{"id":218075,"date":"2026-06-28T18:02:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T23:02:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=218075"},"modified":"2026-06-28T18:02:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T23:02:53","slug":"sw-617-mountain-gun-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/sw-617-mountain-gun-review\/","title":{"rendered":"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We&#8217;ve Been Waiting For"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-estimated-reading-time yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time: <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">10<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun looks like the .22 LR K-frame woods revolver a lot of shooters have been waiting for. It shoots well, carries the right Mountain Gun attitude, and then trips over the kind of quality-control problem that makes a man shake his head twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-the-s-amp-w-617-mountain-gun-brings-big-mountain-gun-energy-to-22-lr\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-level=\"2\">The S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Brings Big Mountain Gun Energy to .22 LR<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-why-the-s-amp-w-617-mountain-gun-looks-like-the-rimfire-woods-gun-we-wanted\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-level=\"2\">Why the S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Looks Like the Rimfire Woods Gun We Wanted<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-s-amp-w-617-mountain-gun-specs-22-lr-k-frame-details\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-level=\"2\">S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Specs: .22 LR K-Frame Details<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-range-time-handsome-revolver-strong-first-impression-one-big-catch\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-level=\"2\">Range Time: Handsome Revolver, Strong First Impression, One Big Catch<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-25-yard-accuracy-the-s-amp-w-617-mountain-gun-can-shoot\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-level=\"2\">25 Yard Accuracy: The S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Can Shoot<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-offhand-shooting-no-recoil-good-balance-then-trouble-starts\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-level=\"2\">Offhand Shooting: No Recoil, Good Balance, Then Trouble Starts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-warranty-work-the-fix-worked-but-the-missed-defect-didn-t\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-level=\"2\">Warranty Work: The Fix Worked, but the Missed Defect Didn\u2019t<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-pros-and-cons-the-pretty-22-lr-revolver-with-a-hard-lesson\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-level=\"2\">Pros and Cons: The Pretty .22 LR Revolver With a Hard Lesson<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-final-verdict-the-s-amp-w-617-mountain-gun-is-an-imperfect-revival\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-level=\"2\">Final Verdict: The S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Is an Imperfect Revival<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-related-reads-from-gunsamerica-digest\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-level=\"2\">Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-s-amp-w-617-mountain-gun-brings-big-mountain-gun-energy-to-22-lr\"><strong>The S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Brings Big Mountain Gun Energy to .22 LR<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The concept of the <em>mountain gun<\/em> brings out some selective imagery. The historian in me thinks of the howitzers in the foothills around Chattanooga. But if we are talking small arms in this century, chances are it is the Smith &amp; Wesson Mountain Gun. The Mountain Gun concept dates from the 1980s, and Smith &amp; Wesson, in conjunction with Lipsey&#8217;s Distributors, brought back the concept with their 686 and 629 Mountain Gun at the SHOT Show 2025. The concept is solid. Make a shootable revolver lightweight enough to carry in the woods and capable of taking anything on the mountain. Certainly, a .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum will do just that. The new Smith &amp; Wesson 617 Mountain Gun in .22 LR, however, is an unexpected yet natural addition. Here is Jim&#8217;s take:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/617-mountain-gun-featured-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Smith &amp; Wesson 617 Mountain Gun .22 LR revolver with Browning SA-22, rope, flint striker, holster, and poncho\" class=\"wp-image-218095\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/617-mountain-gun-featured-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/617-mountain-gun-featured-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/617-mountain-gun-featured-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/617-mountain-gun-featured-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/617-mountain-gun-featured-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/617-mountain-gun-featured-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Smith &amp; Wesson 617 Mountain Gun brings the Mountain Gun idea into.22 LR, complete with Woods companion energy and a handsome stainless K-frame profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-the-s-amp-w-617-mountain-gun-looks-like-the-rimfire-woods-gun-we-wanted\"><strong>Why the S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Looks Like the Rimfire Woods Gun We Wanted<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith &amp; Wesson&#8217;s Model 617 is a stainless-steel heavy-barreled version of the famous Model 17, otherwise known as the K-22 Masterpiece. The original revolver featured a blued finish, adjustable sights, and a six-shot capacity. It was intended for target shooting and as an outdoorsman&#8217;s companion for taking <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/turkey-hunting-whats-in-your-pack\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"6099\">small game<\/a> and pests. The 617 and 617 Mountain Gun continue that tradition. The 617 Mountain Gun was made in very limited numbers, but now it is back in full production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-feature-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Smith &amp; Wesson 617 Mountain Gun .22 LR revolver on wooden plank background showing half-lug barrel and walnut grips\" class=\"wp-image-222905\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-feature-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-feature-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-feature-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-feature-2-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-feature-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-feature-2-2048x1367.