Joined:
Jul 2026
Posts:
3
EE: 100% (1)
MO, USA
Posted: 7/18/2026 11:06:10 AM EDT
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I saw this Lipsey's S&W 617 mountain gun in a local gun store. I was interested in it, until the store said that they had a policy that the display revolvers would have the cylinder locked and there was no dry firing. Well so much for checking cylinder timing..... Has anybody got experience with this .22 revolver? Looks appealing from a distance at least. |
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I spend quite a bit of time on the gun forums and the Lipsey 617 mountain gun are having issues just like the other S&W revolvers. I ordered a S&W 617-6 4” in January of 2025 for a very good price. The revolver appeared to have good fit and finish on the outside. The trigger was pretty bad on double action and I managed to pinch my trigger finger on double action. I put some CLP around the hammer and trigger openings and tried shooting a lot hoping it would improve. I was getting debris hitting my left cheek and face on double action and single action. It was dangerous to shoot the way it was spitting lead. I called S&W and got a shipping label. I shipped it back to S&W via FedEx. It took a month to get the revolver back. I included a note describing the bad trigger and spitting lead. S&W reamed the forcing cone and sent it back. I couldn’t tell any difference in the trigger which got a little better with use. If I shot high velocity ammo like CCI Mini Mags you couldn’t eject them out of the cylinder. I have a good friend who is a Gunsmith and has been working on S&W revolvers for about 50 years. He did a little polishing, used some trigger grease and replaced the rebound spring with a lighter spring. The trigger is now much better and I finally got tired of it not ejecting spent brass and had my Friend ream the chambers. With some ammo it still has sticky ejection but is way better. Unfortunately my experience mirrors many reports on S&W revolvers over the last few years. I can’t see how it is profitable to have such poor quality control. My 617 cost more new than any handgun I’d ever purchased. I have a model 18 S&W manufactured in 1958 which is great but I want to pass it to my Daughter and Grand kids. I wanted a shooter and my 617-6 is OK but the whole ordeal really soured me on S&W. I have numerous S&W semi autos and revolvers. If you really want a 617 just be fore warned that there is a high probability you’ll have to send it back and maybe multiple times to get it fixed. Sorry to be long winded but my situation is very common and even so with the Lipsey models. |
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Vascar gave a good reply. To me there is close to no point buying a new S&W these days, it is a coin toss if you will have unacceptable quality. For me S&W rules are - no locks - no centerfire guns with frame mounted firing pins With limited exception if I can personally inspect before purchase no gun younger than 40 years old. The only things the modern 617 “ mountain gun” offer is a thin profile barrel ( which was what the model 18 had for decades) stainless( I hate stainless and have never found all the comments about “ easier maintenance “ more durable etc over blue to be at all valid if you use even minimal attention to caring for your guns) And a ten shot cylinder Find a older 18 with better finish assembly and just simply a better looking gun for less than the new ones and chances are SIGNIFICANTLY less it will give you any trouble |
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I bought a reg. SS 617 right after Trump won the first time and have had no problems. Great shooter Sucks that you pay that kind of money and it's a mess 
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I was born in Birkenhead and I was poor , I was dressed from the local army and navy store and I can tell you its no fun going to school dressed as a Japanese admiral-UKjohn
Joined:
Jul 2026
Posts:
5
EE: 100% (1)
MO, USA
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I had to shim my cylinder back off the barrel but its been great after that Before that getting through 50-100 rounds of ammo without it tying up was challenging I would love to have the MG 617. My only complaint on my 617 is theres too much steel on it for it to be much more than a range gun |
Battle Of West Appalachia Survivor
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Originally Posted By dphill: Kit gun, 317 for a light weight gun My 2” 34-1 ( one of my exceptions to age as it is an early 80’s gun) is probably my most used handgun. Shoots so smoothly and accurately ! And unlike a lot of S&W 22’s ( this is a problem going back decades honestly) it doesn’t have super tight chambers, I can shoot hundreds of rounds without binding. Dime sized ten yard groups all day long |
