Forty years with the model 66

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18DAI

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I just realized the other day that my relationship with the S&W Model 66 has spanned about 40 years. Give or take. Now when I say S&W Model 66 I am talking about the 66 no dash, through the 66-4. Not the later cheapened models or that abomination that currently bears the moniker. So, if you are a fan of modern production revolvers, now would be a good point to hit the back button. ;)

My first model 66 was a 4 inch 66-1. I carried it on duty, briefly, before replacing it with a 4 inch 66-2. I have always preferred the non recessed guns as they are easier to speed load, for me, than the ones with recessed charge holes.

A 2.5 inch snub 66-2 quickly followed. I had purchased it for off duty use and it later became my primary carry when working in Investigations. The 2.5 is a very handy revolver. It carries easier than the 4 inch and shoots like a rifle. I never failed to shoot 100 on the States qualification with that short barreled gun.

In fact, I have never owned a Model 66 that was not tack driving accurate. At one point I owned 13 examples ranging from a High polished 4 inch 66 no dash (ex Chicago PD Gun polished at the factory) to a 4 inch 66-5 (1st of the cheapened models that I used for IDPA to keep wear and tear off my nice revolvers). These days I own 5 examples. But only regularly shoot one. My old duty gun "Mrs Jones". Because we have a thing going on. ;)

Most of mine liked 130 to 135 grain 38+P the best. And all of them shot those loads into tiny groups. Speer Gold Dot 158 grain 357 was what I carried for serious purpose. And my 3 inch 66-4 still shoots that load most accurately.

I own and shoot many nice handguns. But there is still nothing as much fun as shooting a nice revolver. And a model 66 frequently accompanies me to the range. I no longer carry revolvers for serious purpose - other than a pre lock 442 in the center console - because the threat has changed. The State took away our revolvers for duty use in.......2003? So I have carried 3rd gen 45s since.

But a S&W model 66 will always be in my collection and range bag. And when I can no longer rack a slide or go shooting, that 66-2 snub will likely be the last gun I own and part with. Regards 18DAI
 
I have a 4" 66-2 that is , as you say, a tack driver. When I carry a wheelgun it's a round-butt 3" 64-3. I find that one carries easier and handles better when I'm in a hurry.

Pics are obligatory didn't you know that?

I don't have one of my 66... have to fix that.
 
18DAI, I have 2 of them, a 2.5" and 4. The 2.5" is pinned and the 4" is newer. Loved shooting the 2.5 but neither one has seen the range in years. That might need to change.
 
It's hard to beat a K frame revolver, especially a .357 K frame.
 
Very nice example Jeppo! :)

I think the things I like best about the 66s is the size, weight and handling. They just point naturally. Which makes shooting them accurately, quick and in a hurry, very easy.

If my speed loading skills had not deteriorated so badly, I would be VERY tempted to carry my 4 inch 66 everyday. Its just a "perfect handgun" on so many levels and chambered in my favorite caliber for repelling miscreants. ;) Regards 18DAI
 
I'm still waiting on mine to appear in my price range and budget. Vintage Smiths are skyrocketing in value......so I think Rugers are going to be the mainstay of my revolver collection.

That being said, I have a model 64 no dash with the pencil barrel is is a fine shooter, very accurate in the hands of my youngest son, and will probably end up being his in a half dozen years.
 
The 64 is no slouch in the fine revolver department. I have a 4 inch 64 NY1 DAO. It was an LE trade I picked up 10 years ago when J&G was blowing them out by the truck load.

My gunsmith Brian over at Greensboro Gunworks ordered a dozen of them to sell in his shop. He saved me a nice example. The trigger on it is smoother and lighter than the Triggers on my Performance Center revolvers.

And it is every bit as accurate. And durable too. I used it for 18 months when I was an instructor at the local indoor range to teach new shooters. It built their confidence quickly and taught them how to properly work a trigger.

If you ever have a chance to buy an LE trade in pre lock 64, do it! You will be glad you did! Regards 18DAI
 
I got to where I really do not shoot any high pressure 357s in the gun. Maybe some light reload 357 target rounds or 38 +P for self-defense.
 
I found the Speer Gold Dot 135 grain 38+P to be a very fine self defense round. I have spoken to officers who used with good results. One of them used it in a 642 J frame to neutralize two perps (one of them permanently) who tried to rob him when he was off duty.

While I believe, based on training and experience, the 357 to be a round that ends unfortunate incidents more efficiently and faster, there is nothing wrong with a good 38+P. And the 38+P reduces wear and tear on fine revolvers that we will not see the likes of again. At least not from the company calling itself s&w. ;)

But I would not hesitate to shoot 158 grain 357s through a K-frame magnum. I have shot literally tens of thousands of rounds of 357 through dozens of K-frame magnum revolvers. And I have yet to shoot one loose or break a forcing cone. I spoke with Butch Kent about that topic around 10 years ago. He was doing research for an article on Gunblast.

