Gentlemen, you can have ALL the others, because I now have the where-all, be-all, grail gun I've been looking for!

The 'BEE' prefix puts its mfg date in Aug/Sept 1989. 32oz, perfect balance, smooth semi-target trigger, semi-target hammer, red insert PINNED front sight, pre-lock, pre-mim all the way!

It came with refinished magnas - I didn't care because I promptly put these Hogue Bantams on it. No box or papers, some carry wear on the front of the barrel and a few small handling marks that don't show up in the pictures.

I have the 2.5" 66-4 and wouldn't have thought the extra half-inch of barrel would make much difference. But it does and the full length extractor is a great feature.

I picked it up at the LGS in December for $695 +tax. I was initially kind of bummed because it had a timing issue - but the LGS kindly sent it back to S&W, at their expense, S&W replaced the cylinder stop and turned it around in less than 30 days! Now it shoots flawlessly. Much more accurate than I am at 25 yards.

I just can't gush enough about how much I like this 3" 66!

Well, like I said; you all can have all the rest of the S&W's because this one does it for me! I may never buy another one...ok, I'm kidding, but this is the real deal.

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But then, what do I know?

Congrats!

It doesn't get any better than that! Everything you need in a revolver and nothing you don't. Enjoy yours! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Kudos on a rare gun and for posting the price paid, which was a good deal for what you got.

Nice find and at a great price too. There’s one that’s been at my LGS for a long time. It’s priced at over a grand though ...

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Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

Thanks! I've become very particular in my S&W's.

I much prefer the K's in the 2" to 4" with the 4 inchers being tapered barrels. Here's a couple older pics.

Note the Aussie 3" 10. There's also a 15-2, 67-1, tapered barrel 10-5 and 2.5" 66-4 in there somewhere. Those are my favorites! Not that the 686-4, 60-9 etc are anything to sneeze at...
Oh, upper right is a 34-1.

You may note that I shoot all these regularly - so I keep the goodyears on them for shooting to keep the 'wood' in as best shape as I can.

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But then, what do I know?

Oh yea - I know the feeling! I'd been looking forever and kept seeing high prices that, while I was thinking it over, the gun would disappear. I lucked out on this one - he said it had been put out that morning and I got there, on a weekday, before lunch for some reason. It wouldn't have lasted through midday at that price.

I think this one was priced lower because the front of the barrel has a small amount of holster wear and it has some handling marks - again nothing you can notice in the pics - but the guys who run this LGS are brutally honest in their assessment of used guns. If it has any marks or wear they adjust the book/resale downward. You won't get any "LNIB" nonsense from those guys.

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But then, what do I know?

Excellent find!!!!! Your 3" 66 is a grail gun for many. Enjoy.

Nice find, M3Stuart!

One of the best ever made, for sure.

Just out of curiosity, is your list of grail guns increasing or decreasing over time?

congrats.

Now that is funny

Why can't I find a deal like that....lol

Great deal on a great revolver. The 3" 66 is hard to beat. Congratulations

I agree! Now that S&W is producing the "new" 66 ; do you think they will ever offer it in a 3 inch barrel? I sure hope they do!

That one's got it all.

Congrats on the grail find..two really, the gun and a shop you can deal with.

A beautiful piece! I am very jealous. My hat's off to you, great find.

"Well, like I said; you all can have all the rest of the S&W's because this one does it for me! I may never buy another one...ok, I'm kidding, but this is the real deal"

Sounds like true love to me... Great gun at a great price! Happy shooting!

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Proud anachronism

That is one sweet Combat Magnum package, right there...

One of the finest all-around conceal carry magnum revolvers with target sights out there. The three inch barrel length allows for excellent accuracy as well as complete extraction of the empty cartridge cases.

Congrats!

But you better believe that down the road another special gun is going to come along that seduces you just like this one did.

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FBINA, 204th Session

The 3 inch K frames in .357 are outstanding in all respects. I hope yours shoots well and that you get lots of use out of it.

Always like to the opportunity to show off my two guns. Both are fully dressed with .500 Target Hammers and .500 Target Triggers with W/O Rear, Red Ramp front sights fitted with two different types of Keith Brown Grips.

Super! I love mine:

Nice grab! I got a similar deal on my 66-4 last Fall. Unlike you, I wasn't looking to purchase a 3" gun; I just kinda fell into it. It was the advice of the forum members that led me to take the plunge. After I got a chance to shoot it, I finally realized what all the fuss was about.

I know what you mean! I look at other revolvers and do not buy them because I have this. Hard to beat for me. I did buy a new 63-5 though.

[IMG][/IMG]

I too looked for a long time for a three inch Model 66 without success. Then I found two in less than two weeks.

The top gun is a 66-2 and the other is a 66-5. Notice the difference in the length of the sight base in these guns.

Congrats on finding your gun! My wife's nightstand gun is a 3" M60, I think a 3" barrel is about the optimum in a short barrel revolver. Enjoy!

