Best 22 Pistol ever? S&W 617, Paired with 686 and Bianchi Cyclone 111.

[@Hollowpoynt10]

What you said about you and your dad shooting is something people don’t understand. It was part of my and many friends life. Too bad we as a nation have gone totally backwards. I appreciate you.

[@danaohlson3316]

Spot on. My 4” 617 is the perfect understudy for my 4” 686+.

[@jamesp739]

Agreed. I have a 6" 686 and recently acquired a 4" 586, then purchased a 4" 617 to go with it. I have a thing for 4" revolvers. They are well balanced, and a good comprimise between accuracy and bullet velocity. They are the near perfect holster gun. I carried a 4" M15 S&W for many years and still have it. A 4" Python and GP100 are in my plans. On (semi-automatic) .22LR pistols and rifles , it is critical to use high velocity ammunition in my opinion. HV ammo may be a tad less accurate, but most semi-autos need that little extra bit of energy to function reliably, especially when they get a little dirty and fouled. HV ammo is around 1200-1250+ fps and standard velocity or target velocity ammo is a little less, around 1100fps. Read the box label and purchase accordingly.

[@peterhagenbeek3142]

I do own a S&W 617 and several pistols (1911). I watched your video before buying the S&W. Thnx for the video and useful info!

[@tomallen6073]

Happy to buy one for just 650, more like 900 in 2023. What a bargain.

[@jeffreylocke8808]

My GP100 Ruger 22 LR with 10 round cylinder is my pick as best. Three points of cylinder support and a 5.5 inch semi lug barrel. Tyler Gun Works carry melted and beveled the front of my cylinder too. Did an accuracy job and an action job on it. And tastefully engraved it for me and will passed on to my youngest son. Love the sights on it.

[@edbigtruck]

I love my 617. I have a Red Dot mounted in it. I use it for Bullseye Leagues. It’s 43 oz’s And Speed Beez’s makes a great 10rd loading block and speed loader. Works great. Another great Revolver is the S&W Model 63 3in barrel 8 shot J frame.

[@arneldobumatay3702]

I've got a 617 with a scope. I consider it my "long distance delivery system" for target shooting at 25-75 yards.

[@edbigtruck]

@@arneldobumatay3702 😂

[@MW-bi1pi]

I own both exact revolvers you mention and the 617 sports a Holo Sun red dot. Absolutely top notch revolvers. Accurate, reliable and easy to clean in stainless.

[@MAG-li5jo]

I just bought the 4 inch 617 and LOVE it. Feels a lot like my 686+. Heavier than my Model 66 K Frame.

[@coryturner9140]

Just picked up a 617 and it’s a sweet pistol. I have a some ruger semi auto mark iv’s and I love shooting them as well but nothing compares to the smith and Wesson

[@Bobsbargainbasement]

For those who said a revolver is not a pistol: wrong! A pistol is a firearm held by hand and can be a revolver . It is an older term

[@davido6880]

I have one I bought same price. Is for sale in some gun shops for $998. It’s a tank, but I haven’t shot more than 200 rounds. With two young boys it’s true, they can enjoy it when I’m long gone. Born in 1970. My uncle sold some older SW revolvers for extra cash. He said it was a bad mistake. Keep those SW revolvers, they are classics and will only go up in value.

[@garageguy879]

You're right,any list of the top 22lr pistols,revolvers or firearms should include the 617.And you are exactly right about these S&W revolvers are what you can call generational firearms.Just think how many are out there now that's over 50-100 years old and still function better than anything made new today.

[@sparked6886]

You are right on ! The 22 mag option is superb.

[@ritesideofthefence5857]

Good stuff Rusty, I completely agree. The two best .22lr handguns are the smith and wesson model 17 and the model 617. I ave both the early 17s and the internal lock 617 in both 6” and 4” models. The are reliable and accurate beyond my abilities and just a blast to shoot. Thanks for another great review.

