My 66-8 2.75" review

[M3Stuart]

Hi everybody.

I also received my new 66-8 (Yay!) recently. I did not want to hijack anybody else's thread, so I just started this one.

I've put about 75 rounds each of .38 and .357 through it so far.

Compared to a 3" 66-3 it is a few ounces heavier in the barrel end, so it's a little 'barrel heavy' in comparison. Likewise, obviously, to the 2.5" 66-4.

The bead blast finish has already acquired a few marks on it from handling and cleaning. I expected this, but was surprised it happened so quickly. On the plus side, when it gets all beat up years from now I can just get it re-bead blasted. That's on me - so be it.

I agree with the other posters that the ball detent lock up is like a bank vault. It is an improvement from the old 66's and 686's. There is no play whatsoever.

Accuracy is better than me. I can keep them in the 9 and 10 ring on a B27 at 25 yards in single action. Close in accuracy - it just tears out the center on a 3" bullseye target.

Shooting .357 with the stock grip is fine. I'd give it a slight edge over the comparable, older, 66's due to the slight increase in barrel (and overall) weight.

The black accents are... 'meh'.

I like the grip. I'll probably replace it with Hogue bantams, but I like how it forces me to extend my finger such that only the end tip reaches the trigger.

I'm a little irritated about:
The "full length guide rod" is not a real thing. It DOES NOT HAVE A FULL LENGTH GUIDE ROD. The .38 cases barely clear and the .357 brass is about a tenth of an inch short. The rod is long enough, it just doesn't go into the cylinder all the way when depressed.

NO WHITE OUTLINE on the rear sight. Grrrrrrrrr. Not happy about that at all.

I won't comment on the lock other than to say it doesn't bother me enough to remove it.

In summary: I like it a lot. I'd place it about even with the older 2.5" and 3" 66's with plusses and minuses for each - and that's saying a lot because those are my favorite shooters.

[Bob_C]

Congrats on the new revolver. I've had mine for six weeks or so, and have fired it about 650 rds., all 158 gr. loads. I like the feel and balance, and like you said, mine is more accurate than I am.

[Ashlander]

That was a well thought out review. I like how you compared it to the older 2.5" and 3" 66 models so we'd all have some objective base for comparison. Thanks for taking the time to do all that.

[Bill In Texas]

Thanks for the review and congratulations!

[Collo Rosso]

Originally Posted by M3Stuart

I'm a little irritated about:
The "full length guide rod" is not a real thing. It DOES NOT HAVE A FULL LENGTH GUIDE ROD. The .38 cases barely clear and the .357 brass is about a tenth of an inch short.

NO WHITE OUTLINE on the rear sight. Grrrrrrrrr. Not happy about that at all.

Curious about the guide (extractor) rod and dropped a 357 round in my 686 cylinder and the extractor rod did not let the case clear the cylinder. Tried it in my 627 N frame and the same. Even tried 44 mag in my 69 and 629. Comes up about 1/10" short. Looks to be normal.

My 69 also has no white outline rear sight. Doesn't really bother me as I'm adding a F.O. front sight. A couple of my 1911's have a front F.O. sight with black notch rear and it works well for me as long as I'm in sunlight.

[dwhite]

I'm really enjoying my 66-8 also. It handles everything from mild 38's to full-bore 357's like a dream.

Like you though, I was a little disappointed with the sights. In addition to the lack of a white outline, I also didn't care for the relatively small notch.

So I just today received my replacement front and rear sights. For the rear I got a .146" blade white outline S&W from Midway. That gives me the outline and a deeper notch.

Of course that also then requires a taller front sight. So I got 0.270 x .100 front FO sight from Dawson Precision.

I haven't installed them yet; but I can already tell I'm going to like these a lot better. I'll let my gunsmith install the front sight but the rear is a simple unscrew-and-replace job.

As for the other features of the gun, the trigger started out heavy but is very smooth. The cylinder locks up nice and tight. Accuracy seems very good. I can live with the black accents and the lock; but I'm not really a fan of either one.

A couple of minor dings: There are slight burrs on the front of the barrel rifling, although they don't seem to affect accuracy. There was a rough spot on the trigger that dragged enough on the frame to scrape away the black coating. I stoned that down and it seems fine now. And my ejector rod didn't come tightened from the factory and jammed up during dry fire. I torqued it back down and it seems so far to be holding.

But all-in-all; a really excellent firearm!!!

[vigil617]

Have you experienced any of the lead debris in your face that a couple of posters have mentioned with this?

[Macinaw]

Originally Posted by vigil617

Have you experienced any of the lead debris in your face that a couple of posters have mentioned with this?

I have 300 rounds through mine without any lead debris problems. Most rounds have been my Steel Challenge 38 special 125gn with 4 grains of Red Dot. Some .357 Federal loads 158gn.

[bigpappa160]

Congrats on the 66, I should've bought model 66 when I had a chance!

[M3Stuart]

One thing I forgot to mention; in comparison to the 'old' 2.5 and 3 inch 66's - it has been 'de-horned'. The front edges of the cylinder and ejector shroud have been rounded. Another plus.