22lovr - yes, I have the 7-shot steel version of the 617. It was sitting side-by-side with a 605 in the case. The shop wanted a mere 10 bucks more for the 617, and with room for 2 extra rounds over the 605 in a package just as compact, it was a no-brainer. The 617 came home with me.
The titanium version would probably be better suited to carry due to weight, but I picked the steel version specifically because there was a little more weight, thinking to better manage recoil from full-power .357 rounds. I plan for the 617 to be my 'everywhere' carry gun as soon as I can find a good ankle holster for it. Any suggestions, folks?
I wanted to change the factory grip because it's just slightly too small for me to feel comfortable with. When rapid-firing several .357 rounds, my pinky tends to slide off the end of the grip. The knuckle of my index finger rides a little too high and smacks the back of the triggerguard (ouch!). When I switched out the factory grip for the other one I bought, I had a solid grip all around, and it kept my knuckle a little further from the triggerguard, because the other grip was a little thicker and it spread my hand out better when holding the gun in a firing grasp. Alas, though it fit me perfectly, it did not fit the 617 as 22lovr noted above.
And to echo Snubby's comments, some nice walnut or rosewood grips would look great, but I'd gladly accept rubber grips too. Suggestions anybody?
vertigo7