S&W 17-4 1981 revolver

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  • doddg

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    Picked up a "bucket list" gun that I'd given up on getting, but it just "appeared," & from a trusted member I'd bought/sold from before.
    Thumb rest doesn't seem to fit me & another member recommended Packmayer Gripper grips for it (or perhaps Hogue?).
    Not in a hurry to so that yet, as I don't know if it would improve my accuracy any since the target grips that come with it are fine.

    I can't see the front iron sights clearly, so the first thing I did was to paint them white, but the white still got lost in the rear sight posts.
    I'm going to go to the 2nd stop & put red over the white on the front sights & maybe have to put some white on the rear sights.
    I've been having to do this on all my iron sight guns.
    Those with a nice 3 white dot system (like Glock 44), or a red optic on the front sight (like my Dan Wesson .22LR revolver & my upgraded GSG 1911-22 clone).

    Below is the 1st range pic with me adjusting the rear sights all along the way.
    All 21' on a rest, all S/A.
    Did the five targets in order, then shot the numbers backwards.
    Some improvement along the way, with adjusting too far sometimes, or adjusting the wrong way. :dunno:
    Hopefully I'll improve when I get the right color on the sights for my eyes.
    Going to use red on the front & if I have to, put white on the rear for some clarity.
    cEWWRPt.jpg


    Torso & head done at 30'.
    18 rounds D/A on torso.
    18 rounds S/A on head.
    Smaller targets on bottom 2 rows done at 21' with 6 rounds each.
    On the bottom 2 rows there were 6 rounds in the red with both DA & SA, although the SA groups were a tad tighter.
    7YcgCMT.jpg


    1GZBc0u.png
    Il1Eow4.png
     

    doddg

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    Nice looking wheel gun doddg!

    :thumbsup:

    For now it is. New photos in 6 weeks. ("I already have a Rossi and can't justify this...")

    I deserve that! :) It is how I enjoy the hobby: "renting" yet another gun. :dunno:
    "6 weeks?" I bought 3 guns just last week, & sold 1 last week, so 2 more need to be on the chopping block now, not in 6 weeks! :laugh:

    The vetting between the 17-4 will be my beloved Dan Wesson 8" barrel, 54 oz.
    I look forward to finding out which is best with my old eyes.
    Finding out which ammo, & at what distance is my idea of fun!
    :draw:
    Can't wait to see how the DW & the 17-4 stack up against each other: I'm supposing it will be tied, with one edging out the other depending on how much sleep I got the night before. :lmfao:
    B/C of DW, I sold all of my other revolvers.
    I occasionally buy one here and there to play with, like the Uberti Stallion last week (never had one before), which I wouldn't have bought if I knew I was getting this 17-4 gem.

    I can justify keeping both for now, especially when I sell the Uberti, but I wanted to keep one single-action fixed sights revolver.

    Sweet looking S&W

    Thanks! I am thrilled to have a piece of iconic SW .22LR.:rockwoot:
     

    ghitch75

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    very nice!!!.....i have a 617 that is a tack driver....i tried buying it from snorko but was to late.....if you decide to part with it let me know....:)


    1S4Vi4H.jpg
     

    BGDave

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    No offense, but I hope the DW loses. Edit to add; I had talked myself into a road trip for that Smith, but some guy (OP) beat me to it.
     
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    700 LTR 223

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    A really nice classic Smith & Wesson in the 17-4. A 17 like you have or a nice Model 18 would be a great compliment to my 617-1. Speaking of 617s that is really a nice one you have there ghitch75.
     

    doddg

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    Glad to see it is shooting well for you. I bet you can really tighten those groups up.


    It was a thrill to put rounds through that 1981 classic today! :rockwoot:
    I put about 200 rounds through it trying to line up the POI with POA, which is compromised since I don't see the front sight well. :laugh:
    I have a choice: a fuzzy front sight or a fuzzy target. :dunno:

    I kept tinkering with the elevation & windage trying to tighten it up.
    The clicks weren't felt as much as I would have liked.
    I put a drop of Lucas gun oil last night on each side of the windage screw & on the elevation screw to soak overnight, since they seemed stiff.

    Painting the front Partridge sight didn't work out as well as I'd hoped, but I put 3 coats of red over the white this pm (as per instructions), so hopefully that'll help.
    I'd love to put a red dot on it, but the 17-4 didn't come pre-drilled like later models for a rail.
     
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    700 LTR 223

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    I have a choice: a fuzzy front sight or a fuzzy target. :dunno:

    When shooting open sights your front sight should always be clearly in focus. Even when I had 20/20 vision my target would always be slightly fuzzy or out of focus. The only method I know where a shooter can have the sights and target clear is with some type of aperture device worn on eye wear.
     

    Trapper Jim

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    It was a thrill to put rounds through that 1981 classic today! :rockwoot:
    I put about 200 rounds through it trying to line up the POI with POA, which is compromised since I don't see the front sight well. :laugh:
    I have a choice: a fuzzy front sight or a fuzzy target. :dunno:

    I kept tinkering with the elevation & windage trying to tighten it up.
    The clicks weren't felt as much as I would have liked.
    I put a drop of Lucas gun oil last night on each side of the windage screw & on the elevation screw to soak overnight, since they seemed stiff.