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Originally Posted By VASCAR2: I spend quite a bit of time on the gun forums and the Lipsey 617 mountain gun are having issues just like the other S&W revolvers. I ordered a S&W 617-6 4” in January of 2025 for a very good price. The revolver appeared to have good fit and finish on the outside. The trigger was pretty bad on double action and I managed to pinch my trigger finger on double action. I put some CLP around the hammer and trigger openings and tried shooting a lot hoping it would improve. I was getting debris hitting my left cheek and face on double action and single action. It was dangerous to shoot the way it was spitting lead. I called S&W and got a shipping label. I shipped it back to S&W via FedEx. It took a month to get the revolver back. I included a note describing the bad trigger and spitting lead. S&W reamed the forcing cone and sent it back. I couldn’t tell any difference in the trigger which got a little better with use. If I shot high velocity ammo like CCI Mini Mags you couldn’t eject them out of the cylinder. I have a good friend who is a Gunsmith and has been working on S&W revolvers for about 50 years. He did a little polishing, used some trigger grease and replaced the rebound spring with a lighter spring. The trigger is now much better and I finally got tired of it not ejecting spent brass and had my Friend ream the chambers. With some ammo it still has sticky ejection but is way better. Unfortunately my experience mirrors many reports on S&W revolvers over the last few years. I can’t see how it is profitable to have such poor quality control. My 617 cost more new than any handgun I’d ever purchased. I have a model 18 S&W manufactured in 1958 which is great but I want to pass it to my Daughter and Grand kids. I wanted a shooter and my 617-6 is OK but the whole ordeal really soured me on S&W. I have numerous S&W semi autos and revolvers. If you really want a 617 just be fore warned that there is a high probability you’ll have to send it back and maybe multiple times to get it fixed. Sorry to be long winded but my situation is very common and even so with the Lipsey models. Out of curiosity, having been sent a return Fedex shipping label, do you have to ship out via an FFL or receive via an FFL? If you can do both without an FFL it's a little less of a hassle, even though receiving a defective product from factory sucks. I really like the look of this revolver but can't justify the purchase since I already have perfectly fine alternatives. I hope everyone has a good week! |
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Originally Posted By captain127: My 2” 34-1 ( one of my exceptions to age as it is an early 80’s gun) is probably my most used handgun. Shoots so smoothly and accurately ! And unlike a lot of S&W 22’s ( this is a problem going back decades honestly) it doesn’t have super tight chambers, I can shoot hundreds of rounds without binding. Dime sized ten yard groups all day long Originally Posted By captain127: Originally Posted By dphill: Kit gun, 317 for a light weight gun My 2” 34-1 ( one of my exceptions to age as it is an early 80’s gun) is probably my most used handgun. Shoots so smoothly and accurately ! And unlike a lot of S&W 22’s ( this is a problem going back decades honestly) it doesn’t have super tight chambers, I can shoot hundreds of rounds without binding. Dime sized ten yard groups all day long Yup, I have a 34 I carry all the time in the woods and a 34-1 as a back up. Nice little slip in your coat pocket for a walk in the woods revolver. Attached File |
Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
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I bout one of the New 617MG's last winter. It was had to open and overly tight. Sent it in to the S&W Performance Center for an action job (under $180) and I noted the difficulty in opening the cylinder while it was there. They fixed it, and the action is silky smooth. Here's what I wrote up about the 617 vs the new 22rf Colt King Cobra at ARFCOM: "I've got about 1k rounds through my 4.25" King Cobra, it's very nice. Previously I had a 617 4", I cannot remember the dash number. It had action work and the Hillary Hole plugged. I sold that one shortly after getting it, thinking it was too heavy. Today I paid for a NIB 617MG that I just purchased on Gunbroker. After I get a few range trips, I'll comment further on it. Well after getting the 617MG out to the range several times, and about 500 rounds through it here are my observations: Size: the Colt Wins, it's more of a ten shot kit gun Shoot ability: Draw, both are very nice, the S&W is slightly easier to shoot due to it's size. Accuracy: Draw: Both are capable of holding the 10 ring at 25 yards on an NRA Bullseye target from a rest Quality, fit and finish: Colt wins hands down. The 617MG is going back to S&W to have the Master Action package done along with fixing the very hard to push open cylinder. Overall all impression; For me they are both good guns, if you like revolvers and I do. The Colt is slightly easier to carry, the 617 a bit easier to shoot due to it's size. The 617 is not the quality revolver my S&W M18-2 is. But for a modern production gun, Colt quality control is far better than this particular S&W. No I'm not a hack for Colt, and don't get paid to evaluate firearms. Just a shooter like you guys." |
Dave Funk
Past President and now a Board of Directors member Iowa Firearms Coalition. Past President of the Iowa Chapter-SCI.
Past President and now a Board of Directors member Iowa Firearms Coalition. Past President of the Iowa Chapter-SCI.