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The stock 617 has a heavy barrel with a full underlug, keylock safety, and Hogue rubber grips. The new 617 Mountain Gun nixes the lock, comes with Tyler Gun Works Bear Hug walnut grips, and is trimmed up with a tapered half-lug barrel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-sights-two-1024x700.jpg\" alt=\"Smith &amp; Wesson 617 Mountain Gun adjustable rear sight and gold bead front sight\" class=\"wp-image-222901\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-sights-two-1024x700.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-sights-two-400x274.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-sights-two-150x103.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-sights-two-768x525.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-sights-two-1536x1050.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-sights-two-2048x1401.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The sighting setup on the S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun gives the little rimfire a serious field revolver feel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of a black front ramp front sight, a gold bead is inset in a square notch to pair with an adjustable rear square notch. The sighting plane in between uses anti-glare milling to break up sunlight that can and will glint off the polished stainless-steel finish. The trigger and hammer also come with a flash chrome finish for extra lubricity and corrosion resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-wesson-617-no-lock-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun cylinder, ejector rod, K-frame crane lockup, and no-lock sideplate detail\" class=\"wp-image-223138\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-wesson-617-no-lock-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-wesson-617-no-lock-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-wesson-617-no-lock-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-wesson-617-no-lock-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-wesson-617-no-lock-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-wesson-617-no-lock-2048x1367.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 617 Mountain Gun is built on Smith &amp; Wesson&#8217;s medium-sized K-frame and uses a modern ball-detent lockup at the crane as seen on modern magnum-caliber K-frame guns. The revolver comes with a ten-round cylinder, and the ejector rod is shrouded by the half-lug barrel. Like most mid-sized revolvers, the 617 is a double-action\/single-action handgun with an exposed hammer. The hammer may be thumb cocked for a light and short trigger pull. Alternatively, the revolver can be fired by pulling the trigger all the way through.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Smith &amp; Wesson 617 Mountain Gun ships in a blue hard case and has an initial MSRP of $1,199.<\/p>\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/search?keyword=S%26W%20617%20Mountain%20Gun\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" style=\"text-decoration:none;font-weight:700;line-height:1;border-radius:9999px;background:#eef4ff;color:#1849a9;border:1px solid #d8e0f0;padding:10px 16px\">\n  \ud83d\uded2 Check Current Price for S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun on GunsAmerica\n<\/a>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-s-amp-w-617-mountain-gun-specs-22-lr-k-frame-details\"><strong>S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Specs: .22 LR K-Frame Details<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>Model<\/th><td>S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Caliber<\/th><td>.22 LR<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Capacity<\/th><td>10<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Barrel Length<\/th><td>4.1 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Overall Length<\/th><td>9.1 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Height<\/th><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Width<\/th><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><th>Weight<\/th><td>2 lbs. 4.5 oz. (loaded)<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>MSRP<\/th><td>$1,199<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-range-time-handsome-revolver-strong-first-impression-one-big-catch\"><strong>Range Time: Handsome Revolver, Strong First Impression, One Big Catch<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Smith &amp; Wesson 617 Mountain Gun is far and away a more attractive package over the standard model. The Bear Hug grips are hand-filling, and the half-lug barrel gives the revolver a slight but not overpowered muzzle heaviness. There is no keylock safety to insult our intelligence, and the hammer has lost its thin MIM-ness for a thicker target profile. The inclusion of a dovetailed gold-beaded front sight is a welcome improvement from the standard front ramp, and it is more precise and less fragile than some fiber optic options on the market. But these smart additions count for nothing if the pistol does not shoot. This 617 Mountain Gun shoots well when it decides to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-capacity-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun ten round .22 LR cylinder capacity close-up\" class=\"wp-image-222904\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-capacity-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-capacity-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-capacity-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-capacity-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-capacity-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/smith-617-capacity-2048x1367.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The ten-round cylinder gives the S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun plenty of rimfire capacity for trail work, plinking, and small-game chores.