S&W 66 - What do I have here?

[Skillet]

Got this 66 as part of a bigger trade today. Not up on my S&W details, what did I end up with?  Seems like a very nice woods carry, I baked it into the deal at a $400 value, I'm happy.  Any info about the gun appreciated-

 

[71Shovelhead]

The model 66 is the stainless version of the model 19. Great revolvers, long history. 400.00 is a very good price these days.

Terry

if you need/want more detail let me know and I can provide you with lots of information

[300rum]

Looks like a pre-lock Model 66, excellent revolvers.  It's what police officers wore back when they learned to shoot from their dads before they were old enough to go to work.  Find some new grips, golden sabers for around town, buffalo bore in the woods and you'll do just fine. 

[trophyhunt]

Isn't that the model before the 686?  I have a 66 as well, love the 686.  357? 

[Skillet]

Yep, .357.   

Thanks for the replies fellas, sounds like I got a nice unit here. Need to get it cleaned up and out for a range session soon.

[Ridgeratt]

Nice cylinder gun.

[Caseknife]

Get a set of Hogue grips, you will like them a lot better than the Pachmayr grips.

Did you ever work on loads for your 338 Federal?

[30.06]

Scored a win there. Goldilocks of woods walk guns from the golden age of stainless Smiths. No Dash Model 66 or what the kids today would call a first Gen.

Should clean up Great! K frames can be damaged by a steady diet of heavy loads. Gas cutting on the bottom of the topstrap at front edge of cyl is an easy check.
Should be no cylinder wiggle when its cocked.  66 - no dash - introduced 1970. 66-1 - 1977, changed the gas ring from the yoke to the cylinder. Probably a square butt frame.
Some had a rounded rear butt frame. The grips are specific to the butt frame style but not the dash number. Serial number is stamped on the bottom of the grip frame. Mag tech ammo for the range.

[pd]

Scored a win there. Goldilocks of woods walk guns from the golden age of stainless Smiths. No Dash Model 66 or what the kids today would call a first Gen.

Should clean up Great! K frames can be damaged by a steady diet of heavy loads. Gas cutting on the bottom of the topstrap at front edge of cyl is an easy check.
Should be no cylinder wiggle when its cocked.  66 - no dash - introduced 1970. 66-1 - 1977, changed the gas ring from the yoke to the cylinder. Probably a square butt frame.
Some had a rounded rear butt frame. The grips are specific to the butt frame style but not the dash number. Serial number is stamped on the bottom of the grip frame. Mag tech ammo for the range.

This forum always amazes me with the wealth of knowledge hiding here.

[Skillet]

Get a set of Hogue grips, you will like them a lot better than the Pachmayr grips.

Did you ever work on loads for your 338 Federal?

I did - and the 160 ttsx suggestion was spot on, thank you for that.  Worked with Varget until I hit pressure. Pretty accurate at 1.1" avg 3-shot group. I haven't chronoed it yet, but thinking I'm 2900-ish based on trajectory.  Will check soon now that I have a LabRadar (producer credit to BLRman on that).  Have some 210 partitions and 200 HotCor's in transit to try out too.

Looking at wood grips for the 66, I'd really like a good rosewood-look for this unit.

[Skillet]

Scored a win there. Goldilocks of woods walk guns from the golden age of stainless Smiths. No Dash Model 66 or what the kids today would call a first Gen.

Should clean up Great! K frames can be damaged by a steady diet of heavy loads. Gas cutting on the bottom of the topstrap at front edge of cyl is an easy check.
Should be no cylinder wiggle when its cocked.  66 - no dash - introduced 1970. 66-1 - 1977, changed the gas ring from the yoke to the cylinder. Probably a square butt frame.
Some had a rounded rear butt frame. The grips are specific to the butt frame style but not the dash number. Serial number is stamped on the bottom of the grip frame. Mag tech ammo for the range.

There is a very little bit of gas cutting in the top strap, and the cyl has a tiny wobble when cocked. And as Ridgeratt pointed out in a pm, there is a slight case-head imprint on the frame. This one has definitely been shot, and probably a lot - but I think it will do well for my intended uses. 

I've put 18ea  38's and 24ea 357 158's through it now, and it is far and away my favorite handgun now.  Light, fantastic trigger in both single and double action, reasonably accurate at 25 yds with the 158's.  Single action off hand got me 3-4" 3 shot groups. 38 spcl was a bit wider.  Even with the 357 158's, target re-acquisition was quick and I believe I could cylinder dump on a rapidly approaching target with some practice.

Very happy with my $400 investment. Of course, now I'm looking at Henry Big Boy SS in 357 to match... So it might be the most expensive cheap gun I own.

[Skillet]

This forum always amazes me with the wealth of knowledge hiding here.

You're not kidding.  The PM's I've gotten with incredible info as well (@71Shovelhead and @Ridgeratt) confirm it. There's a reason why this is the first place I come to for this kind of info 

[Dan-o]

This forum always amazes me with the wealth of knowledge hiding here.

You're not kidding.  The PM's I've gotten with incredible info as well (@71Shovelhead and @Ridgeratt) confirm it. There's a reason why this is the first place I come to for this kind of info 

I hate to rain on your parade, but you've been misled.

First off, that revolver is left handed.
Second, the rifling does not extend beyond the barrel.
Third, the bluing is completely worn down to the chrome.
Forth, that particular model won't accept extended magazines.

I'll give you $75, just because we're friends and I hate to see you taken advantage of.

[Woodchuck]

This forum always amazes me with the wealth of knowledge hiding here.

You're not kidding.  The PM's I've gotten with incredible info as well (@71Shovelhead and @Ridgeratt) confirm it. There's a reason why this is the first place I come to for this kind of info 

I hate to rain on your parade, but you've been misled.

First off, that revolver is left handed.
Second, the rifling does not extend beyond the barrel.
Third, the bluing is completely worn down to the chrome.
Forth, that particular model won't accept extended magazines.

I'll give you $75, just because we're friends and I hate to see you taken advantage of.

Fourth*

[Dan-o]

This forum always amazes me with the wealth of knowledge hiding here.

You're not kidding.  The PM's I've gotten with incredible info as well (@71Shovelhead and @Ridgeratt) confirm it. There's a reason why this is the first place I come to for this kind of info 

I hate to rain on your parade, but you've been misled.

First off, that revolver is left handed.
Second, the rifling does not extend beyond the barrel.
Third, the bluing is completely worn down to the chrome.
Forth, that particular model won't accept extended magazines.

I'll give you $75, just because we're friends and I hate to see you taken advantage of.

Fourth*

You're starting to remind me of somebody else we know.