And here they are. By way of introduction, that's a S&W 617 22 LR 10 shot with a 6" barrel on the left wearing vintage K frame wood grips I found at a gun show, plus an Ultradot 25 via a Weigand mount. On the right is an all stock, right out of the box, Uberti by way of Stoeger Cattleman 12 shot 22 LR with a 7 1/2" barrel.
Both fine 22 revolvers in their own right, but other than being 22 LRs and both being more than 6 shooters (10 for the Smith and 12 for the Uberti), they are obviously very different revolvers.
First the Smith 617.
This is not my first 617, so very familiar with the gun. I bought it mostly to have a 22 LR that will allow me to practice DA shooting and do it, economically. Bill has a 617 that he has been shooting for years with many thousands or rounds of 22 ammo and he's never had an issue. Not so with this 617 and another 617 I used to own.In fact, this current 617 is doubly jinxed. It actually came from Smith with a 22 mag barrel installed. No kidding, it really did. It said 22 mag right on the barrel. Okay, my shop returned it, immediately, and got it back with the correct 22 LR barrel installed before I came along and bought it after a thorough exam.
For those not familiar with 617s, the 617 is notorious for light strikes, right out of the box, some guns being so bad they can't make it through an entire cylinder of 10 shots without a significant number of failure to ignite rounds. This one and the one I used to have both had to be returned to Smith to be fixed. Got this one back and test fired it in the backyard and the gun seems fixed, now. (It better be, because 617s are very expensive, right at $900 these days.)
617s do have a rep for excellent accuracy, though, because the 617 does use a true 22 LR bore size of .222, not the compromise bore size of .224 used for 22 LR revolvers made to also shoot 22 mags. I'm really hoping this 617 is as reliable and accurate as Bill's, but we'll have to see as soon as I get some serious range time with it.
Next, the Uberti Cattleman
This one is obviously as different as can be from the Smith 617 in form and function, but it's also been as different as can be as far as QC and reliability, too, compared to that 617, above. The action is smoother, the trigger is lighter in single action and the fit and finish really is amazing. Truly a beautiful revolver, but, as always, I love single actions, so I am biased, here.
Best of all, totally reliable ignition right out of the box. No light strike issues. Interestingly, this particular Cattelman also has the same true 22 LR bore size of .222" as the Smith. I got this one mostly for the longer 7 1/2" barrel for the sake of range shooting, so this one could very well match the 617 for accuracy. Much cheaper than the 617, too, at just under $600. Great value, when I consider it the better made gun.
One more note on this Cattleman, something I did not learn till after I bought it. This one is a Stoeger imported Uberti and that does make a difference as to warranty, since Stoeger is part of the Benelli/Berreta group that owns Uberti and brings Uberti into the US under UbertiUSA.
So which one will win? Which one will I keep or not keep? Anyone care to predict? Your preference? Let me know. Stayed tuned for later reports after I get some decent shooting weather.
When I was a young Marine in NC, my neighbor was an old Marine, long retired. He was evil with his Model 27 Smith, but was Magic with the Ruger Single actions, he just liked them better. The man could barely walk, used a can. We had a stool stashed in the woods so he could sit. But boy could he shoot. 
