Let me just start of by saying that i am more of a rifle person and my knowledge on handguns is very limited. Anyway, my mom gave me a cheap rossi snub nose 357 mag a while back that i shot once. however, she recently wanted it back and offered me this 66-3 357 mag that was given to her.
Can anyone educate me on this gun?
I was considering bringing it along deer hunting nest season. How would i go about putting a a scope on it?
About how much is it worth?
Any help will be appreciated.

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Don't scope that up my friend. The model 66 is S&W's stainless steel
version of the Model 19 .357 combat magnum. They are a very sought
after gun that was made starting in 1970. The 66-3 was introduced in
1986. It is a K-frame which is Smiths midrange frame size. Chambers
either .38 special or .357 magnum.
I personally would'nt alter that one. You have the 4" barrel.
Hope this helps.


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

what exactly classifies it as a K frame?

K-frames are just a style/size frame that S&W uses. The
Bigger framed guns from Smith of that era we're N frames and L frames. The smaller framed guns we're J frames. Some people like the k-frames better because they claim they fit their hand better than a J frame and vise versa. Some other models that used the k-frame are: 10, 11, 12 ,13 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 53, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 617.
Search S&W and model number on wikipedia and you can find
out what frame size gun it is or next time you are in a gunshop ask to see a J-frame or an N, L frame and you'll
see the difference.


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

The 4" barreled model 66 is as close to perfect as you can get, my opinion. It is not too small to handle the 357 and not to large as to be "overbuilt". I bought my first one in 1979 (a 4" 66-1) and just bought my latest one (my fifth) this past weekend (a 4" 66 no dash). Don't worry about the various "dashes" as they are minor engineering changes. Your "dash 3" is as good as it gets. You could put a scope on it using a no-drill mount, but that would compromise its handling for other uses. I would leave it as is, and use it to finish off wounded game if need be. Additionally, if the target grips don't fit your hand, you have unlimited options in aftermarket grips, from fancy wood to recoil absorbing rubber. Keep those original grips, they sell for $100 and up, depending on condition and beauty of the wood.
Enjoy that wonderful revolver,
Tim

I am not wanting to sell it but I am just curious to know about what its worth.

You are ripping your mom off and you dont even know it!

Rossi are ***.

Depending on condition I would say $400 to $550...maybe more in some markets. Great gun and they don't make them any more! Stick with the 158gr .357 loads and avoid the light stuff like the 125gr. It shoots real sweet with 38+P's. I would take it over the Rossi all day long!

It's not worth much at all, sell it to me for $300. LOL, jus kiddin'..

joe

This is my only handgun but i have several rifles and i knew when she showed it to me that it was worth a good bit more than the rossi. Would it be considered blasphemy to put a scope on this one?

It's a beautiful gun that's out of production. And one of the best things about K frames is that they are comfortable to pack around, as well as comfortable to shoot. So I personally wouldn't scope it.

If you're looking for a handgun to put a scope on, I think you'd be better served by a larger N frame gun with a longer barrel (either in .44 or .357).

Again, Don't scope that one. As stated above invest in a 6"
barreled .357 or .44 mag to deer hunt with. Maybe a ruger
or even a taurus. You made out like a bandit when you got
the Smith for the Rossi. Your Smith is a Solid 500 dollar gun
maybe more. If you get something else with a 6" bbl to hunt
with you'll be much happier. More velocity and longer sight
radius with a longer barrel. Even an beater model 28 smith
or 19 would be a good hunting handgun.



chuck

__________________
They hold no Quarter

YES it would be..

Listen to the WISE oldbear. He knows......



chuck

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They hold no Quarter

$500 and up in Ohio.

Don't scope it. If you can keep your shots close that 4" barrel will do the job with a heavy .357 bullet. I like keeping my shots at 50 yards and closer, especially with my eyes going slightly south. One day will have to slap a red dot on my 57, but not now. Great revolver you have that should bring you $500.00.

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V/R
Roger / SG

How about a model 66 with a 2.5 inch barrel? Has anyone seen one?

Please be careful of the hot 125gr. Loads as the forcing come on k-frames have a "flat" spot on the bottom. I would stick with 158gr loads. I have a 66-4 and I still have yet to run into problems with the heavier bullets


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sure, most of us own one (or more!)

This is a great forum I think the questions were answered honestly and with tons of wisdom. Others forums may have ripped on the OP and sarcastic (for no good reason I add)
Good honest info here
Hank

Our cat Zachary likes a 4" 66-3.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Well I'm going to dissent here and say that if you want to scope that gun (or use a nice open red-dot sight such as the Burris Fastfire III) by all means go for it!

Newer S&W revolvers (that have adjustable sights) come drilled and tapped in the top strap and you can buy a weaver-style base inexpensively from multiple sources. You simply remove the rear sight by removing the front most screw (use a hollow ground screwdriver to keep from buggering the screw slot), store the sight and screw in a safe place (along with those beautiful wooden grips) and if/when the day comes that you want to put the rear sight back, nobody will ever know you had a scope on the gun.

