Picked up a 3" S&W M66-2 this week

[oregon45]

It pays to find a local shop that you can stop by regularly. I was in my favorite local shop yesterday when an older gentleman came in to put some guns on consignment. He had a blue and white S&W cardboard box that immediately caught my attention; when I saw what it contained--a 3" Model 66--I decided to stick around and see what the asking price would be. The owners of the shop know me well, and know that old 'Smiths are my catnip, so they were happy not to have to work too hard to make a sale

The asking price was very reasonable (about 70% of what I've seen 3" 66's with the box and papers go for online), and the gun came home with me to join my 2 1/2" Model 66 no-dash.



Range day yesterday, along with my 3" M65-5:



Shot both revolvers with the same load, a mild .357 handload of a 158gr Nosler JHP over HS-6. Both guns are super smooth and track wonderfully from target to target. S&W got it right with the 3" round-butt K-frames.

[bigbrowndog]

I agree on the 3” guns being great,......I converted two heavy barrel k frames from 4” to 3” and square butt to round butt. A model 13 and a model 10, I really like them for home guns.

Trapr

[jfs]

Full length ejector.... extra 1/2" barrel..... what`s not to like..... a great piece for sure..... a nice buy....

[oregon45]

I've been impressed by how much of a difference, in practical terms, the full length ejector makes compared to my 2.5" M66. I shoot 38+P's almost exclusively in my Model 66's and the ability to shuck all 6 38spl cases with a single press of the ejector rod on the 3" guns makes for much faster reloads. I can get that from the short ejector on the 2.5" gun about 70% of the time, if the chambers are clean and the gun isn't warm. But after a few cylinders the short ejector rod just won't eject all 6 cases reliably.

[rjm52]

I have the same two guns with the same - numbers... They are going to the range tomorrow with the rest of my .357s...which doesn't happen too often as I only shoot .357s a couple times a year... Also going is a pre-27 6", 60-10 3", GP100 4", Colt Trooper 4" and the only .38 Special a 12-2 4" round butt...

Saw on another forum that you are planning to sell the 65..if the posters over on the S&W Forums are any indicator you will come to regret that in a couple of years...they don't grown on trees and is probably the best balanced defensive revolver Smith ever made.....

Bob

[oregon45]

The 65's on its way to a collector; for a .357 I've found that my favorite load--a 180gr cast bullet at 900fps--doesn't come close to regulating with the trough-sights of S&W 13's and 65's. They're great guns, but outside of very narrow niches (Airweight Centennials; Colt SAA's), I want adjustable sights on a revolver.

[JSutter]

Congratulations on that! A 3” K frame is sweet.

[ezekiel38]

You Sir! Are a blessed man! Enjoy, I have owned both and foolishly traded both at different times, highly regret losing them.

[Deleted]

Absolutely gorgeous Smith. Congrats on your new find.

[rjm52]

Mar 26, 2018 22:42:43 GMT -5 oregon45 said:

The 65's on its way to a collector; for a .357 I've found that my favorite load--a 180gr cast bullet at 900fps--doesn't come close to regulating with the trough-sights of S&W 13's and 65's. They're great guns, but outside of very narrow niches (Airweight Centennials; Colt SAA's), I want adjustable sights on a revolver.

...I am afraid you are correct... I have only shot mine a few times all the years I have owned it...or maybe I should say "stored" it... Took it out last week and at 20 yards it was shooting low left...now maybe mine should go down the road also....

Bob

[JSutter]

I had to stop in and look at that 3” M66 again. That would be a handy 357.

[kings6]

Now you need those Keith Brown grips a member had for sale and it would be finished!

[JSutter]

I had to look at the 66 & 65 again. They look good.

[matt56]

I love the looks of the 3" 66. The 2.5" doesn't do it for me. It would be a bad day for my wallet if I could ever actually put my hands on one.