Great find and a great price! Congrats. Here is mine.

I hate to tell you, but your replacement S&W cylinder stop that the factory installed is likely a mim part. That is all they have. So it is not pre-mim all the way any more.

HA!

Funny, HILARIOUS actually, that you would ask that. Get this; I'm just starting into .44 Special/Mag, AND...dun dun dun...45ACP - now that I have my reloading setup in full gear.

Think for a second how long ago you all started into .44 and .45ACP, now how many 'grail guns' exist in those calibers? It boggles the mind But just think of all the fun I'll have!

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But then, what do I know?

D'oh!

Just kidding. It really doesn't bother me.

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But then, what do I know?

It works good, that's what matters. I just bought a new S&W revolver and it has a bunch of mim parts, work's good.

They are great guns. Congrats !!!
Most have seen this one before but here's my 66-3
w/3" BBL sporting Keith Brown "Hideout Ropers"

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

I have now put hundreds of rounds through it and....IT'S THE GREATEST!

Recently, I ran across a brand new 66 and a factory engraved 640...I was soooo tempted but, alas, I had the ultra-fantastic 3" 66 and was able to hand them back to the nice lady. And, in a bizarre twist of fate; I was perfectly happy!

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But then, what do I know?

Here is my Brite Stainless 3" 66-4 with factory Combat Stocks:

M3Stuart, I'm not so sure. I have one BEExxxx in my s/n collection. BEE77XX - it's a M36 2", product number 101506, and the date code on the box was March 5, 1990. It's an out-of-sequence number because the s/n's that come before and after all date to 1998.

Awesome 3" M66, BTW. I also like the Hogue Bantams and have a pair on both my 3" M686-5 and 4" M64-5.

Very nice M3Stuart! Great that they sent it back to S&W for you too!

All the BEE 3" 66-3's I have seen are low in the range, BEE0xxx's, and were Sep, 1989; one October.

How did I miss this thread? I think most of the 3" 66's will eventually be owned by the members here and be in good hands for posterity. I also have a thing for short barreled revolvers that has rubbed off on my Ruger minded 25 yr old son-in-law. Now don't read into that as I like Rugers but when he was looking for a carry revolver he discovered the K frame Smiths are tough to beat. I ended up selling him my 66-3 2 1/2" (not to worry...I had one to spare!). It didn't take too long for his friends to go from teasing him about carrying "Grandpa's gun" to "Can I see that for a minute" to "How do I get one of those?" to "Man, if you ever want to sell that call me first!" He's just as proud as a peacock...and that's over the 2 1/2" 66!

As great as the 2 1/2" 66 is the 3" brings it all the way to perfection...the 3" 65 is fantastic as well and while I have the LS version I would like to add the standard model at some point, too.

Belated congrats on the excellent 66 and happy shooting!

edit: I agree that the Bantams are a great choice for these guns!

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Anyone who appreciates a three-inch S&W is an automatic friend of mine, a connoisseur of all the finer things in life, and a swell guy besides. The first one I ever beheld (and shot) was a 66-2, and I fell in love instantly. Unfortunately, that was 30 years ago, and the obstinate ingrate still refuses to sell it to me, so I had to start my own accumulation.

A 65-2 came first for off-duty use, then I found a few Taurii and Rossii guns that fit the bill, but eventually a nice 3" 36-1 joined the clan, along with a 686 Plus, and even a cute little 60-4. But the 66 eluded me, and the 65 was beginning to show some wear from all the use it got. My solution was to have a 64-6 with an amazing trigger modified, and a LGS swapped out the four-inch tube for a three inch. Look familiar?



I think it's kinda cool I have the choice between 5, 6, and 7 shots in my snubbies!



You can stick with that "Last Revolver Ever" story if you like........we've all done it!

Just Hope that some people don't bash it like they did the one I had that sold promptly on GB

I've always been a fan of the 3" wheel guns and I own a Model 65-3". round butt. They are as concealable as the 2.5" guns and virtually as accurate as the more traditional 4" "duty police" type revolvers.

Good luck with your great find!

Congrats...... I too missed this thread first time around......

There is nothing better in a carry revolver than a 3" 66 IMHO...though a 3" 65 is a close second.......

Got my first 3"66 in about 1987-88 bought a 2nd a few months later both for about $270...... my 3rd I got used at a LGS in the early 21st century for $325. While my EDC since the early 90s is a 3913/14; if I'm at the cabin or in the woods 95% of the time it's with my 3" 66.

While the rubber Hogue's are nice for shooting...... these guns deserve a nice set of wood grips...... my preference on all mine are Spegel Boot grips !!!!!!


Edit...... I learned to always look carefully at 2 1/2 inch 66s....cause the 3"res will be overlooked ..... some/even gun-shops don't even know they exist.....My third one was handed to me as " a nice snubby a older gentleman traded for a 3" 60".... the shop had no idea..... and I was biting my tongue while reaching for my wallet!!!!!

