Model 66-8 Combat Magnum Question

99bob · #1 09-10-2018, 10:52 PM

So, I've been reading about the two piece barrel design. I've been drinking the Kool Aid and even purchased a NIB M327 TRR8. We're not going to talk about that gun right now. The 66-8 Combat Magnum has my attention. Well, had my attention. It might come back into good grace if I can inspect one before purchasing and even then. I might want to wait a few years to see if QC gets a handle on things. My main reason of interest is the barrel. Ok, the K Frame, the .357, the 2.75" barrel and maybe it's the total package. Maybe it's the fact that you can get a new modern version that hasn't been played with by bubba. Hasn't been abused and then traded off. I don't want a used gun with springs changed to who knows what & internals polished too much. Fast forward a few weeks and I walk into a LGS and see a 4.25" 66-8 in .357 NIB. I asked if I could please see that one. Trigger is a little stiff in D.A. The cylinder swings out freely, the front sight is in all the way. The cylinder gap looks good(eye balling it) and the forcing cone looks good. I'm not to worried about the canted barrel as this one has a two piece barrel, but I check it out of habit.

Please explain how this could have happened. How with all the bad reputation, could this happen?.......Not bashing. I thought this was one of the reasons they went to the two piece barrel. I didn't think this was possible. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.

Clarke Hammer · #2 09-10-2018, 11:32 PM

From the photo, the barrel doesn't look canted. It looks like the machined ribbing on the top of the barrel is off center. I bet that makes the front sight off center, too. Still unacceptable.

1sailor · #3 09-11-2018, 10:59 AM

I've got an older P&R K model that the ribbing looks identical to yours. I talked to a service rep and was told that it was not an indication that the barrel was canted. Not sure if his info was correct but I've never had any problems with it and the rear sight was centered when the pistol was sighted in. This is on a M19-3, pinned and recessed. I also would have thought that a pinned barrel would be perfect but maybe it is just the ribs. Yours may be the same. Found a pic of mine and put it below.

99bob · #4 09-11-2018, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1sailor

I've got an older P&R K model that the ribbing looks identical to yours. I talked to a service rep and was told that it was not an indication that the barrel was canted. Not sure if his info was correct but I've never had any problems with it and the rear sight was centered when the pistol was sighted in. This is on a M19-3, pinned and recessed. I also would have thought that a pinned barrel would be perfect but maybe it is just the ribs. Yours may be the same. Found a pic of mine and put it below.

I didn't purchase it. I do believe it to be off center or canted. I don't think it was a macining anamoly or just comsmetic. I'm not willing to buy it to find out. I'm just trying to wrap my head around it. I don't think the shroud on these 66 are index like the 327 models are. Those shrouds are a lot bigger. This is more like a sleeve. I wonder if its just a crush fit against the o/d of the barrel. That would explain the possibility of an over or under torque. I wish I would have looked closer at the ejector shroud aligment.

shocker · #5 09-11-2018, 12:38 PM

The shroud is straight and nothing is crushed. The rib lines just weren't required to be in index.
Like the ball detent lockup, it doesn't present well even if has no effect on the performance. S&W hid the detent and eliminated the ribbing on the frame on the short barrel 69 and 66. Problems solved.

Picture added. Bottom:69 Top:66-8

99bob · #6 09-11-2018, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shocker

The shroud is straight and nothing is crushed. The rib lines just weren't required to be in index.
Like the ball detent lockup, it doesn't present well even if has no effect on the performance. S&W hid the detent and eliminated the ribbing on the frame on the short barrel 69 and 66. Problems solved.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

dogdoc · #7 09-11-2018, 01:40 PM

I have one like that. Shoots great

jtcarm · #8 09-11-2018, 05:04 PM

Out of my 20 or so Smiths, only four were purchased new.

Of the used ones, zero had any altered parts.

ChiefTJS · #9 09-11-2018, 05:37 PM

I had a 66-8 that came with a canted shroud, the front sight was off for sure. I used it to my advantage and asked them to do an action tune on it while they had it so to save the shipping. when it came back it had a new shroud with better lettering and the front sight was perfect. The work done by the "Custom" shop was another matter entirely.

HamHands · #10 09-11-2018, 06:40 PM

Yeah, I don't do the canted barrel thing.. OP, get a perfect or near perfect example and don't settle for less. The clocking position of the barrel you pictured is minimal but still enough to bother me.

All my revo's, pistols, and rifles get use and "love marks" from honest use and it doesn't bother me one bit at all. Honest Holster wear from presentation and re-holstering is down right sexy! I wipe my holsters out of debris and grit weekly.

But a canted barrel that's askew and off to the left or right is something I'm never going to put up with. I've seen canted barrels pointing off center east/west so much that the rear sight drift is maxed out to keep the shot poa/poi at just 50 yards! Now a very slight cant in the rotation/clocking position on a crush fit "non pinned" barrel is one thing. If it's ever so slight, no worries I don't really care. But a crooked barrel is absolutely junk to me. YMMV..

Hithev · #11 09-12-2018, 09:00 AM

I have a 686-6 looking similar to the one the OP reported.
For sure, the barrel isn’t improperly clocked, but rather appears shifted leftwards on the horizontal axis when looked from above.
The grooved surfaces have different width: the barrel has 10 grooves, while the black rear sight assembly has 11 grooves.
Besides such a difference in the extension of the grooved surfaces, ribs and grooves appear well aligned.
Therefore, my guess is that the leftwards horizontal shift is merely apparent and due to the right upper portion of the barrel being somehow “sliced” off.
The dealer, whom I trust both as a competent gunsmith and loyal gentleman, told me it’s just an esthetical matter within specs.
The gun came NIB with a ding on the cylinder, slightly damaged plate screw heads, asymmetrical white outline on rear sight and soon loose rear sight blade and grips screws, as an expression of present tolerances of run of the mill industrial production.
However, the gun shoots well and I am happy with it.

Hithev · #12 09-12-2018, 01:09 PM

I’m really guessing that what I described in my previous post is the same as the for the OP picture.
Even there the ribs and grooves of the frame and barrel look perfectly aligned, just being different in number.
And the barrel looks sideways shifted ( in his case rightwards) just because its upper left side has been “sliced off”.
This is better exposed by the red line being slightly shorter than the green one.
Maybe I’m wrong, just saying..

scruffy · #13 09-12-2018, 01:21 PM

My 66-8. It shoots perfectly. [IMG]

[/IMG]

BuckeyeS&W · #14 09-14-2018, 05:00 AM

Buy it you will be happy. I love mine it shoots like a laser and I changed springs the trigger is now to my liking.
Remember these revolvers are tools to be used and enjoyed.

shocker · #15 09-14-2018, 10:03 AM

My 4.25 69 came with the ribs 1/2 width off. After I blew it up, the ribs are in perfect index. Not a recommended fix, LOL.

99bob · #16 09-14-2018, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shocker

My 4.25 69 came with the ribs 1/2 width off. After I blew it up, the ribs are in perfect index. Not a recommended fix, LOL.

Wow, is it covered?

Found your thread. Glad you have all your fingers. That's cool that you dissected the incident and was able to collect the data.