S&W 317 Trainer

[wjh2657]

I have heard the snubbie S&W 317 much maligned in the forums. I fire my 317 every day. It is the most used gun I own. I think a that a big misunderstanding is behind the "dissing" of this fine little revolver.

The 317 is primarily a kit gun or trainer. It was never intended as a target pistol or even a hunting pistol.

I use mine in the most important role that a .22 revolver or pistol can play: as a trainer for the bigger guns. I EDC, with TN HCP, a 642 or 640. As anybody knows, the snubbies take lots of practice. As the indoor range I fire at is 40 miles away, around some nasty twisting roads, I only get to it once every two weeks. This is not enough to keep up with the skills needed with a short barreled revolver. I have put a Champion .22 Bullet Trap in my garage (I live out of city limits. That trap, my 317 and a box of CCI .22 CBs keeps me in shape. I try to fire daily and at ranges I am likely to need my EDC at. Then every two weeks I go fire the .38s to keep skill applicable to EDCand to practice out to 15 yards..

I have installed the exact same Pachmayr Compac grips on the 317 as I have on my 64Xs. The front sight is painted exactly the same as the 64Xs, thus allowing the same drill as for the .38s.

I fire both one hand low point and 2 hand high point/sight picture drills with the 317. I have range distance marked, but I practice at different odd ranges out to the max range for indoor shoot (21 feet.) I feel this is a lot more realistic for SD/HD shooting as I am not likely to get a target to stand at an exact range for me!

My shooting skill with the 642 and 640 has improved immensely since I started these .22 drills.

The 317 is the perfect trainer for the snubbie shooter!

[Guest EDWSRTN]

Nice Little ccw pistol good luck with it..