[@chicagowsox212]

Definitely an heirloom pistol! Super high quality. I’ve shot about 10,000 rounds through mine with not a single problem that needed to be fixed

[@SpiritusBythos]

Appreciate your straight forward delivery and the good common sense info. Take care

[@GunCollector007]

I Have em both and love them. Great video.

[@bobbeck8697]

Thank you Rusty. Found one for 720. May buy it.

[@paulwilliamson2067]

Not trying to pick nits, but to most folks these days the words "pistol" and "revolver" aren't interchangeable. Granted that 150 years ago the distinction wasn't necessary because, well, there weren't any autoloaders. Perhaps that's why a list of top .22 pistols excluded any revolvers. That aside, I agree with your assessment of those beautiful S&W's and the Bianchi holster. I recently bought a 3" Model 63, and it's one of the best S&W's I own (and I own a bunch). I'm of the opinion that if you don't own a .22 revolver, you're missing the boat.

[@neftalimalave9832]

Love the ten rounds mine is in 4” (617) I love it. Good video brother

[@mohammedcohen]

I inherited my dad's K22 - ther forerunner of the model 17/617...mine was made in the mid 50s...a 5 screw

[@steedandersen]

I was born in 69' and I started shooting in 74'. My old man bought a brand new Ruger 10/22 for $60 and started teaching me. Those days are gone. Feel bad for kids today. P.S. My S&W is a 648 (22 mag).

[@Bobshouse]

0:29 He said "PISTOLS" not "FIREARMS", even though I agree with you, love my 617.

[@roaddog390]

Hell yeah Brother.👍💯 From your neighbor from Alabama

[@cutwormsmith]

Had the 4" since 01. Love it still. Unless you're a serious long ranger that uses rests, the 4" is plenty.

[@MendicinoB]

I'm in the market for a 617 and they're over $800 now!

[@sebastianmoller7304]

Cheap as dirt! compared to the pricing here in Sweden. I´ve payed for my 617 ROUND ABOUT 1900USD. But no regrets there. Fantastic handgun.

[@jesusrios9482]

My friend, the only thing you gotta say is that daddy's hands down. The best twenty two revolver ever made... Because that's what it is.... I've been trying to get one of those for so long, but the price tag on those things are ridiculous...

[@TheReviewPigeon]

I have the 648 (22 mag variant) and it's been flawless for me as well. will definitely be a tool the great grandkids can use. love that holster you have though; considering getting that for mine - been using a cheapo $10 nylon special

[@MAG-li5jo]

I think they are $979 in 2024.

[@dougrogers835]

I just started noticing on youtube when watching revolver videos most say I am a semi auto guy but thought I would show you this revolver. It is my first one. 90 % of my hand gun collection is revolvers. I am 66 so maybe that has something to do with it. I do not admire or have any attachment to my semi pistols.

[@jstans78utube]

Excellent info - thank you

[@buddyringo21]

The 617 and 686plus.357 Mag 4” is next on my shopping list😜

[@johnstanton2853]

Just bought a S&W617 to go with my two S&W 686, 3" and 6"

[@artist4truth]

617 6" is a gateway drug to the 686 6".

[@AB7N.C]

I love your video

[@frankscott8555]

The young ones just don't have the experience that a wheel gun gives during a oh shit moment. Tough, durable, and mostly reliable. That's why S&W charges $650 for this.

[@josephchickino350]

Is that a portable ham radio in the back ground? KG4WHN

[@JohnWhite-xc3md]

My 617 does everthing well except eject spent shells. Any tips? Also, I painted my front sight, and its much better now.

[@rustynmetter]

possibly change ammo brand, I house found some to be more "sticky" than others as well

[@veronicaspears5853]

Love my S&W 617-6

[@timwalters6167]

I agree, I have 2 semi automatic 22lr firearms both are junk. I have a mossberg 22lr ar style bought new jams about every 10 rounds.I have a 22lr ruger sr22 for my wife when she shots it it ether jams or doesn't feed the next round into the chamber about every 5 rounds. The only reliable 22lr is a revolver.

