Can't decide... 6" or 4" ?

If I am to buy one now, I would go for the 6" and shoot slower (either slow DA or cock by hand first for SA shooting). Better would be to find older model 17 6" without the underlug.
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I used to have a S&W 617 4" 10 shot. Sold it because it had repeated (2x) timing issues which S&W fixed for free everytime. Timing problems were probably because of fast DA shooting.
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I still keep several no-lock S&W 38s and .357s and enjoy the Model 14 6" and 15 4" the most.
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Mellowc:

The important thing in shooting any gun without a scope is sight alignment. With young eyes a six inch revolver barrel is easy to align the sights and consequantly you will shoot it more accurately. On the other hand, older eyes can focus on four inch sight radius better than they can on a six. So if you have good vision either length will do and your choice depends on your likes. If you have weak eyes a four inch will most likely be advantages. Go to your local gun store and try a four and a six inch revolver to determine which one you can focus your eyes on.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
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It really depends on what your intended use for the gun will be. As has been mentioned, the 6" barrel will give you a longer sight radius and thus will be easier to shoot accurately (though the mechanical accuracy between barrel lengths is equal). The longer barrel will also give you higher velocity, but .22 Long Rifle isn't exactly a power house from any barrel length. Finally, the extra weight of the longer barrel will dampen recoil a bit, though recoil is seldom, if ever, an issue with a .22LR.

The 4" barrel, as has also been mentioned, will be more compact, lighter, and just generally easier and more convenient to carry. Also, if for some reason you decided to use the gun as a self-defense revolver, the 4" barrel gives less leverage to your opponent should you get in a struggle over the gun.

Balance is a purely subjective thing, but the 6" model will have the balance point further forward than the 4" gun will. Some people like their gun to be more muzzle-heavy than others, so it's purely subjective as to which balances better.
 
4"!!!! I don't understand the 6" for a .22lr it makes the revolver barrel heavy and the added weight is not needed at all for the .22 because there isn't any felt recoil or muzzle flip.
 
I'm with K-Cub....mine has an 8 3/8" barrel and I love it! For me, it balances beautifully, holds very steadily on targets and is wicked accurate.

If I were considering .22 for self defense - I'd go with something I could drop in a pocket like a Freedom Arms mini revolver - not a K frame S&W. Even with a 4" barrel, that's a lot of weight to tote around for such a small bang IMHO
 
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Oh boy,,,
Some really good points in support of the 6". I think part of my problem is that I want a 4" .357 and I dont have one. And I feel like I might be able to get away with a 4" .22lr instead. ....heh. When it comes down to it. I'd really like a model 17 S&W. I've held one before, and read about them, and I'd really prefer it to the 617 if I could get one at a good price. But why buy a used 17 of "unknown" origin and condition (despite it's classic appeal and virtual perfection) when I could get a brand new 10 shot 617 for about the same price.???:confused:

I've got some time to think. My hope is that this will be a 'future' birthday present. :D
 
I have several 6" N frame .357s, and a .44. The 6" M17-6 I have (lugged barrel) has the same heft in my hands as the centerfire guns do. For me, it is 6", all the way.
 
I had the six inch 617.

It was very heavy for carry.

If you have any intention of carrying it anywhere other then the range,get a four inch barrel.
 
I use my model 617 with the 6" barrel mostly for Bullseye competition. The longer barrel makes it easier for me in terms of the added sight radius and extra weight up front to hold the sight picture longer and with less perceived "wobble", especially when shooting off-hand with one hand @ the fifty yard "slow fire" stage. I'd probably opt for the 4" version if I wanted the revolver for holster carry, plinking or informal target shooting. Can't have both in the same package-unless, of course, you get a Dan Wesson...;)
 
For 'all-around' shooting, I'm for the 4". I have a Model 34 (a J-frame, 6-shot .22) with the 4" tube. If anything, I'd like a 2-incher as an 'understudy' for my M49.
 
I've had a 6" model 617 and I found it unbalanced for my hand. I also have a 686+ in 6" and it feels much better balanced to me than the 617 did; I don't know why that was the case. The 686 is a round butt, while I think the 617 was a square butt--maybe there was the difference. Or maybe the .22 hole in the barrel leaves it heavier than the .357 hole in the 686? In any case, I would not recommend a 6" 617 unless you've handled it and it felt right to you. I cannot comment on the 4" 617 as I've never handled one.

I do have a 17 in 6" with a half lug, and a 17 in 8" with no lug, and a 63 in 4" with a half lug. The 8" is the most accurate, the 4" (j-frame) is the handiest, and the 6" is just all around fun.
 
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