nthe10ring
New member
LOVE TO HEAR FEEDBACK ON THE SMITH & WESSON MODEL 317, PROS AND CONS, ON BOTH THE TWO INCH AND THREE INCH BARRELL MODEL. CONTEMPLATING PURCHASE.
JERRY
JERRY
Need Feedback On S&W Mod 317
- Thread starter nthe10ring
- Start date
I have two. The one that is carried as a field gun quickly lost its anodizing (or whatever passes for it) on the barrel shroud, and the edges of the cylinder. Very heavy trigger pulls on both. Put in reduced power trigger return and mainspring, then they misfired.
The one I carry on the farm has some utility, but my old Model 43 airweight still looks great after 25 years of carrying.
Wish I had kept my 2" stainless Kit Gun.
The one I carry on the farm has some utility, but my old Model 43 airweight still looks great after 25 years of carrying.
Wish I had kept my 2" stainless Kit Gun.
I managed to get a very nice reliable trigger after sending it to S&W. This is probably my favorite and most practical gun I own.
Perhaps 2 thousand rounds fired and going strong.
Here are some comments from Jeff Cooper about the 317 and the .22 in general.
"It has long been our dogma that stopping power is an essential element of the defensive triad, and this remains true as ever. However, the purpose of defensive combat is to stop one's adversary, and a 22 rimfire hit in the tear duct will stop any fight of which we have knowledge. Thus we do not push the 22 pistol as a defensive sidearm, but we do insist that perfect placement with the 22 is decisive. There is a place for the miniature 22 pistol, as long as it is well crafted and easy to use. It appears that most defensive confrontations are terminated solely by the display of a firearm. This cannot be proven, but the mass of street experience suggests that it is true. Nobody wants to get shot with any sort of pistol, which brings us around to the first principle of gun fighting, which is "Have a gun!"
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"On the subject of wheel guns, I tend to fancy the feather-weight 22 introduced last year by Smith & Wesson. At risk of sounding loony, I maintain that the 22 long rifle is a considerably more practical cartridge than the 38 Special, or for that matter almost any other handgun cartridge. The advantage of the 22 is that you will shoot it a lot, and thus learn to hit what you are shooting at. While stopping power is certainly an essential of a sidearm intended primarily for defensive use, we must remember that a 22 in a tear duct tends to stop more decisively than a 9 in the wish-bone. Of course to use a 22 in a combat mode, the shooter must be well trained and in total charge of his nerves, and that may be too much to expect. However, as we have often taught, more than half of handgun confrontations are successfully concluded by the appearance of a handgun, rather than the shooting of one. Nobody wants to get shot with anything, and most people cannot tell one handgun from another. The 1911 still constitutes the defensive handgun of choice, and the more sea stories we get back from the wars, the more this point is proven. But in the big picture it is attitude that wins fights. Naturally we want the right equipment, but what we need is the right attitude."
Perhaps 2 thousand rounds fired and going strong.
Here are some comments from Jeff Cooper about the 317 and the .22 in general.
"It has long been our dogma that stopping power is an essential element of the defensive triad, and this remains true as ever. However, the purpose of defensive combat is to stop one's adversary, and a 22 rimfire hit in the tear duct will stop any fight of which we have knowledge. Thus we do not push the 22 pistol as a defensive sidearm, but we do insist that perfect placement with the 22 is decisive. There is a place for the miniature 22 pistol, as long as it is well crafted and easy to use. It appears that most defensive confrontations are terminated solely by the display of a firearm. This cannot be proven, but the mass of street experience suggests that it is true. Nobody wants to get shot with any sort of pistol, which brings us around to the first principle of gun fighting, which is "Have a gun!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"On the subject of wheel guns, I tend to fancy the feather-weight 22 introduced last year by Smith & Wesson. At risk of sounding loony, I maintain that the 22 long rifle is a considerably more practical cartridge than the 38 Special, or for that matter almost any other handgun cartridge. The advantage of the 22 is that you will shoot it a lot, and thus learn to hit what you are shooting at. While stopping power is certainly an essential of a sidearm intended primarily for defensive use, we must remember that a 22 in a tear duct tends to stop more decisively than a 9 in the wish-bone. Of course to use a 22 in a combat mode, the shooter must be well trained and in total charge of his nerves, and that may be too much to expect. However, as we have often taught, more than half of handgun confrontations are successfully concluded by the appearance of a handgun, rather than the shooting of one. Nobody wants to get shot with anything, and most people cannot tell one handgun from another. The 1911 still constitutes the defensive handgun of choice, and the more sea stories we get back from the wars, the more this point is proven. But in the big picture it is attitude that wins fights. Naturally we want the right equipment, but what we need is the right attitude."
I've got a 317 -- 3" model. The large front sight is not intended for accuracy work. But it does ok. It will need a trigger job. I polished the rebound slide and put in reduced power springs. I've not had any misfires since doing so. Nice little gun. The 3" model is a bit large for a pocket gun, so it depends upon your purpose. I got it for teaching after I had a string of 50+ year old women students who didn't have the hand and arm strength to hold a model 19 and were recoil shy of a soft-loaded .38.
M1911
M1911
Ditto JohnKirk
I had a 3" 317. Not impressed by anything but its light weight- which made it tough to hold still. My Pre-43 is a totally different breed. .5" longer steel barrel, alloy cylinder & frame- action is SMOOTH & chrisp, & no where near as heavy as the 317 was when I had reduced power springs in it (which caused misfires.) I had to gun-cote the cylinder due to finish wear. Not purdy- but funtional.
Seek thee out the M43.
X
I had a 3" 317. Not impressed by anything but its light weight- which made it tough to hold still. My Pre-43 is a totally different breed. .5" longer steel barrel, alloy cylinder & frame- action is SMOOTH & chrisp, & no where near as heavy as the 317 was when I had reduced power springs in it (which caused misfires.) I had to gun-cote the cylinder due to finish wear. Not purdy- but funtional.
Seek thee out the M43.
X
Kentucky Rifle
New member
Man! I just HAVE to get a model 317 with the 1 7/8 inch barrel!
Fill 'er up with "Velocitors" and have another great revolver!
That's my problem...the manufacturers keep making new models. Some days, I feel like I'll NEVER get around to buying them all!
KR
Fill 'er up with "Velocitors" and have another great revolver!
That's my problem...the manufacturers keep making new models. Some days, I feel like I'll NEVER get around to buying them all!
KR