[@Shozb0t]

You're 49 years old? Somebody's been eating his vegetables.

[@richardstevens2867]

Completely agree - .22 revolvers don't jam, .22 automatics frequently do.

[@johnhorazy12notes]

The 617 is the top of the line in 22cal. As good as any 22 long gun. Try holding your long gun on the range compared to the 617. The end of the barrel is rather same distance. You stance is different between the two when shooting. If you like to un jam a gun get a pistol. Revolvers in any cal. Will not have a release button accidentally pushed to loose all your rounds like in a clip pistol. Yep the most expensive 22cal over 800.00 The again it is the best, you pay for what you get. Rim fire rounds are historically strike issue. Yet in the revolver you can turn the round and retry to fire the round. With a pistol it’s much more work to reload the round. Revolvers and cal. will disperse smoke, fire tiny led between the cylinder and the barrel. The pistol chambers that, but the pistol ejects a hot shell, anyone to your left can get hit with a hot shell. The shell is much bigger and hot in a pistol flying out than what comes out of the revolver. The 617 will shoot 22 short, log, reg. The price of ammo is you train with the 22 617 then you use the higher cal in the same weight. Saves range ammo cost.

[@PileofBrass]

The other KZbinr probably had no experience with the .22 revolvers.

[@aldo-228]

I have a very early 617 so it's only a 6 round but I love it..it makes me sick to hear all of these owners having problems with such an iconic revolver. I guess the QC of S&W has really dropped off in the last 10 or 15 years.

[@ritesideofthefence5857]

I too have pre-lock models as well as internal locks. Mine have all been flawless

[@Cityoftrees1911]

From what I understand a revolver is not considered a "pistol". I don't necessarily agree with that but thats the general consensus.

[@MCiTB]

Every revolver is a pistol not every pistol is a revolver. I think that's proper definition.

[@williamhutto5708]

I agree my s&w 617 has never jammed ...you can buy the dirty old golden bullets or Winchester white box and that crap jam's in every rifle and semi-auto...I can shoot it all day in my revolvers with no issues..

[@markshuford450]

There are two main kinds of handguns. A pistol, which holds the ammunition in a removable magazine, and a revolver, which holds the ammunition in a revolving cylinder. Since the video you were criticizing was an opinion of the 5 best pistols, why would the maker of said video have included a revolver in his/her video? I agree that the Smith & Wesson Model 617 revolver is an outstanding handgun, it is definitely not a pistol. Have a nice day.

[@joexg50]

Looking for the 4” model which they do make.. Wonder if some outfit makes a 3” model with no less than 8 shot capacity ?? 22 WMG. Would be nice too..

[@PInk77W1]

I want to get the sw 617 for home security. I like the 10 round deal. I have zero experience with revolvers. I did 4yrs n the USMC. .45cal and 9mm semi.

[@Adamkayak]

Good idea for home use. If anyone has ever fired a 9mm inside and without hearing protection...

[@joestone7511]

Ditto on your opinion about .22 revolvers👍 ! On a side note, is it just me or does this guy looked like a slimmed down Garth Brooks 🤣.

[@Martinbergin]

When did Garth brooks start doing gun reviews???give us an auld song Garth

[@denciobenedito188]

Don't ever talk of pistol if you're holding a revolver.

[@MichaelO7027]

The boy was right pistols are not revolvers.

[@bretmccartney5625]

Smith’s are the best....Colts are nice, but way too expensive.....no safe queens for me. I like to plink, can’t beat a smith.

[@santini4754]

Thought I was watching Garth Brooks for a minute.

[@robertshiells8294]

Nice to hear the truth in your video. You talked about the guns and holsters which I own all of them, but you totally failed to tell us about your nice hat. What is the name brand of that nice hat.

[@williamkapua2550]

Amen.......

