Looking for revolver owner feedback - S&W 617 and Ruger Redhawk .45 Auto

[D.A.V.I.D.]

I got a 617 a couple years ago and it’s a fun gun. Had to go back to s&w when I got it though because their quality control seems to be **** now. Been fun since I got it back though.

[The King]

blackhawk

Ideally, I would like to have a non-fluted cylinder in .44 Magnum (or .44 Special) rechambered in 45 acp. Since my Bisley has a non-fluted cylinder, this would be of the same type. I would go with a fluted cylinder if that is the easiest way.
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Look up Hamilton Bowen. http://bowenclassicarms.com/
His custom shop is single action specialist.
Not inexpensive I am sure.

No surprise no help from Ruger.
They seem to be building everything so long as it's plastic.

[bergmen]

Ideally, I would like to have a non-fluted cylinder in .44 Magnum (or .44 Special) rechambered in 45 acp. Since my Bisley has a non-fluted cylinder, this would be of the same type. I would go with a fluted cylinder if that is the easiest way.
------------------------
Look up Hamilton Bowen. http://bowenclassicarms.com/
His custom shop is single action specialist.
Not inexpensive I am sure.

No surprise no help from Ruger.
They seem to be building everything so long as it's plastic.

I thought about Bowan and looked up their website a while ago. At first I was thinking that they were too fancy but I didn't dig down to the "options" page.

I can contact them with my project and see what they say.

Thanks for the reminder.

Dan

[shafferds]

6in 617 10 shot is heavy but no recoil. Fun to shoot

[Wordupmybrotha]

I had a 617, but sold it and got a K-22 instead. Much smoother and lighter trigger.

[Capybara]

Well, visited my dealer today. According to them, they are being told 18-24 MONTHS to receive almost any ordered gun. Evidently we are still in a rather severe gun shortage. They did not have any S&W 617s in stock. I thought about it and my main reason for getting this revolver is that I haven't been shooting much and with 9mm sitting at .50 per round, I simply won't have the $$ to shoot as much as I would like to as often as I would like to.

I would really like to get in more range time on a regular basis and I have a lot of .22 ammo in stock. So what did they have in stock for a .22 DA revolver? Yep, a Smith & Wesson Model 17 Masterpiece. It was blued, I have always wanted a Smith blued revolver. Yes, only a 6 shot cylinder but it felt so nice in my hand, had to buy it. So I did. 6" barrel and all but without the under lug build out, the balance isn't bad at all. And it's an aesthetic work of art in person. $1,037.00 is a lot for a .22 revolver but what the hell, it's a classic.

Can't wait to get it out of jail on the 11th and try it out. Next after my thirty days in the "daring to buy a handgun in California" punishment, is to buy a 625 off of Gunbroker.

[Handgunther]

Congratulations! The 6" Model 17 is a great plinker. You're gonna love it!

[Capybara]

Congratulations! The 6" Model 17 is a great plinker. You're gonna love it!

Thank you Handgunther.

Anyone here have any tips on how I should care for that beautiful blued finish on the Model 17? I've owned blued rifles before, but never a fine handgun with this kind of finish, all of my Smiths have been SS finish.
Can I clean it with Ballistol? Should I be cleaning it up with a different CLP because of the blued finish? I see these revolvers on YouTube with what looks like etched in fingerprint oil and I obviously want to avoid that on this gun.

[bergmen]

Thank you Handgunther.

Anyone here have any tips on how I should care for that beautiful blued finish on the Model 17? I've owned blued rifles before, but never a fine handgun with this kind of finish, all of my Smiths have been SS finish.
Can I clean it with Ballistol? Should I be cleaning it up with a different CLP because of the blued finish? I see these revolvers on YouTube with what looks like etched in fingerprint oil and I obviously want to avoid that on this gun.

I have a model 15 which is basically the same as your model 17 only in .38 Special and 4". I basically run a bore snake through all of the chambers of the cylinder and the barrel with Hoppes #9 and gently wipe the exterior down with a soft rag with synthetic motor oil. I use old cotton ankle socks for this, works very well. Gun still looks like brand new even though I bought it used 21 years ago. I do the same treatment with my blued Ruger GP-100 4" and same result.

Dan

[ysr_racer]

NEVER USE A LEAD REMOVER CLOTH ON A BLUED GUN !!

[Capybara]

NEVER USE A LEAD REMOVER CLOTH ON A BLUED GUN !!

Good tip. I don't have one but I will avoid that. Without using a lead remover cloth, what is your preferred method for removing lead accumulation, especially on the cylinder face and barrel so that the bluing isn't marred?

I would imagine shooting the panoply of .22 ammo I have, I will encounter a lot of lead build up eventually.