Anyone have one of these that can comment on how they like the gun? I’m thinking about picking up a clean used one. Feels real comfortable and natural in hand.
Don't have a new one. Son has an older one, we both like the K frame. Feels good, points well, just as you said. Makes me happy just looking at it, I like the idea of 38/44 level loads in this gun most of the time, and all of the time indoors.
I have 66-2 from my brief stint in law enforcement. Picked it up in 1985 and have used it since. I keep it by the back door in a paddle holster which I grab whenever I head outside.
I have a 586, as I prefer the blue & walnut look. Same basic revolver....you'll like it!
The 586 is an "L" frame that is significantly beefier than the model 66 "K" frame.
Unlike the 66, your gun was designed to be fed a steady diet of .357.
They do however have the same K frame size grip.
"The difference between adventure and disaster is preparation" "Dangerous Game Hunting........because golf, football and baseball only require one ball"
Anyone have one of these that can comment on how they like the gun? I’m thinking about picking up a clean used one. Feels real comfortable and natural in hand.
Makes a difference when it was made. You want a pre-lock at the very least, and ideally a pre-1982.
I had a real early 4" M66 and granted, it was nice to look at just not to shoot. Very loud and at 4" long the barrel should have been 6" or longer as a hunting gun. Then a M629 6" Classic replaced it and that was better. The Wisconsin State Patrol carried 66's for a time, but scrapped them for semi autos because they were shooting lose with magnum .357 loads.
My other auto is a .45
The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory
I can’t comment on the new M66’s But I have had this M66 since new, 73 or early 74. I like it a lot obviously since I still have it. 😁 I do shoot +P .38spl handloads in .357 cases in it mostly now. It has had a lot of various ammo shot out of it. Carried it when I was in the sheriffs posse back in the 80’s. It’s been on hunting trips etc. Not a problem with it at all. The SS is a lot easier to keep up than a blued M19. Just a great revolver.
Futura: I got on the Smith & Wesson Model 66 bandwagon early (1972'ish) and absolutely love them. Currently I am down to just 5 (five) Model 66's - I own them in 2", 4" and 6" barrel versions. I carried a Model 66 for many years professionally in fact. My enthusiasm for the Model 66's was curbed slightly when Smith & Wesson came out later with the full lug barrel Model 686's and I own several of these now in 2 1/2", 4", 6" and 8 3/8" barrel lengths. Go to a gun range that "rents" both the Smith & Wesson Model 66's and the 686's and compare them for yourself. I slightly prefer the "feel" and "stability" of the heavier Model 686's over the 66's. Best of luck to you with whichever you choose. Hold into the wind VarmintGuy P.S.: I personally avoid the current production S&W revolvers with the "hillary hole" in the left side of the frame - that is why your linked to revolver is pictured/shown ONLY from its "right side" - I strongly suspect there is a hillary hole on its other side and those are in much disfavor among most S&W collectors and many S&W users (me!).
Had a bunch of GSP trade ins at the LGS some years back. I think I paid $250. Had to go through a lot of samples to find a good one with no cylinder or yoke end shake.
All of them had some flame cutting but that's normal for a 66 LEO trade in.
I have a couple of model 19s. They are the old, blue version of the 66. I can’t say anything bad about them except that an N frame is a bit more comfortable to shoot full house 357 loads in. 38 Specials are great in either.
I have a 3” 66-3 and a 6” 66-1. Both are great guns. I don’t shoot a lot of full house 357 in them. Mostly I load to hot 38 special in 357 cases. I have no problem shooting full power magnums in them when they are required.
Dad carried a 4” 66 for 25 years as a police officer. He shot 38+p out of it until the last couple years of his career when his department started mandating magnum loads. He was a cop 85-2009. Still has the gun.
I can’t comment on the new M66’s But I have had this M66 since new, 73 or early 74. I like it a lot obviously since I still have it. 😁 I do shoot +P .38spl handloads in .357 cases in it mostly now. It has had a lot of various ammo shot out of it. Carried it when I was in the sheriffs posse back in the 80’s. It’s been on hunting trips etc. Not a problem with it at all. The SS is a lot easier to keep up than a blued M19. Just a great revolver.
A few years ago
..
Very nice and one of the first ones because of the all-stainless rear and front sight. What's your recipe for your +P 38spl loads if you would like to share?
And to the thread starter: I had the M66 black brother. Very comfortable to carry and to shoot even with 357 Magnum loads. Not the heavy type like Philip B. Sharpe did decades ago while inventing the 357 Magnum.
But you should avoid shooting 357 Magnum loads with the lighter bullets than 158 grains because you may cause some damage to the forcing cone.
I would avoid a new one with the Hillary Hole (lock) the gun you pictured will have the lock. I have several M19's and 66's and they are great guns. I mostly shoot 38's out of them but the 357 isn't that bad. I carried a 6 inch M66 while hunting for years but to old to chase a pack of dogs chasseing a bear. It's listed in the classifieds.
When the forcing cone wears, you just have a new barrel put on.
Seen a few 19/66 that had wear or split.
Consider it the cost of having fun. You shoot that much youve sent a good chunk of money down range Barrel replacement should then be an acceptable cost IMHO.
4" .357 magnums are annoying in blast.
6" considerably more polite IMHO.
Think a 66 looks best as a 4" though, and a 686 looks best as a 6".
If one likes to run 38 spcl.....get a K frame If mags your normal fodder, get the L frame.
The newer models supposedly stronger frame but they got some changes that hurt resale ( lock and other ).
When the forcing cone wears, you just have a new barrel put on.
Seen a few 19/66 that had wear or split.
Consider it the cost of having fun. You shoot that much youve sent a good chunk of money down range Barrel replacement should then be an acceptable cost IMHO.