[@ameliepoulain7388]

S&W. Superrr

[@MrDtrevino1]

S&W 648 22 mag.

[@hut5097]

A pistol is not a revolver :-) Great vid! Thanks and keep it up.

[@erichansen3641]

Like the defense shotgun, this 22lr pistol is designed to intimidate those who see it. You may not even need to fire it in a pickle. Just point, and the perps run for their lives thinking "Dirty Harry" is on their tail.

[@peterhagenbeek3142]

Isn’t that because a revolver isn’t a pistol? In a pistol the chamber and barrel are a whole (barrel and chamber one unit, one piece; English is not my native language, I’m sorry) A revolver has more chamber that are not one whole with the barrel. Therefore to me it makes a lot of sense there are no revolvers in a pistol top-five...

[@notubenick]

Revolvers Are Not Pistols, Pistols Are Not Revolvers

[@mraggressivestoic8442]

Came to say what many before said. Revolvers are not pistols

[@thinklikeido]

$600, keep dreaming.

[@chrissourp6807]

I love .22 revolvers. My problem is a nice .22 from Smith, Ruger etc can cost upwards of 900 dollars. For a .22. That is just freekin wrong. And yes they are way way overbuilt. So I am stuck with the lower end stuff just so I can shoot .22. Nothing in my mind justifies any .22 costing over 500 bucks. I mean c'mon it's a freekin .22.

[@GrendalTheBeasty]

Quality is expensive. I can understand not wanting to spend that much on it, but you do get what you pay for. Compared to something more mainstream like my Ruger Mk.IV or Walther P22, the 617's trigger is like a $250 trigger upgrade kit for the Ruger. The action is on a level you just cant get with either and the fit and finish is so fine that the seams around the side plate are nearly invisible except in just the right light. It's also rock solid reliable. I've run 300 rounds of the crappiest ammo ever (American Eagle bulk, 5000 rounds for $100) and it was still running just fine at the end of it. 0 misfires, 0 jams, 0 failures to extract and failure to feed is not physically possible :D. That same ammo in the Ruger has a 25% stove pipe rate, and it won't cycle the P22 at all.

[@nickdipaolofan5948]

Chris, think of it this way. when you buy a .38 special revolver, you will spend about $70 for 100 rounds of ammunition (that is what I spent just a week ago for the cheapest ammo I could find, and I was happy just to find it). So in ten or so trips to the range and you just spent enough money in bullets to buy a nice smith and wesson model 17 or 617. I personally own a model 14 (the .38 special target revolver) and the matching K22 masterpiece (pre model 17). I shoot the k22 all day long for $20. Another thing to consider is that the model 17 or 617 really don't depreciate in value and even go up in value. So, if you ever need the money you can sell it for pretty much what you paid. So, yes it's a lot of money for "just a .22" but once you own one, you will realize that they are much more than "just a .22".

[@sebastianmoller7304]

Same amount of labor and material costs for the 617 as a 686. So they cost the same. Easy as that.

[@FairladyS130]

Needs an aluminium frame to knock the weight down, too heavy for a 22.

[@GrendalTheBeasty]

Nah, weight is good for accuracy. Grow bigger muscles or buy a 617 and get bigger muscles by shooting it till your arms fall off :). I bought the 4 inch 617 two days ago as my first revolver and have put 500 rounds through it already. Probably going to shoot it again tomorrow, next day too.

[@henrycruz45cal]

Because they were top 5 "pistols" fool Also don't talk about a product and give bad data. Especially when knocking on another guys video. It isn't a "L" frame and it doesn't weight 39 oz It's a 'K' frame and 39 oz is for my 4" version, yours is 44 oz; 44.1 if you want to be exact .

[@rogersharpe5783]

🤪the reason author DID NOT include the Smith Wesson 617 … in the video …. Titled…. “Top 5 22 pistols made”……..MAY BE BECAUSE THE SMITH WESSON 617 ….. is a revolver…. NOT PISTOL !!! 🤪🤪😂😳🙄