Smith & Wesson Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun

The MSRP of the Mannequin 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 development, and the Mountain Gun collection match and end. That being mentioned that is nonetheless costly for what quantities to a very nice plinker or pest management revolver.

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

First Impressions: Smith & Wesson Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun

My very first impression after 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 customary blue laborious case (I’ve by no means been a fan of those as they kink each time they shut) together with a guide for the Ok-Body, 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 speedy 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 apparent 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 an extended 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 it. The majority of the ammunition was Remington Commonplace V with some blended bulk stuff thrown in. No ammo points popped up.

Out of the field the revolver was capturing 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 constantly grouping round 1.5 inches standing, one-handed at 15 yards. That’s greater than satisfactory for a path gun or pest management obligation.

The set off on this revolver is genuinely glorious. Single-action breaks crisp and clear whereas the double-action pull may be very easy with none stacking. I personal a brand new Mannequin 29 and a Mannequin 350 and this 617 has a greater set off than both of them. Within the 200 rounds I put by the Mannequin 617 I didn’t have any gentle 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 prolonged capturing periods. The dimensions and form are precisely what you’d need on a “mountain gun”. They’re substantial sufficient to fill your hand with out feeling cumbersome. I’d 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 load of the gun.

The gold bead entrance sight labored nicely regardless of being up towards full fall colours up north. It was simple to choose up and I by no means had any washout points. Some shooters desire completely different sight configurations however for a revolver like this the gold bead suits the basic 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 gives. I additionally took out a pair purple 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. Perhaps my listening to is constant to worsen however after I took these photographs with out ear professional it didn’t damage or ring my ears like I anticipated.

The whole lot 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. Apart from that every part is as tight and as fairly as you’d 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 burden truly turned an asset when capturing since there may be basically zero felt recoil.

Remaining Ideas: Smith & Wesson Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun

After a weekend of carrying and capturing the Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun I can actually say I actually loved it. The set off is improbable, the grips are good, the accuracy is there, and the construct high quality is precisely what you’d count on from a $1,200 revolver. That being mentioned I can’t say I’d personally drop $1,200 of my very own cash on it even after genuinely loving the gun.

The Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun is the .22LR model of legit 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 the same function. However a .22LR mountain gun? The sensible justification will get murky.

I can see three forms of consumers for this revolver. First is somebody who already owns a Mountain Gun in .44 Magnum, 10mm, or .357 and needs to follow with an identical 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 prepared 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 Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun accomplishes what it units out to do. It’s a superbly crafted, extremely useful .22LR revolver with premium options and Smith & Wesson’s glorious construct high quality. Whether or not that’s definitely 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 supplier’s distributor relationships. Smith & Wesson usually manufactures in batches so count on some wait time in case your supplier doesn’t have one in inventory. In case you are out there for a top-tier .22LR revolver and the value doesn’t make you flinch the Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun delivers.

In closing I wish to say thanks to Smith & Wesson for permitting AllOutdoor and myself the chance to check out their Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun. That’s vastly appreciated. We wish to know what all of you guys and gals assume. Do you consider the Mannequin 617 Mountain Gun is value spending your cash on? Would you’re 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 beneath! We all the time respect 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.