I told him that in my opinion, the bad rap about K-frame magnum use came about due to people not cleaning their revolvers properly (carbon and lead build up at the forcing cone increasing pressure) and shooters using hand loads that were either at the limits of SAAMI pressure.........or occasionally beyond.

Two other factors played into it to. S&W was crush fitting barrels around the time the reports began to show up. Poorly done a crush fit barrel causes problems. And with the advent of the internet echo chamber, problems are magnified out of purportion. My 0.02

I asked my aforementioned gunsmith how many broken forcing cones on K-frame magnums he had ever seen in his 30+ year career. His reply was "none". Me neither. Regards 18DAI
 
I'll tell you a story,

When probation went away from revolvers and to the M&P 40's the guns were shipped back to S&W the officers had the option of buying one. (not the one they carried but one picked at random) I sent my paperwork and a check for $175 and a couple of months later my model 65 was at the LGS.

Unbeknownst to me there was a Chief in Asheville with the same name as me who didn't send in the proper paperwork but stuck a note in the box saying that he would like to purchase that gun. Since the fine folks at S&W didn't know who he was but did know me I got a phone call explaining all of this. I told them that it wasn't me who did that she said OK...do you want it? My reply was "do you take credit cards?"
 
Lost my Dad in 2010 and both of these were his duty carries during his long career. The 1972 mod 66 he carried when he was in uniform and the 1964 Colt Detective Special when he was promoted to plain clothes. I still clearly remember the mod 66 in his spit polished-leather duty belt. As a young boy it always looked huge. He kept it spotless, shot very well with it and later on taught me how to shoot it as a young teenager. I remember he had Smith and Wesson lighten the trigger... itā€™s amazing and also had SW inlay the white front sight. The Colt Dad had the trigger and hammer polished, itā€™s a fine revolver in its own right.

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Patriot I am sorry for your loss. Those fine sixguns are a wonderful keepsake.

I lost my father in 2015. He gave his duty gun, a Colt Trooper, to my brother. I recieved his off duty/plainclothes Colt Cobra. As you, I recall him getting ready to go on duty and putting them in his holsters.

We miss them, but we still have the memories to comfort us. Regards 18DAI
 
18DAI said:
I found the Speer Gold Dot 135 grain 38+P to be a very fine self defense round.
Click to expand...

That's what I carry in my 3" revolvers and in the model 64 4" gun. In my 1.875" J-frames, I stepped down (and up) to Hornady Critical Duty 110gr +P with the excellent FTX bullet, after reading and seeing the results
here https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/

Those short barrels really rob the energy of those heavier loads, and although I am usually a fan of penetrating heavy lead......gel results don't lie.

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18DAI said:
Patriot I am sorry for your loss. Those fine sixguns are a wonderful keepsake.

I lost my father in 2015. He gave his duty gun, a Colt Trooper, to my brother. I recieved his off duty/plainclothes Colt Cobra. As you, I recall him getting ready to go on duty and putting them in his holsters.

We miss them, but we still have the memories to comfort us. Regards 18DAI
Click to expand...

Thank you 18DAI. And I am sorry for your loss as well.
Agreed, good, decent, honorable men of integrity are hard to loose especially Dads.
 
The deputy that took my prints during my CHP application process asked me what I was going to carry. I didn't know yet, so that's what I said. Being in Mecklenburg, I knew I had plenty of time to figure that out . He was amazed that I didn't say a Glock.

He then spent the remaining time waxing poetic about the S&W Model 66. The man loves that gun! If he was selling, I would have been buying. I hope to get a chance one day to shoot one.

I've so far been very happy when handling any S&W revolver from the M360J in my safe to the 686+ I've rented a few times just for the fun of it. I have no problem finding something to shoot when I open my safe. I rent a S&W revolver and way overpay for ammo every now and then just cuz. I really should buy one, but I swore no new guns this year and maybe even backwards. Trade two for one? That's a reduction, right?:D
 
The K frame Smith was one of the great guns to come out of S&W and will always remain one of the most popular. To say I have numerous examples would be an understatement. My oldest go back to 1970 when I went to GSP and was issued a 4" mod 19 as a duty weapon. I almost caressed the blue right off that sucker. I couldn't wait to get the 2.5" companion and probably paid more than I should but the need/want was too great to withstand.
Wimps carried mod 36's for back up but real men carried a 2.5" with 357's and even if you missed with the bullet the flame set them on fire and lit up the scene for responding units. Being fresh out of S&W Armorers School in 73 both of those had work done on them that I felt enhanced an already great piece. They would be the absolute last to go if I was pushed against a wall financially.
 
My dad carried a 19, and it was the first centerfire handgun I fired.
To me, the 19/66 has the perfect proportions and is the quintessential S&W revolver. It's just looks right.
 
Triple07 if you are ever up in the Greensboro NC area, PM me and we can go to the local range. Then you can shoot my 4 inch 66-2, 2.5 inch 66-2 and a 3 inch 66-4. :) Regards 18DAI
 
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