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-25-yard-accuracy-the-s-amp-w-617-mountain-gun-can-shoot\"><strong>25 Yard Accuracy: The S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Can Shoot<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As with any other new handgun, the first order of business is getting on top of the sights. I benched the 617 Mountain Gun and posted targets at 25 yards. My first rounds hit six inches high at that distance, but a decisive turn of a screwdriver set the rear sight down in elevation, and I was at the point of aim in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I then shot a series of five-shot groups from that distance. I fired in single action mode by thumb cocking the hammer before every shot. The results were a modest surprise. The best overall group was achieved with CCI Stinger 32-grain hollow points, which tend to group loosely and noisily out of a handgun. This little varmint loaded easily and grouped within two inches. CCI Blaser and Federal Automatch 40-grain lead round-nosed ammunition came in second with a solid 3-inch group. I also tried Remington Viper 36 grain, CCI Mini Mags, and Winchester 36 grain Super X hollow points. The Winchester load scored a 3.2-inch group, but the others came in near the four-inch mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/smith-617-accuracy-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Smith &amp; Wesson 617 Mountain Gun accuracy group on paper target at 25 yards with .22 LR ammunition\" class=\"wp-image-218374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/smith-617-accuracy-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/smith-617-accuracy-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/smith-617-accuracy-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/smith-617-accuracy-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/smith-617-accuracy.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun does well in the accuracy department.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At this distance, the front sight is still crisp and easy to index on small three-inch bullseyes without covering them up. That is good to know if your quarry is small. The single-action trigger pull is excellent. There is no creep or mush, but a swift break. On my Lyman trigger scale, the trigger pull measures about 4 lbs. 2 oz. consistently. Even the double-action pull, when simply pulling the trigger all the way through to cock and release the hammer, is fairly good. It is long, but smooth and not overly heavy by rimfire standards. It has a solid seven-and-a-half-pound pull, where plenty of rimfire revolvers ship with stout hammer springs that keep the trigger pull in the dozen-pound range or higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-offhand-shooting-no-recoil-good-balance-then-trouble-starts\"><strong>Offhand Shooting: No Recoil, Good Balance, Then Trouble Starts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-shooting-two-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Shooter firing the Smith &amp; Wesson 617 Mountain Gun .22 LR revolver offhand on the range\" class=\"wp-image-223139\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-shooting-two-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-shooting-two-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-shooting-two-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-shooting-two-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-shooting-two-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/617-shooting-two.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 617 is a well-balanced shooter, groups well, and has a smooth action in double action and single action.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of accuracy, the 617 delivers, although I wish it were with ammunition that might leave me more to eat than those hot CCI Stinger rounds. But each .22 pistol will like certain ammunition when it comes to accuracy and even reliability. But as I left the bench, loaded a full ten rounds, and started shooting offhand, I noticed a problem right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was easy to connect in double action or single action out to fifty yards. The sights work well, even as my small eight-inch steel plates decreased in size as I backed up. The 617 exhibits no felt recoil at all, and all you get is a pop and a puff of smoke from the bullet lube to indicate you actually fired a round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But no matter how much I shot the revolver, I continually had two or three rounds in the cylinder that would fail to go off and would require another hit under the hammer. It was not specific to certain chambers or any ammunition. Even the CCI Stinger load, the most reliable out of the bunch, still failed to strike two times out of ten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This tendency occurred during my accuracy testing in single action, and nothing changed in double action. Early on, I also had the occasional failure of the trigger to reset after every shot. But that quickly resolved after a few repetitions and resets using the trigger finger. On inspecting and cleaning the pistol, I noticed that the forcing cone was not square with the cylinder, and the bottom half was rubbing the cylinder face. The cylinder itself never bound up, but this display of poor workmanship made me stop the testing for a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-warranty-work-the-fix-worked-but-the-missed-defect-didn-t\"><strong>Warranty Work: The Fix Worked, but the Missed Defect Didn\u2019t<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"790\" src=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/forcing-cone-smith-617-1024x790.jpg\" alt=\"Smith &amp; Wesson 617 Mountain Gun forcing cone after warranty repair showing revolver barrel and cylinder gap\" class=\"wp-image-222902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/forcing-cone-smith-617-1024x790.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/forcing-cone-smith-617-389x300.jpg 389w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/forcing-cone-smith-617-150x116.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/forcing-cone-smith-617-768x593.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/forcing-cone-smith-617-1536x1185.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/forcing-cone-smith-617-2048x1580.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The forcing cone after warranty repairs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After a bit of head shaking, I sent the 617 Mountain Gun to Smith &amp; Wesson. It was returned within a few weeks with a new hammer spring and an apparently modified barrel and forcing cone. That was not the case, as the forcing cone was still not square with the cylinder. On the firing line, the 617 performed with 100% reliability, but the missed defect had me questioning the sobriety of those who assembled the handgun, as well as those who inspected it <em>twice.