4" .357 magnums are annoying in blast.
6" considerably more polite IMHO.
Think a 66 looks best as a 4" though, and a 686 looks best as a 6".
If one likes to run 38 spcl.....get a K frame If mags your normal fodder, get the L frame.
The newer models supposedly stronger frame but they got some changes that hurt resale ( lock and other ).
The old stuff fetches silly prices
The key advantage to the L-Frame is the thicker, more heavy duty, forcing cone. They likely didn't need to make any other part of the gun more heavy duty to accomplish what needed done.
I'm not sure the forcing cone thing is an issue anymore with the newer guns.
Newer, better, steel?
A redesigned barrel socket that allows a thicker walled barrel extension. I don't know the dimensions compared to the L frame, but if was a betting man I'd think if Smith would go to the trouble of a redesign, I'd bet the L dimension would be something to shoot for.
I have never had an issue with either the M19 or M66 using 357 ammo BUT if I wanted to use full power loads on a regular basis I'd go to an N frame pre lock. No MIM parts and IMHO much better quality..
I'm not sure the forcing cone thing is an issue anymore with the newer guns.
Newer, better, steel?
A redesigned barrel socket that allows a thicker walled barrel extension. I don't know the dimensions compared to the L frame, but if was a betting man I'd think if Smith would go to the trouble of a redesign, I'd bet the L dimension would be something to shoot for.
It's not the barrel socket
If you look at an old K frame, you’ll see the bottom of the barrel is shaved off at the forcing cone. Whereas the new ones do not have the barrel shaved off at the bottom. The barrel shank is full thickness on the new ones, and shaved on the older ones. That flat exists to make room for the gas seal on the crane/cylinder. Really, the real work was done on the crane & gas seal to allow for more room for more barrel thickness at the forcing cone.
My very first handgun was a brand new S&W M19-6. The forcing cone gave up the ghost with a 158 grain JHP factory load (I wanna say it was a Remington), about 6 months into my ownership. S&W promptly fixed it and returned it to me post-paid.
While gunsmithing at a S&W warranty depot, I saw split forcing cones fairly frequently. But keep in mind, these were almost always LE guns. I would also add that it is my opinion that the issue was not due to light bullets, as I have seen many that were split with heavier bullets; as was mine. It should also be noted that the issue did crop up on rare occasion with K frame .38 Specials; again, almost always LE guns.
The new M66’s are MUCH tougher revolvers and S&W no longer recommends limiting the use of magnum loads.
My very first handgun was a brand new S&W M19-6. The forcing cone gave up the ghost with a 158 grain JHP factory load (I wanna say it was a Remington), about 6 months into my ownership. S&W promptly fixed it and returned it to me post-paid.
While gunsmithing at a S&W warranty depot, I saw split forcing cones fairly frequently. But keep in mind, these were almost always LE guns. I would also add that it is my opinion that the issue was not due to light bullets, as I have seen many that were split with heavier bullets; as was mine. It should also be noted that the issue did crop up on rare occasion with K frame .38 Specials; again, almost always LE guns.
The new M66’s are MUCH tougher revolvers and S&W no longer recommends limiting the use of magnum loads.
My brother has a 66 3" that is a S&W Performance Center gun: somewhat contoured frame; ported; beautifully tuned double action and of course, a great single action trigger pull; fancy stocks. I'm not sure what other enhancements, maybe flash chromed hammer and trigger. My other brother and I went halves on it as a present when he graduated law school. He hardly uses it. For some reason he prefers my SP 101 21/4". I guess I may as well say his SP 101 because I'll never get it back.
I have 7 S&W .357 MAG revolvers; 19 (4"), 27 (3.5"), 27 (5"), 66 (4"), 66 (5"), 520 (4"), and 620 (4"). I like the 4" 66, but the 4" 620 fits my hand better and I shoot it better than any of the others. I didn't think that I'd like the 7-shot 520 and 620, but the action seems smoother when shooting double action.
I got the 19 in 1970 and shot it a lot, but mostly with mild 38 Specials, as they were about 1/3 the price of .357 MAG factory loads. Ahlman's in Morristown, MN, trimmed the barrel on the 5" 66 from its original 6" and they tuned and reamed the forcing cones on 6 of the 7 revolvers, only the 3.5" 27 is still 100% original.
I'm not sure the forcing cone thing is an issue anymore with the newer guns.
Newer, better, steel?
A redesigned barrel socket that allows a thicker walled barrel extension. I don't know the dimensions compared to the L frame, but if was a betting man I'd think if Smith would go to the trouble of a redesign, I'd bet the L dimension would be something to shoot for.
It's not the barrel socket
If you look at an old K frame, you’ll see the bottom of the barrel is shaved off at the forcing cone. Whereas the new ones do not have the barrel shaved off at the bottom. The barrel shank is full thickness on the new ones, and shaved on the older ones. That flat exists to make room for the gas seal on the crane/cylinder. Really, the real work was done on the crane & gas seal to allow for more room for more barrel thickness at the forcing cone.
You are correct. I knew I should have added more info or clarified but a lazy typer I are. Thank you for the clarification.
My 66 is my second fav revolver only to my 19. Both are 3" modified from "Other" length barrels that were original. The 19 only passes the 66 because it was done at the factory and has the target hammer and trigger. But both are a pleasure to shoot and look great to my eye. Others have different opinions. Enjoy yours if you go that way. K frame fan for .357 dia bullets. (But I wont turn down a N frame if thats whats close by.)
I used to only shoot shotguns and rimfires, then I made the mistake of getting a subscription to handloader.......
I have 2 66-4 2.5 excellent shooters also have a 686 4 inch also excellent shooter. I prefer the older smiths not a fan of the lock. But the new ones still shoot good from my experience