held both but still really wanted the 617.
Both felt good but the SP101 felt better balanced for me and the Smith feels heavier than the specs would suggest.
I only had time for 60 rounds and I already love it.
So, here it is;
oldfool
Member
"The only 22 LR revolver I have ever used that a decent double action trigger was a S&W model 17 6 inch barrel revolver"
I do admire your taste roaddog (probably why I own three S&W k rimfires), but the Taurus old model k-96 is at least as good... and not all small frame DA rimfire revolvers have Taurus or Hi-Std or H&R or Ruger DA triggers... K-frame, no, but them old S&W kit guns ain't real hard to get used to
did friend weregunner really vote 4 times in this poll ??
(just kidding, just kidding)
I do admire your taste roaddog (probably why I own three S&W k rimfires), but the Taurus old model k-96 is at least as good... and not all small frame DA rimfire revolvers have Taurus or Hi-Std or H&R or Ruger DA triggers... K-frame, no, but them old S&W kit guns ain't real hard to get used to
did friend weregunner really vote 4 times in this poll ??
(just kidding, just kidding)
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