S&W 17-3 and S&W 617-6 .22LR ammo test

Smith & Wesson 17-3 comparing Remington Golden Bullets, CCI Blazer, Remington Target Std Velocity, CCI Stingers & Mini Mags shot in the model 17-3 with 6" barrel and then in my S&W 617-4 4" barrel. I compare both revolvers with same ammo at our local private shooting range.

[@theodorehowe2262]

I’ll take the S&W model 17 any day. Good job shooting

[@joaquintall5180]

Keith, Thanks for taking the time to post this video, especially using the various .22 loads. A friend's trying to find a reason NOT to purchase a 6" 617 for me and the mrs(!) and can't. The two reasons 1) ["6" is too long, 2) "6" is too heavy for your wife"]; he did pass along won't stick. Mrs. can handle a 6" 686 accurately, with hardly a wince. Lastly, thank your son for his service to our country.

[@sam805236]

Thanks for posting this video. It's very informative. Both revolvers are awesome, but I want a Model 17 because the wood grips and blued frame just looks plain awesome.

[@GUNTHER-lx6vu]

Beautiful revolvers especially the 17 thanks for the video

[@jerdog333]

Beautiful gun! Thank you for sharing!

[@mitchh30]

Thanks for the review and Shooting one more group with each was a good idea. I’ve got a 17-3 I haven’t spent much time on paper with, but I had read somewhere they like stingers. Odd for a target revolving.

[@The_Warrior526]

I've got the ancestor of the Model 17 - the K-22 - and it's from 1948. As far as High-Velocity LR goes, from what I have, I was getting Federal Bulk 36gr HP's to group the tightest. I want to try it again with a better rest (padded, not just on bare wood) but I got maybe a 4.875" group at 50 yards with it so far.

[@denniskennedy3311]

Stingers are my favorite

[@johnbunton9979]

Now I’m confused on which of these I want. Have two 686’s 6” and 4”, the model 617 is supposed to be a good practice revolver fo the other two, but I really like the traditional feel and look of the model 17. Semper Fi to your son.

[@hannahfleser641]

It's hard to do a review at a gun range but I still enjoyed

[@Luckybetta]

wow! what a find on that Model 17! Take care of that little honey!

[@rationalplinker3937]

Enjoyed your video. You're a better shot than me, but I also get erratic results from the same rounds.

[@1957Shep]

It`s a beauty.

[@garyK.45ACP]

The date on the box is not the manufacture date of the gun. S&W did not use model numbers until 1957. So it did not become the "Model 17" until 1957 and you have the "third change" of that model. The 17-3 was made from 1967-1977. So your initial thought that it is a 1970 made revolver is probably correct.
They are beautiful revolvers. I have a 17-5 and love shooting it. Mine has the "Three-Ts" Target trigger, Hammer and Grips. I actually prefer the smaller grips though.
I much prefer the looks of the blued model 17 and I do not think the newer 10 shot 617s did anything to "improve" the gun. It is not a defense revolver, it is about as purely a target revolver as any can be and 6 shots is plenty. I actually appreciate that it slows me down and reduces ammo consumption.
FWIW, mine shoots best with Wolf Match Target or CCI Standard velocity target ammo. But most of the time I just use bulk .22 ammo for fun shooting.
Enjoy those great revolvers!

[@pychen1969]

They are both too beautiful to shoot, but I couldn't resist shooting them either, if I own them.

[@sam805236]

I don't think I could ever own a firearm and not shoot it, even if it was a commemorative. Even if it doubles the value in your lifetime, is $1000 over the course of the years you have left worth never being able to shoot and enjoy it?

[@mrunderhood]

For a true comparison you need a Ranson rest or other rest from a bench to reduce shooter error. You can not shoot freehand for a fair comparison.

[@hillbillyhansforlife2763]

Lighter bullets almost always shoot lower, and heavier bullets usually shot higher. Seems like it would be the opposite at first until you really dive into the "why's and what's" of ballistics.

[@williamwasyluk4244]

Thanks

[@Damnmad68]

Did you ever find the grip screw that you threw out of the box at the beginning of the video?

[@patriotguns]

Nice guns. It looks like the screw that holds on your magna grips may have fallen out of the box when you turn the box around. I hope you still have it.

[@theman3771]

I think it's the shooter not the ammo

[@The_Warrior526]

Nerd Alert: That zip code comes to 13 in binary numbers.

[@Mr.Spectaculous]

At around 10:25 to 10:27 it ooked like someone at the range also shot your target.

[@raimundonicioli8614]

I have a 1958 shipped model 17 no dash
Regards

[@tinman1955]

What does the "-6" on 617-6 refer to?

[@kwade942]

I believe it is the 6th modification that S&W made on that model

[@kyleallyn9761]

It means a 6” barrel.

[@terryfowler6090]

Can't hear half of what you're saying because gun fire in background.