I would NOT hesitate to have a competent gunsmith drill and tap the topstrap of that revolver of yours to match the hole pattern of current production S&W's. You can't take it with you......enjoy it the way YOU want it.

Lou

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NRA Certified Instructor & RSO

First let me say, "listen to your Mother... she obviously loves you and wants the best for you." Giving you a Model 66 to replace a Rossi when you are old enough to appreciate it is like when she replaced your tricycle with your first "real" bike! I wish my own Mother had taken that much interest in firearms.

As for alterations, that depends totally on what you will actually be using it for. If you are taking it deer hunting, will it be your primary or a back up for your rifle? If the latter, leaving the open sights will be a plus for ease of holstering as well as quick (close) target acquisition for back-up type shots. On the other hand, if it will be your primary gun, you might look into the Weaver "no-gunsmithing" mounts or something similar, or as Lou NC said, you could take off the rear sight and have the top strap drilled and tapped to the same specs as S&W currently uses so that standard mounts could be used. I would limit myself to a no-magnification Red Dot scope or at most a 2 or 2.5 power scope on this... high power scopes and handguns don't generally play well together.

JMHO and my compliments to your Mother, she's obviously a special lady.

Froggie

If you are located in Florida I have a Model 66-2 with a 6" barrel I will swap with you. 6" barrel, IMHO, makes a much better scoped gun than a 4" would.

Bob

I kind of agree with Lou_NC.
You can't take it with you, it's not an outrageously expensive collector( yet ), BUT, as mentioned, a 6" would work better.
I personally wouldn't do it, but that's me and my guns.
If you decide to do it, have it drilled and tapped by a pro and done right.
You could keep it as is as your starting point for your collection ( because you probably will have a collection) and get another in 6" that's already tapped, then get a 2 1/2" model next.
You said yourself that you have a collection of rifles. What was your intention when you bought the first one of those??
Enjoy them!

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“Look life in its iron face”

I'll go with the guys who advise you not to scope it. You haven't been interested in Smith & Wesson revolvers very long so you don't yet understand the differences between yours and what is being made today. When you do, you'll be glad you 1)left it unaltered and 2)didn't sell it.

If you want to scope a handgun, do it to a new one as other ones like it are readily available but yours falls solidly into the old category, "they don't make 'em like that any more."

Ed

Not a Model 66-3, but here is a photo of my Model 66-2 with 2.5 inch barrel. This was my first S&W handgun, and an absolute joy to shoot. I agree with the others about not scoping your Model 66. I tried to scope (actually, a red dot) a 4.0 inch barreled Model 625 - which is an N-frame, rather than a K-frame like the Model 66. They do make a scope mount that does not require drilling: Revolvers

Frankly, the balance and weight were to much for me to even try shooting the piece. Enclosed, please see the photo of my scoped Model 686-3 with 6.0 inch long barrel. The Model 686 is an L-frame revolver (think beefed up K-frame), and I think the 6.0 inch barrel balances out the weight of the scope and mount very nicely (that's a 2.0x Leupold scope).

Regards,

Dave

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	Model 66-2 #1.jpg (74.8 KB, 290 views)
	686-3 #1.jpg (82.9 KB, 258 views)

Yep, what everybody said! The model 66 was so popular that as of last year, S&W re-introduced it to the public after being "out of print" for, what, Guys, 20 years or more?
Of course, the new 66 is not the same gun as the old one's. Re-designed frame, ALL mim parts(The future, I'm afraid. (Sighs), and now w/ a 4.25" crush barrel. I am sure it works just fine and shoots well, but comparable w/ the old "dash" 66's? Not at all, IMHO.
Take care of that 66-3, you have what Bill Jordan used to call the "ultimate Law Officers duty gun". Also, like another member said, a steady diet of hot 125 grn .357 loads can cause damage to the frame and forcing cone of the barrel. A few won't kill it, but 50 rds a week for 6 months to a year of really "hot" .357 125 grn loads and it will give up. And S&W cannot repair it, either. Too long "out of print", and is considered obsolete by S&W. You will probably not shoot enough rnds thru it in your lifetime to have any worries about it. You have a real Treasure, believe me.
Did I mention I now officially hate you!.....lol! In jest, of course.
Lucky Guy, you!

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LEO, Instr, Armorer, Gov's 20

I have one. It is why I landed in this thread. I was searching for info on it.
A buddy of mine sold it to me about 15 years ago for $150.00 with the Case, holster and on speed loader.
I was looking to get an Alien Gear holster for it but now I am afraid it will put wear marks on the revolver. I might just pack it away for a while. I have other pistols to pack..

Yep, I own one with factory tritium night sights & Hogue Monogrip rubber finger grove grip. But that grip is going in the drawer as soon as m Altamont super rosewood grips get here.

Want to triple your Money?

I have new unfired, display box, orig box, fop issue, bfj4003,what to do not in love?