Range Report for Hatch shooting the 617

[BigAl52]

Today I went out with some 9mm test loads for the PC Carbine 357 loads for the Ruger and 686 and to shoot my 617 after coming home for the gunsmith and being tuned. What a joy it was to shoot with an action that was all tuned. I was shooting clay pigeons on the bank so I dont have any targets to show off but I can tell you it was shooting very well. A friend of mine brought out his S&W model 41. It was an older one and I got to shoot it. I can tell you its really a fine gun I would love to have an older one like that. The trigger on it was excellent. So I really only have a couple of photos of the gun after Ive done what I did to it. I really enjoy shooting this gun now. Just trying to be a good enabler here. Fiber optic front sight and some Altamont rosewood grips. The grips are a huge improvement over those black grips the gun comes with. Am I helpin Hatch?

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[Vaquero]

Sounds like a fun day, and good see that gunsmith came through for you.
Some nice looking grips.

RP

[North Country Gal]

Very nice grips. Now you got me wanting to get out and shoot my 617.

How did you get that fiber optic sight installed. Was that you or the gunsmith? I've been thinking about doing the same.

[BigAl52]

Very nice grips. Now you got me wanting to get out and shoot my 617.

How did you get that fiber optic sight installed. Was that you or the gunsmith? I've been thinking about doing the same.

Thanks for the compliment on the grips. The sight install was done by my gunsmith. Bought the sight and drill bits on Amazon and gave them to him to install. There is some YouTube videos on doing it. I probably could have done it but I don’t have a good gun vice and just would rather someone with more skill than I have do it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002APOH ... asin_title

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000SKRR ... asin_title

Joanie you need a size 54 drill bit for the pin in the front sight. I see they are currently unavailable at Amazon. Better get a couple if you decide to do it yourself. Drilling from both sides my gunsmith said both bits broke.

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, Al. Unfortunately, no gunsmith in our immediate area and I'm not too confident about the drilling. I'll just go without for now.

[rickhem]

That's a really nice looking revolver @BigAl52. That front sight really lights up. Do you center that in the rear notch and then place it over your intended target? I have Patridge sights on almost all my target guns, so it's the traditional 6 0'clock hold with those. Those are some seriously nice grips too.

I have a Model 17, the K-22 Masterpiece that was purchased by my late father-in-law. He got an itch that he had to have a handgun, and with him not really being a shooter or anything, I convinced him to get the 17. I should get that out and put some rounds through it, kind of a way to pay homage to him if that makes sense. Can't go wrong with a Smith K frame.

[Hatchdog]

How did that old song go? Something like “Oh yes, you’re the great enabler” or something like that.

Hard to make a 617 nicer looking than they come out of box but you did it. Love that front sight and the grips. I’m tempted to return to the LGS where the 4” used 617 I saw last week and make them a trade offer on a rifle I currently have listed on the local gun trader site. I posted it for trade for a 22lr DA revolver. I’m really wanting a small frame DA like a M/63 or a Ruger SP 101 as my wife has recently expressed interest in shooting a handgun. Something she hasn’t been interested in before. She has small hands and I think the K frame might be too big for her.

I did order a new sight blade with a square notch for my Single Seven and I’m hoping it works well with the Big Dot XS front sight on it. Glad the combination on your 617 is working out.

[BigAl52]

That's a really nice looking revolver @BigAl52. That front sight really lights up. Do you center that in the rear notch and then place it over your intended target? I have Patridge sights on almost all my target guns, so it's the traditional 6 0'clock hold with those. Those are some seriously nice grips too.

I have a Model 17, the K-22 Masterpiece that was purchased by my late father-in-law. He got an itch that he had to have a handgun, and with him not really being a shooter or anything, I convinced him to get the 17. I should get that out and put some rounds through it, kind of a way to pay homage to him if that makes sense. Can't go wrong with a Smith K frame.

Hard to beat a K-22 masterpiece with TT and TH. Yes on the sight picture. I spent a fair amount of time yesterday with my 357's trying out some loads. By the time I got to the 617 my back was tired so I didnt get to do some fine tuning with the sights. I will do that the next time out. Its shooting a tad low now so I was covering part of the clay pigeon with the front sight. Im also waiting for my Ruger GP-100 22 LR to be done with my gunsmith so I can take both of them out.

[BigAl52]

How did that old song go? Something like “Oh yes, you’re the great enabler” or something like that.

Hard to make a 617 nicer looking than they come out of box but you did it. Love that front sight and the grips. I’m tempted to return to the LGS where the 4” used 617 I saw last week and make them a trade offer on a rifle I currently have listed on the local gun trader site. I posted it for trade for a 22lr DA revolver. I’m really wanting a small frame DA like a M/63 or a Ruger SP 101 as my wife has recently expressed interest in shooting a handgun. Something she hasn’t been interested in before. She has small hands and I think the K frame might be too big for her.

I did order a new sight blade with a square notch for my Single Seven and I’m hoping it works well with the Big Dot XS front sight on it. Glad the combination on your 617 is working out.

Thanks for the comments on the gun. My gunsmith has the SP-101 in 22 I think they are 8 shot. His wife shoots it and he went thru it after they bought it. He mentioned it was kind of rough so if you decide to get one definitely give it the once over. I had a 4 inch 617 and sold it a few years ago. Its definitely lighter than the 6 inch but the 4 inch for me was harder to shoot more accurately. It was a good shooting gun but I really had to be on top of it to get the job done.

[daytime dave]

Al,
That's a great looking revolver. I am glad you have a good gunsmith. I'm not sure, but I was told it is a little bit more difficult to get a good action job on the MIM parts. I doubt I'll be wanting to have anything MIM tuned.

Those grips are very nice looking.