Had this one to the range for the first time today. Ran 150 38spl and 150 magnums through it and wow, what an excellent revolver.

Also, if you have an old K frame serial 260663, I have your stocks.

Ordered one this morning from Davidson's. Have the 4 1/4", but have been enjoying my 2 3/4" M69s so much I couldn't resist adding the short barreled 66.

Paul

I had the 4.25” 66, but gave it to my son. I had to replace it.

Like it with the old Magnas on it!

I own one but it went back to the mothership for a trigger problem on one charge hole. Heavy pull and virtually no travel after the break. Awaiting the diagnosis.

I did try it out on the range for the one day I had it and fired 12 rounds. American Eagle 158 gr JSP 357.

This is first K frame I've shot. And the first 357 magnum. After 50 years of shooting, it was about time to take the plunge.

Impressions
K frames are bigger than I thought. Same length as my 2.75 69 just a little less tall. Cylinder is thinner. Weighs about the same.

Recoil - "light" but then I'm a veteran 44 mag guy.

Noise - maybe the loudest handgun I've ever shot. First time I've had my ears ring even with muffs on. Firing line is open on the sides but has a metal roof. I stepped forward of the roofline and that helped. When I get around to handloading 357 I'm going to work on that. I bought some 34 dB earmuffs today.

I just bought mine today. Hopefully I will get to shoot it some tomorrow. (Wife and oldest grandson's birthday). It matches my model 69 well.

The 357 loads I was shooting today were full load of Unique with various 158 grain projectiles. Not nukes, put they did give a nice report with controllable follow up shots.

I'm very pleased with mine, now. Had to re-cut the FC because it was one of the batch that slipped out of the factory with an undersized one, but as you can see it's a great shooter now.

.



.
.

P.S.: It makes a great companion to it's larger cousin, the M69 snubby.



.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

I recently picked one up as well and it is a great shooter. I did however reject 2 revolvers before I accepted the one I purchased. The 2 previous ones came from the factory with noticeable flaws in workmanship.

I did notice that your 66-8 appears to suffer from one of the flaws I saw. If you look at your front sight you'll see that the rear is not properly seated. I thought mine might have been just a fluke but after seeing yours makes me wonder how many of these left the factory like this. If you call S&W I'm sure they'd send you a new front sight although you'd need to drill and pin it yourself or have a gunsmith do it for you.

On mine I changed out the front sight to XS Standard dot and a fixed C&S rear sight. I also changed out thumb release and side plate screws to glass beaded versions.

Enjoy it. I find it just as enjoyable to shoot as my prelock 66's.

Attached Images

fullsizeoutput_5231.jpg (75.9 KB, 103 views)

Or, maybe it's supposed to be that way. Like to limit heat transfer from the barrel to the front sight.

Interesting on the front sight. I just checked it, seems to have loosened up and now can rock back and forth a little. It was not like that when I picked it up.

I have been thinking about the S&L rear, but not crazy about the FO on the front.

What part number Dot did you put on and what did it do to your POI?

The front sight is actually a tritium XS Standard Dot. The sights are the same set up used on the 386NG series. Part #RV-0001N-4. POA sight picture was same as factory.

I see they only list for J and L frame. What is your sight picture with the C&S rear, combat or 6 o’clock ?

Picked up my 2 3/4" M66-8 Monday. Took it to the range with my favorite load (15.0gr 2400, 158gr Horn XtP) -- 4 or 5" inch group at 25 yds rested. Had several other loads in the range bag -- all shot poorly. Gun shot left and 4 - 5" hi at 25 yds with 158/2400. Was disappointed. Had company for the last couple of days and wasn't able to get to the range until today. Had three diff loads. 165gr SWCGC, 15.0gr 2400, 165gr SWCGC 13.8gr 2400, and 158gr Horn Xtp 13.8gr 2400.

The 165/15gr 2400 went into 2 1/2" rested at 25 yds. The 13.8gr with both 158 XTP and 165 SWCGC shot much better and show some real promise. I'll tweak these loads a bit and install a higher front sight and will be good to go.
158gr XTP, 13.5gr 2400

All groups were a full cylinder (6 shots)



165gr SWCGC, 13.8gr 2400



Paul

Has anyone done a mild polish job to bring it closer to the brushed stainless look of the rest of S&W's offerings?

Looks to me like BLUEDOT37 has polished his.

I did, knock some of the satin finish off of it with 1200 grit wet & dry & chamfered the crown.

.



.

.



.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day