Several threads and posts, mention the venerable mod. 19 in high esteem; accurate as any Colt etc. Who, if any , can extoll virtues of the "ole mod. 66 [from the 70's] Chuck Connors of the "Rifleman " was said to often carry one as a car gun . Anybody with annoying issues of galling oxidizing corrosion?

If you mean galling on internal parts on older stainless S&W's, I've heard of it. They cured it by replacing the stainless hammer and trigger with carbon parts, flash-chromed.
As far as I know, Ruger's stainless parts never gallled or otherwise caused trouble. Different alloys and heat treatment.

My own M-66-3 was bought new in 1990 and has been carried most days since until I left security work last month. It has never caused a bit of trouble and is very accurate. It is probably my favorite handgun of all time.

However, I had a M-64 made in the '70's, and it never had problems, either.

Keep in mind that early M-66's jammed when the gas ring expanded from heat. .38 ammo wouldn't cause that, just a number of .357's. Massad Ayoob blew the whistle on this in gun magazines, and S&W moved the gas ring and solved the issue. I think that either -1 or -2 guns incorporate the change.

I like the M-66 very much as an all-round handgun. But I don't fire vast amounts of .357 ammo in it, and avoid the scorching hot 125 grain and lighter bullets, which cause added wear and may crack forcing cones. I prefer the Ruger GP-100 or S&W M-686 for frequent use with full Magnum ammo.

Excellent info from Texas Star!

A very early 66 no-dash pictured below has the smoothest trigger of any S&W handgun taken out of the box I have owned, and I own a bunch....

Texas Star covered many of the issues of the early 66s well. The concept of an all-stainless revolver didn't work out well as the sight picture wasn't good on the early guns. There were more complaints then about the sights than there are today about the IL and the MIMs....

Great guns and a significant part of S&W history.....

__________________
Terry

I haven't noticed any galling on my Model 66 no-dash. Here is a quick pic of the gun and it's original box.

Didn't realize some other threads on the 66 go back several years. This new info is much appreciated. You Pistolero's```` know some good facts and trivia. I'll be back ```````````` after some hog hunting.