I froze, could not pull the trigger.

B

bbqbob51

New member
No, not THAT trigger. I could not make the purchase...twice! There are 3 revolvers on my short list, a S&W 617 with at 4" barrel, a S&W 686+ with a 6" barrel and a Ruger SP101 chambered in 22lr. Last year, during all the madness out there I searched for 7 months for a 6" S&W 617 and finally got one in October. It's a great gun and I have decided to get it a little brother with a 4" bbl.
Last Saturday I was in the shop where I got the 617 in October inquiring about the possibility of getting the 4" 617 and he told me had just gotten back from the SHOT show. One of his wholesalers told him they expect them in in a few weeks or so. He told me he would call me when he could get one. The problem is before I left the shop I examined a .22lr Ruger SP101 and I REALLY liked it. My buddy was with me and he agreed it was a nice revolver and the price was right at $120 under MSRP. I had the cash for it and I nearly bought the gun. I kept thinking how hard it was to get my first 617 and the shop owner was pretty confident he could get me the 617 so I left without the Ruger as I don't have the money for both right now. When I talked to my buddy as we drove away from the shop I asked him what he would have done and he told me he goes by the "bird in the hand" philosophy and he would have bought the Ruger.
To really complicate things I was in another shop this past Thursday and they had a brand new 686+ with a 6" bbl. I have a 4" 686+ and want to get it a buddy with a longer barrel. I almost bought it ($20 under MSRP) but once again I froze, thinking I might get the call soon about the 617. ARRRGH! I'm still tempted to go and buy the Ruger SP101...or the S&W 686+! It's a good problem to have with me being able to afford a new gun but I'm stuck.What would you do?
 
You won't regret the 617. I've got a 6" and love it. Just about everyone in my area has some sort of 686 models and only 2 places have any GP's. Talk about having dilemma's lol.
 
What would you do?
Click to expand...

I have a 1983 edition of the S&W Model 17. Not the SS version, but its blued twin. Love it. Everyone who handles it loves it. Shoots so nicely.

I doubt you'd have any regrets with the 617 or any other S&W k-frame. They're just right in so many ways.
 
I was going to leave sleeping dogs lie until your LAST bit in the post, where you asked what I would do! :D

I would not buy any of the three, but again, we are talking about ME.

The 617 just wouldn't interest me because you have the 6-inch already. If you have a very deep budget and you aren't forced to sit around and make these tough decisions, maybe then is when you consider new guns that are nearly exactly the same as something you've already got. Meanwhile, you'd be spending an awful lot of coin to get something that's hardly different at all.

Next, the Ruger SP-101, .22cal. Now this is a fine looking little revolver and I can't believe it took Ruger so long to return it to the market. I love the way it looks except for that horrendous front sight. (I know some folks like it) But the double action trigger pull on this revolver is just way, way too heavy, IMO. And certainly, some folks can address that... I don't believe a simple swap of a couple springs would get it where I could stand it. Perhaps it was merely the one I had for a short bit. But it's -FAR- too heavy for my tastes and that makes it a deal breaker for me. And the front sight is just the nail in the coffin. It's awful.

Lastly, the 686+. Just can't do it. Nope. I'm a 686 guy through and through... first handgun I ever bought with my own dough. (paper route money!) Six shots is what I need/want, and pre-lock all the way. I've kept tabs on the (active!) marketplace for these fine revolvers, and a savvy shopper could bring home a very nice used, older, 6-shot, pre-lock, pre-MIM 686 variant for $600. I will never be convinced that a newer 686+ is a replacement (in any way whatsoever) for my 686-3. Actually, IMO, it's not even close.

Obviously, we won't be seeing eye-to-eye on these three revolvers. But that's half the fun of having a conversation about 'em. If you'd like to hear what I would be chasing, I can do that also... but it won't be what you want.

Good luck with whatever happens next! :cool:
 
Well, fun decision to make.

I have a 2013 686+ 7-shooter and it is a fabulous revolver. Beautifully made, accurate as heck, and reliable in the fine S&W tradition.