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pros-and-cons-the-pretty-22-lr-revolver-with-a-hard-lesson\"><strong>Pros and Cons: The Pretty .22 LR Revolver With a Hard Lesson<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros:<\/strong> Attractive Mountain Gun configuration, no keylock safety, Tyler Gun Works Bear Hug walnut grips, tapered half-lug barrel, dovetailed gold-beaded front sight, ten-round cylinder, smooth double action, excellent single action trigger, strong 25-yard accuracy with the right ammunition, and no felt recoil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons:<\/strong> Light strikes during testing, early trigger reset issue, forcing cone not square with the cylinder, warranty work fixed reliability, but did not correct the visible defect, premium price makes the quality-control miss harder to excuse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-verdict-the-s-amp-w-617-mountain-gun-is-an-imperfect-revival\"><strong>Final Verdict: The S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Is an Imperfect Revival<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lipsey&#8217;s is a distributor with significant coattails. They are single-handedly dragging the Smith &amp; Wesson revolver lineup back where it needs to be. This ranges from their new no-lock classics to the revival of the Mountain Gun concept to the Ultimate Carry series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, Smith &amp; Wesson is between a rock and a hard place. They have to chase marketplace trends while keeping their revolver legacy going. Although we are living in a revolver revival, it is clear which of the priorities are chosen, and Smith &amp; Wesson&#8217;s investment in Tennessee should be a clue. Their line work and quality control are clearly suffering, even though new and great expectations are now being put upon the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is especially true with the revolvers. Most are good, some are excellent, but those we expect the most from seem to be the most horrendous. My local FFL could not sell me an Airweight J-frame, their staple revolver, because every last one came with a canted barrel. This 617 is handsome, but defective. Unfortunately, it wasn&#8217;t the only premium model that had to be returned. Save for a very close inspection before final purchase, I would recommend leaving the 617, and Smith &amp; Wesson more generally, off the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-related-reads-from-gunsamerica-digest\"><strong>Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/sw-629-mountain-gun-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">S&amp;W 629 Mountain Gun Returns Better Than Ever<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/smith-wesson-ultimate-carry-j-frame-shot-show-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">S&amp;W Ultimate Carry J-Frame: Four Models, One Mission<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/smith-wesson-940-review-9mm-revolver\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"sw-617-mountain-gun-review\" title=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We've Been Waiting For\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">S&amp;W 940 Review: 9mm J Frame That Runs Hard<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The S&#038;W 617 Mountain Gun looks like the .22 LR K-frame woods revolver a lot of shooters have been waiting for. It shoots well, carries the right Mountain Gun attitude, and then trips over the kind of quality-control problem that makes a man shake his head twice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":218095,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"manual","footnotes":""},"categories":[694,859,42],"tags":[102,108,331],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-218075","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gun-reviews","8":"category-gun-reviews-handguns","9":"category-revolvers","10":"tag-feature-articles","11":"tag-guns","12":"tag-revolver"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: .22 LR Woods Revolver<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We ran the S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun hard to see if this .22 LR K-frame woods revolver earns its revival, or trips over QC.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/sw-617-mountain-gun-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun Review: 22 LR We&#039;ve Been Waiting For\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The S&amp;W 617 Mountain Gun looks like the .22 LR K-frame woods revolver a lot of shooters have been waiting for. It shoots well, carries the right Mountain Gun attitude, and then trips over the kind of quality-control problem that makes a man shake his head twice.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/sw-617-mountain-gun-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-28T23:02:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-28T23:02:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/617-mountain-gun-featured.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2976\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1984\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jim Maybrick\" 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With a background in military and economic history, Jim has a talent for weaving compelling stories around historic firearms designs and the rise and fall of legacy manufacturers. But Jim\u2019s interests go far beyond the past\u2014he\u2019s just as comfortable diving into muzzleloading traditions as he is testing the latest rimfire loads or mastering cutting-edge modern systems. His thoughtful, data-driven approach brings clarity and depth to every review. When he\u2019s not at the range or deep in a spreadsheet, you\u2019ll find him enjoying time with family, chasing game, or refining the lost art of starting a perfect campfire. Experience: \u2013 Veteran Writer &amp; Content Creator \u2013 Over twelve years of experience in firearms journalism with hundreds of published pieces.\u2013 Military &amp; Economic Historian \u2013 Academic background that fuels in-depth analysis of historic firearms and industry trends.\u2013 Versatile Shooter \u2013 Covers a wide range of topics from muzzleloaders and rimfire ballistics to today\u2019s most advanced platforms.\u2013 Storyteller at Heart \u2013 Known for insightful writing that blends technical detail with engaging historical context.\u2013 Outdoorsman &amp; Family Man \u2013 Reconnects with nature through hunting, fishing, and old-school firecraft.\u2013 Analytical Mindset \u2013 Brings precision, structure, and storytelling to every article\u2014whether it\u2019s a gear review or a deep historical dive.","sameAs":["http:\/\/gunsamerica.com"],"jobTitle":"Contributor","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/author\/terril-hebert\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/617-mountain-gun-featured-150x100.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218075"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":252977,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218075\/revisions\/252977"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/218095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218075"},{"taxonomy":"featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured?post=218075"},{"taxonomy":"hunt365","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hunt365?post=218075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}