"If optics are "permitted" they are de facto mandated."
Optics are generally faster for most. It will effectively obsolete non optics just as the 8 shot obsoleted the 6 shot revolver.
"I want to check this one out (the 22LR version)"
I have the three inch 9mm version. Currently playing chicken with the adjustable trigger
Good, solid gun
Simply the best. He (and Phil Rosato) adopted me in 2001, and, eventually, many Washington state shooters who came to the IRC.
He was the most fun to shoot with.
I hope there will be room on his squad
Try the Pachmayr Gripper grips. I have average hands with a deep palm and these mitigate recoil for me though many find them aesthetically not pleasing. I have never liked the Hogue mono grips for the reason you state. That said, Hogue as a company is excellent to work with
Beautiful piece. I have often said that if I were to ever totally master the double action revolver pull it will be because of my 617. If I wear mine out before I do (or die) it would be replaced with one like this
My story and I am sticking to it is that I once got a beautiful trigger job from Randy Lee. 5 and one half pounds/Federal primers carefully loaded. The problem for me was the weak return. I was informed that that is the price of a super light trigger. That the faster shooters released the trigger rather than riding the return. I could never get the hang of that so the trigger job was lost on me. My problem.
The balance between a light pull and the return is a matter for experiment and will be slightly different for every gun.
Have fun