Smith & Wesson Model 617 Mount...

The MSRP of the Model 617 Mountain Gun sits at $1,199 which is a giant chunk of change for a .22LR revolver. Smith & Wesson justifies this with the premium Tyler Gun Works grips, absence of the interior lock, all-stainless building, and the Mountain Gun collection match and end. That being stated that is nonetheless costly for what quantities to a very nice plinker or pest management revolver.

“The Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun is an iconic Okay-Body revolver. Chambered in 22 LR with a 10-round capability, this revolver encompasses a light-weight, tapered-profile barrel and Tyler Gun Works high-grade walnut Bear Hug grips. Traditional aesthetic, with superior efficiency.”

First Impressions: Smith & Wesson Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun

My very first impression once I pulled this out of the field was how fairly it regarded. The stainless end is flawless and the walnut grips distinction completely with the metal. The gun arrived in Smith & Wesson’s commonplace blue exhausting case (I’ve by no means been a fan of those as they kink each time they shut) together with a manual for the K-Frame, two decals, a cable lock, and the revolver itself.

The second factor I seen was that the cylinder crane/launch is stiff. Proper now it requires two palms to swing the cylinder out. This could loosen up with break-in however out of the field it’s noticeably tight. The one different instant remark was how good these TGW Bear Hug grips felt in my palms. They’re substantial with out feeling cumbersome and the shortage of checkering is obvious however efficient in a great way.

Vary Time: Smith & Wesson Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun

I introduced the 617 Mountain Gun up north with me for a protracted weekend on the cabin. I had it on my hip whereas engaged on deer stands with the household and strolling trails for grouse. Over the course of the weekend I put about 200 rounds by means of it. The majority of the ammunition was Remington Standard V with some blended bulk stuff thrown in. No ammo points popped up.

Out of the field the revolver was taking pictures about 2 inches left at 15 yards. The adjustable rear sight mounted that simply with a small flathead screwdriver. It simply wanted to be tweaked out of the field. As soon as I bought it dialed in I used to be persistently grouping round 1.5 inches standing, one-handed at 15 yards. That’s greater than enough for a path gun or pest management obligation.

The set off on this revolver is genuinely wonderful. Single-action breaks crisp and clear whereas the double-action pull may be very easy with none stacking. I personal a brand new Model 29 and a Model 350 and this 617 has a greater set off than both of them. Within the 200 rounds I put by means of the Mannequin 617 I didn’t have any mild primer strikes, ejection failures, or timing points in both double motion or single motion.

These TGW Bear Hug grips are the true deal. They match my palms completely and stayed snug by means of prolonged taking pictures periods. The scale and form are precisely what you’ll need on a “mountain gun”. They’re substantial sufficient to fill your hand with out feeling cumbersome. I might think about on this gun’s 10mm, .357, and .44 Magnum brothers {that a} rubber grip could be nicer for recoil administration however the .22 doesn’t transfer in any respect simply due to the burden of the gun.

The gold bead entrance sight labored properly regardless of being up towards full fall colours up north. It was straightforward to choose up and I by no means had any washout points. Some shooters want totally different sight configurations however for a revolver like this the gold bead matches the traditional aesthetic and does its job. Nonetheless a fiber optic could also be extra utilitarian however I’ll take the gold over common all blacked out sights. 

Loading and unloading the 10-round cylinder went easily all through testing. Ejecting spent casings has that satisfying clink that solely a revolver supplies. I additionally took out a pair pink squirrels across the cabin at 10-20 yards utilizing the single-action set off. Simply pest management work as they get into our cabin and mess stuff up. One factor I seen was this gun appears quieter than different .22 handguns and revolvers I’ve labored with. Possibly my listening to is constant to worsen however once I took these photographs with out ear professional it didn’t harm or ring my ears like I anticipated.

All the pieces about this revolver is top quality. The stainless end is immaculate, lockup is tight, and the general match and end justify the premium worth from a craftsmanship perspective. The crane/launch feels very tight as of proper now and will use some break-in to get the cylinder launched one-handed. Moreover that every part is as tight and as fairly as you’ll think about for a model new $1,200 .22LR revolver.

At 36.1 ounces this isn’t a light-weight path gun. It has actual heft in comparison with cheaper single-action .22 revolvers however I didn’t discover it bothersome over the course of a day carrying it on my hip. The load really grew to become an asset when taking pictures since there may be basically zero felt recoil.

Last Ideas: Smith & Wesson Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun

After a weekend of carrying and taking pictures the Model 617 Mountain Gun I can actually say I actually loved it. The set off is unbelievable, the grips are good, the accuracy is there, and the construct high quality is precisely what you’ll anticipate from a $1,200 revolver. That being stated I can’t say I might personally drop $1,200 of my very own cash on it even after genuinely loving the gun.

The Model 617 Mountain Gun is the .22LR model of reliable mountain weapons chambered in severe calibers. The 629 in .44 Magnum is sensible as a backcountry defensive instrument. The 686 in .357 Magnum is a confirmed wilderness companion. The 610 in 10mm fills an identical function. However a .22LR mountain gun? The sensible justification will get murky.

I can see three sorts of consumers for this revolver. First is somebody who already owns a Mountain Gun in .44 Magnum, 10mm, or .357 and needs to apply with equivalent dealing with traits with out beating up their wrists or pockets on ammunition. Second is a shooter who desires an heirloom-quality American-made .22LR revolver and is keen to pay premium costs for it. Third is the collector or fanatic who appreciates the craftsmanship and aesthetic sufficient that the value turns into secondary. The Model 617 Mountain Gun accomplishes what it units out to do. It’s a superbly crafted, extremely practical .22LR revolver with premium options and Smith & Wesson’s wonderful construct high quality. Whether or not that’s well worth the asking worth is a query solely your pockets can reply.

As a Lipsey’s unique availability could be restricted relying in your native vendor’s distributor relationships. Smith & Wesson usually manufactures in batches so anticipate some wait time in case your vendor doesn’t have one in inventory. In case you are available in the market for a top-tier .22LR revolver and the value doesn’t make you flinch the Model 617 Mountain Gun delivers.

In closing I need to say thanks to Smith & Wesson for permitting AllOutdoor and myself the chance to check out their Model 617 Mountain Gun. That’s tremendously appreciated. We want to know what all of you guys and gals suppose. Do you consider the Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun is value spending your cash on? Would you are taking this out as a path gun or for pest management? Would this be your go-to .22LR revolver? Tell us all your ideas within the Feedback under! We all the time admire your suggestions.

Sam.S

Author | TheFirearmBlog
Author | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Previous soul, licensed gunsmith, printed writer, avid firearm historical past learner, and appreciator of previous and distinctive weapons.