I'm a big fan of the 3" 66, also, and found one on consignment a bunch of years back. $650.00 OTD, and well worth it. While not in unfired condition, it was spotless, and was wearing it's original S&W wood stocks. The blue cardboard box had the factory paperwork and a bag with a cleaning rod, bore brush, and sight adjustment tool. I promptly removed the factory wood stocks and replaced them with a set of closed-backstrap, round-butt Crimson Trace Lasergrips. Long before ammo became scarce, I co-witnessed the CT grips and adjustable sights with Federal 38 Spec. Hydra-Shok 147gr. +P+ ammo. Alas, the gun is my safe queen now. I've seen similar-condition 3" M66's retailing for $1800.00 on-line.

I had a Hi-Viz front sight M66 3" from the run they did right before the internal locks were introduced. It held no appeal to me whatsoever, and it was traded on something else.

Now that S&W has re-introduced the 4" (ok - 4.25") M66, I'm hoping they will do a 3" run as well. I like the ball detent S&W has added - it'll be a stronger gun than any of it's K-Frame predecessors. Here's a suggestion for the folks at Springfield. In the tradition of what Ruger has done with some recent special-edition GP100's, why not give us a 3" M66 with XS tritium sights? THAT is a gun I'd buy.

To the OP, congrats on a great new gun at a great price. I hope you get in lots of quality range time with it.

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10,13,15,64,66,351,640,681

Four or five years back at the Gt Falls gun show I spied a nice M-66 marked as a "2 1/2" M-66" for $475. The barrel simply looked TOO LONG.

Finally dawned on me WHAT it was. I paid $450 and it's become on of my favorite carry guns when walking the dogs or when afield.

It had a few gouges, as it dropped on concrete...so I bead blasted it.

Congratulations on finding your Grail Gun. A 3" M-66 was always my main Grail Gun, until I got one. It is a great gun and I carry it a lot; however, side by side with my 3" M-13 or 65 I like them better than the M-66. I have come to prefer fixed sights and the M-13 and M-65 are just smoother and easier carried than the M-66.

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Keep Shootin' and check 6

I purchased a model 65 3" police turn in gun about two or three years ago & bought a model 64 3" gun this year it is a Georgia Parole Board marked gun. Three inch guns are very hard to come by in my neck of the woods. I have never seen a 3" model 66 but if I do I know what I will do.

Like my 66



Love my 65

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Sure you did

I was lucky enough, to have a friend, with an FFL., back a bit.

I ordered 3 66-4 3" guns, two for me, another for a friend.

I think I paid about $ 300 for the guns. Sold one to my friend for my costs. In the BSM31XX range.

Still have my two, my buddy TRADED his for some nondescript oddity. We had an agreement, that if he ever parted with his 3", he would call me first.

He didn't. I have forgiven him, with some effort. Grrrrr.....

I'm not really a collector, just shoot, and carry mine, but I absolutely LOVE my case hardened trigger, and hammer 3" guns.

Every thing you need...................

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NRA Instructor

Gentlemen, you can have ALL the others, because I now have the where-all, be-all, grail gun I've been looking for!

Well, like I said; you all can have all the rest of the S&W's because this one does it for me! I may never buy another one...ok, I'm kidding, but this is the real deal.





Congratulations. It IS a good feeling when the hunt ends in success. A very nice addition. K's are the king of frames ;-o) Enjoy it in good health.


Sent using Tapatalk

M3Stuart, back in Post #24, I posted a pic of my M66-2, 3". Since that time, I found out more information on it thanks to snw19 357, Chris. Plus, I have acquired a M66-6 F Comp. Luck I tell you, plan luck.

Most likely one of the best revolvers to come out of Springfield. I just traded my LNIB TRR8 for a minty 66-2 (1985 RSR gun). It has a set of Spegels and the front red insert replaced with the Meprolight Tritium insert.

I routinely FLITZ mine (blue or stainless) to make them like new. Not too shiny mind you, just enough to get the 'slime' off of them. I use my hands with a microfiber cloth to wipe all of the excess off. Do this 2-3 times (wiping between coats).

The only other one I lust after is a 3-inch Model 19. The 3-inch K-Frames were wonderful guns. The Model 66-2 and the Model 65-3 3-inchers are my 'go-to' guns.

Enjoy!

I need to stop looking at threads like this...it just costs me more $$$ in short order.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Brother, you stole that 3in! I have one...a RSR ported 66-4, and although I usually CCW one or another autopistol, that M66-4...yes, ports and all...would be the first in line to be hauled out if I decided to switch to a revolver for a primary CCW. (my 'always' gun is my M60 with bobbed hammer, but usually it is a designated BUG)

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Run Fast, Bite Hard!

I too am hoping they'll make the new one in 3". Then everybody can get one - and I can get another one.

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But then, what do I know?