When it comes to double action revolvers for both me and my husband, a S&W 617 in 22 LR has always been our mainstay DA target revolver. Unlike the lighter half lug blued Model 17, the 617 is a heavier stainless full lug, all target revolver. 617s have always dominated in rimfire revolvers used in current steel competition.
Bill bought his current production Smith 617-6 ten shot over a decade, ago, and it's been flawless, right out of the box, and it's still going strong after thousands of rounds.
My luck with current vintage 617-6 Smiths has not been so good. The two I've had in the last fifteen years both had to go back to S&W for defects. In fact, this last one went back twice. After two trips back, the DA pull was still rough and gritty. This is especially aggravating, since I use the 617 for DA shooting practice, so I traded it off. (Not crazy about the lock, but it never bothered me, either.)
In the meantime, I have been looking for an older 617, hoping it would be without any issues, given S&W QC was better in the old days. Be great if I could find an early 90s 617, just like my first 617 that I bought back in 1993. That one was a dream to shoot.
Last week I actually found this exact vintage. It's 617-1, actually made in 1993. How's that for luck? Even has the original Hogue rubber grips, first introduced that year, just like I remeber.
The dash 1 version of the 617 was made for three years, 93, 94 and 95. This is important, because the dash 1 vintage is pre-lock, pre-MIM, and pre-10 shot, but this vintage was also the first years for Smith drilling and tapping the 617 for a mount, so I can add a red dot at some point. It's the prefect vintage as far as the combination of features and construction and all 617 fans know it, so these can be very hard to find.
Yes, the early 617s were 6 shot. The current 10 shot version wasn't introduced until the late 90s.
And I do prefer a 6 shot. Why? I am so used to 6 shot revolvers that I subconsciously know when I've shot 6 and it's time to reload. Don't have to think about it. The current 10 shot version is fine, but I just prefer the 6 shot version and those aren't offered, anymore.
So, how does this early 617 shoot (and it is early, given 1989 was the first year for the 617)?
In a word, perfect. Most importantly, it is 100% reliable and both SA and DA pull are excellent. Accuracy? It's pure 617 in that respect, too, even with Colibri. Very easy to shoot revolver, both in SA and Da, the way a 617 should shoot.
Will add a red dot at some point and get it out to the range with some good ammo. Nothing beats an old friend of a 617.
