I've a feeling they had to make a choice between the 717 or the 747. The Lothar barrel is the only real difference, Any way you look at it, the 717 and the 747 are both decent shooting start up competition pistols. Less expensive won out. I get that. If I'm a Dad of a kid who wants to dip their toe into competition shooting, less expensive is the way I'd go to start out. I've been down that road with musical instruments.