    Painting the front Partridge sight didn't work out as well as I'd hoped, but I put 3 coats of red over the white this pm (as per instructions), so hopefully that'll help.
    I'd love to put a red dot on it, but the 17-4 didn't come pre-drilled like later models for a rail.


    My paint job isn’t the best anymore but this is what I have been using.
    My 617 and 17-5 sport orange paint on the Patridge Blade. I don't have any Partidge sights in a pear tree.:ingo:
     

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    doddg

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    My paint job isn’t the best anymore but this is what I have been using.
    My 617 and 17-5 sport orange paint on the Patridge Blade. I don't have any Partidge sights in a pear tree.:ingo:



    I have read before to keep your front blade in focus. :coffee:
    With my trifocal glasses, what I describe is when looking through the top "distance" lens.

    To use my middle lens (a very small portion of the lens), is for medium distances, like seeing my front sight (but my rear sight is fuzzy).
    To see the front sight using the middle lens,
    I have to "crank" my neck up & the arthritis doesn't like that.I also use the middle lens for seeing my cmp screen, or the top shelf at the grocery.
    The lower lens is just for close reading.

    If the targets were closer & lower, I naturally would be using the middle lens b/c of the line of sight would be lower & more natural.
    The greater the distance from my eyes at the range, the more I have to crank my neck up, if trying to use the middle lens, but the target is really fuzzy.

    I just thought, typing this out, maybe if I bought some "reading" glasses that were the same magnification of my middle lens, it would be doable.
    When watching TV, I use such with the distance magnification so I can see clearly with my chair reclined (do the same at the theatre, or turn my glasses upside down). :)

    This is why I've become such a fan of optics, tying to put them on everything I have with a rail
    But, none of my 3 revolvers or about half of the semi-autos don't have a rail.
    A couple of semi-autos, if I knew I was going to keep them long-term, I could take off the rear sight off & put on a rail (Browning Buckmark), or use the drilled holes on top to put on a rail (Ruger Mark 4 Target).
    As you can see, this is one of the reasons I don't take my shooting too seriously, except for my own entertainment: never going to win any prizes. :dunno:
    Steel matches is the only thing that could be doable. :ar15:

    Thanks for the input. :thumbsup:
     

    gmcttr

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    When shooting open sights your front sight should always be clearly in focus...

    ^^^This (as I've told you before:)). ALWAYS favor focus on the front sight.

    ...I just thought, typing this out, maybe if I bought some "reading" glasses that were the same magnification of my middle lens, it would be doable...

    Wear safety glasses. These are the ones I use and they are full lens "readers"...https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KSJNLO0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    You may have to buy a couple to figure out which diopter you need or ask your optometrist. Be aware these are listed by diopter rather than magnification.
     

    Hop

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    I got custom focal distance "shooting" glasses. They are single vision, non-progressive lenses so there's no head tilting up/down to get the front sight in focus. Sounds like you need the same thing.

    The target is always blurry. Hold the tip of that crisply focused front sight in the center of that blurry target.

    I have tried some low power reading glasses in combination with my contacts. That works well for me too.
     

    Colt556

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    I have a 648 6” and a 17 6” with full underlug barrel. Both are excellent shooters when o do my part. Both are a bit muzzle heavy with the full underlug barrels but it’s not too bad for a cylinder at a time. I have a Colt Officers Match that I want to shoot to compare the three but never had the chance. When I want to get serious though it’s time for one of my Smith 41s.
     

    doddg

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    ^^^This (as I've told you before:)). ALWAYS favor focus on the front sight.
    Wear safety glasses. These are the ones I use and they are full lens "readers"...https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KSJNLO0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    You may have to buy a couple to figure out which diopter you need or ask your optometrist. Be aware these are listed by diopter rather than magnification.

    This pm I just bought some 3.25 reading glasses at Walgreens to do what my "middle" lens was doing at arm's length.
    Don't know about the "diopter," I'll have to google that.
    Appreciate the heads-up! :thumbsup:


    My paint job isn’t the best anymore but this is what I have been using.
    My 617 and 17-5 sport orange paint on the Patridge Blade. I don't have any Partidge sights in a pear tree.:ingo:

    I noticed that you have some white paint there to put on as a 1st and/or 2nd coat: that's what I do as per instructions.

    I saw that one. I collect nice Smith wheelers. But yes, long trip.
    Dibs on the resell. :whistle:

    I used to write that down when people say that, but after calling people back and they have moved on or spent their money on something else, I stopped doing that. :dunno:
    If I ever do sell it, I'll look back on this thread since there have been 2-3 who have called, "dibs."


    I got custom focal distance "shooting" glasses. They are single vision, non-progressive lenses so there's no head tilting up/down to get the front sight in focus. Sounds like you need the same thing.
    The target is always blurry. Hold the tip of that crisply focused front sight in the center of that blurry target.
    I have tried some low power reading glasses in combination with my contacts. That works well for me too.

    It will take some getting used to, having the target blurry.
     
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