The Ruger SP101 .22LR is a nifty little revolver and I have one. I personally like the FO front sight; it suits the gun perfectly and makes it very easy to shoot. The trigger is indeed pretty stiff, but it is also smooth. What this means at least for me is that I shoot it nicely and accurately in double action for awhile, but in an intense range shooting session with the SP101 .22LR at some point, maybe after 9 or 10 cylinders of 8 rounds, my trigger finger starts getting tired. The DA action is smooth, but it is a hard pull.

The SP101 .22LR is a very nicely made little gun.

Anyway, these are my random thoughts on the OP's post. The new 686+ revolvers are fine. I ignore the lock and that's that for me.
 
Thanks for the input folks.
Sevens, You are correct there is no accounting for taste. When I did the post I had been sitting around agonizing about what to do with my precious cash. Last year, at least in this area, you would be hard pressed to find any kind of double action revolvers. It was crazy and now I am forced to choose with too many choices. Insofar as the 686 vs. 686+, I agree with Rogervsv that the 7 shot is fabulous. I feel that if 6 shots are great then 7 shots has to be better!:D
Jason and MX, the 617s are pretty damn sweet aren't they? S&W got it right.
 
Here's a suggestion to "feed the inner beast" and also help you to hold back some cash for future purchases:

Find yourself a former duty issued Model 10 Heavy Barrel. These things have hit the secondary market by the absolute truck load in the last decade or so. The one I picked for myself is a Model 10-10 and was formerly issued to the Ohio Dept of Corrections. It's a total sweeatheart, but it looks like it was dragged behind that same truck that delivered them. For $250, I was able to have eight of them on the counter to compare and contrast and choose the one I wanted. They likely had 30, 40 or 50 more of them still in the crate in the back of the store to replace any in the case that were sold that day.

These deals pop up in certain places, and I'm sure it's upsetting if I talk about it to an audience that doesn't ever see such sales, but the bottom line is that the market for older Model 10s with heavy exterior use (but pure S&W goodness on the inside) has been adjusting itself to accommodate the influx of thousands upon thousands of these great revolvers.
 
I got the 686+

I went back into the store where the 6" bbl 686+ was and they took an additional $40 off their asking price...I could NOT refuse!


 
Well I see you made your decision. Congratulations.

You say you have a 617, and a 686+, but wanted the other barrel lengths...? I would have bought the SP101-22 as it is very different from the Smiths.
 
Weblance,
Now you're making me doubt my decision...
Not really! This gives me 2 686+ revolvers, one with a 4" bbl and this one with a 6" bbl. I have a 6" bbl 617 and want one with a 4" bbl. The Sp101 is still on my list and I will get one eventually.
The thing is all the above mentioned Smiths are still a little scarce in my neck of the woods. You see all kinds of Taurus revolvers, just not that many S&W so that figured into my decision. What was funny was my buddy was with me yesterday in the store when I was fondling the 686+ and he asked the guy behind the counter if he could do better than the $799 price tag. He almost immediately said he could send it out the door for $799 including tax. Some quick figuring told me he was taking off about $40 which is a pretty damn good price. My friend said, "My job is done here, I'm walking away so I won't influence your decision."
 
I have an interest in your thread because I have a 4" 686+, a 4" 617, AND the SP101-22. I wasnt thrilled with the look of the SP101-22 when I saw the first one in a local shop. I held it, and worked the action. It felt great, but I decided to pass. It started to wear on me, so 2 days later, I went back to pick it up, and it was gone. I waited 5 months, I think, until the next one came along. I didnt pass on that one. The SP101-22 is a GREAT revolver. I replaced the trigger RETURN spring with the 8# Wolff, and let my wife shoot it all last summer. It now has a perfect trigger, and is just a joy to shoot.

My 617 has been a bit of a disappointment. Dont get me wrong... its a fine revolver, but it just isnt the King of the 22 revolvers, in my opinion, like everyone makes them out to be. Its very ammo sensitive, as far as accuracy goes. The DA trigger is heavy, more so than the SP101 was when new. My Ruger Single Ten will out shoot it, and doesnt seem to mind too much what I feed it.

Im sure some people will scoff at my comments about my 617, but I feel that my SP101-22 is the better revolver. I hope you can get yours soon.
 
I would have gotten the SP101. Personally I would I have no use for the same gun, chambered in the same round, with a different barrel length.
 
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