That 610 calls to me but I’d prefer a 625 in .45 Colt. I’d only ever shoot cowboy power loads but it’d be a blast!

quote:

Originally posted by am94pm:
This is great, but I am not paying that much for a 22. I love they are rebooting the classics, but I can still find originals for cheaper.

I told myself the same thing for years, and as that magic deal never came along, I finally shelled out to buy an unfired Model 18. In today’s dollars it was no cheaper than this 617. The new 617 price is about what I paid recently for a new Colt King Cobra .22. Fact is that shooting “just” a .22 cartridge doesn’t make the gun cheaper. Meanwhile my .22 actually gets shot a lot more than my other revolvers so it’s worth the investment. I already have all the guns I need, but this 617 Mountain Gun is another one that I want.

Which should I choose, 617 Mountain Gun or Colt King Cobra 22? The King Cobra 22 can be had for $900 and there's a $100 rebate from Colt.

I already have two of the King Cobra .22, and I’m still going to get a 617 MG when they become available without paying scalper prices at auction; but if you can find the deal you describe (I paid $1,042 from Buds) and the rebate on top of that, and you want it now, then I can highly recommend the Colt. Both of mine shoot great and are extremely smooth. Fit and finish is excellent. My only complaint with the Colt is the rear sight, which requires loosening a hex set screw to make windage adjustments. I replaced the rear sights on mine. I kept the front sights, but they are easy to change if you decide you want something different. I honestly don’t need the 617 now that I have the Colts, but I want one and I’ve been chasing a no-lock 617 for about 20 years so I’m going to get one. I think it might be months before you can find a 617 MG for MSRP or better.

I love the mountain gun series. I really want the 617, hopefully I can grab one eventually. Til then I guess my old K-22 will have to do.

I was just picking up a gun today and saw a Mountain Gun in person. The 686 version. It is a 7 shot L frame so 686+ I guess.

It was sweet. So sweet I added it to the 4473. I have an old pre lock 686+ full under lug gun. I should love it. My son loves it but I never really warmed up to it. I prefer my Model 66 and my GP100’s. This one though is possibly going to upend those rankings.

It has some general grittiness but nothing that some shooting might smooth out. I also am not used to the extra locking ball detention at the yoke which contributes some to that. The brass bead sight is nice. The no lock is fantastic. These Bear Hug (maybe not quite the name) grips are fantastic. Like add them to every round butt you own nice. I generally am not a smooth wood guy but they nailed the proportions on these.

The trigger is fine, the SA pull is extremely crisp. The gun feels svelte and the slightly longer barrel (4.125” I think) looks longer than that number. In person the gun is visually spectacular to my eye. The only thing I would change if I owned S&W is I prefer the old school cylinder release. I will allow it though because seeing a Smith with no hole in the side is totally worth it.

This gun single handedly convinced me I will buy the Mountain Gun 22.

Going shooting tomorrow.

Lucky!

How is the feel and balance compared to your 66?

My 66 wears the original stocks. The new grips are light years better. That being said the bigger 7 shot MG “feels” about the same size and weight as the smaller 66. I am describing it poorly. My old 686+ feels bulky compared to my 66. This gun feels equal or better even with it being bigger and having an extra round.

These guns are sweet. With a gun to my head I would prefer this one to my 66, which feels like blasphemy, yet true.

Does it have a two-piece barrel (shroud and insert) or is it the old style solid barrel?

I'll admit to liking the newer ball detent lockup. My 69 has it and it's smooth and tight. The two piece barrel hasn't been a problem, and it's extremely accurate, but I'll admit that it's a little ugly. I prefer the way they do it on the scandium guns where the crown sticks out the front and extends beyond the edges where it meets the sleeve. On the 69 the barrel is flush and the seam between the two is visible, and it just looks kinda tacky.



I wonder if they'll offer those grips standalone...

That was one of the first things I looked at. My 627 Pro has the liner barrel and sleeve setup. It has never been an issue but it seems “cheap”. This MG has a one piece old school barrel and lug. It is screwed in I assume and it is perfectly centered. Unlike my 640 Pro which is canted but I have learned to just not look at it too closely since it shoots fine.

These are being done very nicely. I haven’t followed online reviews so reports of poor QC are news to me. This sample of one seems fine from a QC sample.

Nice. A properly aligned one-piece barrel is the best solution of all, IMO. The more feedback I get on these, the more I want one.

Pedro. Which shop had the 686 mountain gun ? In Pensacola

While I used to live in pcola I got mine in Daytona Beach. Florida Gun Exchange. 1169. Which I only paused at momentarily because it was the first one I had ever seen in person and it was just about perfect.

I didn’t go shooting today, my wife gave me a list of chores instead. I have been dry firing it though and the DA stroke is pretty good, better than I originally thought.