I can also confirm that while going through a certain Firearms Instructor school in 1995 there were 2 SEALs that did have their issued 686 4"s with them for the revolver portion. They were quite fond of the revolvers.
Navy Seals use of Model 66s or 686s?
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If you read Marcinko's books, it becomes clear that those guys practiced A LOT, serious practice at serious shooting. I would imagine that any gun one used that much, to such good effect, would become a very good friend, not easily abandoned for a stranger.
Nframe357
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It warms my heart to hear of some of our best still using the "outdated" wheelgun in todays auto filled world.
BigCelo
Member
Well I'll tell you to me and this is from my personal experience. One of the best all around S&W's is either a 4'' Modal 681 or a 581, fixed sights all the way and the full under lug barrel to aid recoil with full house loads. and for those folks who don't like the extra weight a Modal 64,65 or any of those bull barrel fixed sight Modals the only modifications that I would recommend would be is milling off the front sight and dovetailing it adding Trintium Night sight and drilling two in serts for the rear.
Badkarma 1
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I gotta admit that's a great idea! But I was wondering if one of those "Big DOT" sights by Ashley could be made to work?
As for them using "outdated" tech, well revolvers do tend to work very well at bad breath range! Dale
BigCelo
Member
You know I was at the range the other day and noticed one thing that those 3 dot night sights really suck. I shoot much better with the dot front sight and the white outline rear or the bar dot or just plain dot front and black rear night sights. Much easier to find the front sight then lining up the three dots.
remat457
Member
+1; I was thinking the same thing!
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badguybuster
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One of my horseshoeing clients is a former SEAL from the mid-80's. I asked him this question. He stated that they could pretty much carry whatever they wanted depending on the mission requirements and that it was not uncommon to see someone packing a revolver. He personally never carried one tho.
Coldshooter
Member
Not SEALS but did Navy law enforcement or Naval Intellegence issue the Model 66. May be urban legend but I thought I once read round butt with 4 inch barrels.
1 old 0311
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Look at what the Customs Office did with the CS-1. The 686 was strong to begin with but they had S&W do the mods THEY thought were important. Wouldn't surprise me if the SEALS did the same type of thing.
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NIS (now NCIS, of TV fame) did issue a RB 4" model 19, many of which were later transferred to the FBI. Regarding the model 66, there are published accounts of these being acquired (not through standard issue channels) for the SEALs, it being the only corrosion-resistant gun then available in a major caliber.
earplug
Member
Curious why the 45 ACP 625 was not employed instead of a .357 686? Weight is pretty close and A stainless moon clipped 45 ACP would be easy to handle and not so hard on the eyes or ears at night.
Only reason I can think of is the power of the .357.
Long slender .357 cases don't load as fast as short fat 45 ACP cases with a moon clip.
I want to know what type of Speed Loader reloading device is used. Or is this a fire 6/7 times and reach for something else type weapon?
Only reason I can think of is the power of the .357.
Long slender .357 cases don't load as fast as short fat 45 ACP cases with a moon clip.
I want to know what type of Speed Loader reloading device is used. Or is this a fire 6/7 times and reach for something else type weapon?
Penetration could have been a big factor in this decision.
Stu Honea
Member
Very good thread.I had heard on several occasions that the SEALS had used Mod.66's,but never bothered to try to confirm it. Doesn't surprise me that they did,tho.
Revolvers are still not dead for many applications and I don't think they ever will be.
A little off topic,but the hushpuppy was mentioned in this thread. I know that the Mod.39's got some bad press for various reasons in years gone by,but I think it was a great pistol. I carried a mod.39-2 as duty pistol in the seventies and it was a hell of a shooter and mine was dead nuts reliable.
I still have an all steel version,the 539. in minty condition and wouldn't take anything for it. It feeds modern HP's like the HST's and others without a bobble. These are ,to me ,the best feeling and fitting auto pistols ever made.
Revolvers are still not dead for many applications and I don't think they ever will be.
A little off topic,but the hushpuppy was mentioned in this thread. I know that the Mod.39's got some bad press for various reasons in years gone by,but I think it was a great pistol. I carried a mod.39-2 as duty pistol in the seventies and it was a hell of a shooter and mine was dead nuts reliable.
I still have an all steel version,the 539. in minty condition and wouldn't take anything for it. It feeds modern HP's like the HST's and others without a bobble. These are ,to me ,the best feeling and fitting auto pistols ever made.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
FWIW - I've read several books written by former Navy Seals, and they mention carrying and using Model 66 and Model 686 revolvers. No modifications or details were mentioned about the revolvers, unfortunately.
Regards,
Dave
Regards,
Dave
Dick Marcinko's books have always led me to believe that team members could and would use pretty much anything they wanted if it enabled them to accomplish the mission. They were not subject to any real "rules" which is as it should be. Those men should get anything they want right now no questions asked.
squidsix
Member
.357 magnum is not in our supply chain. .45 ACP, .38 SPL +P, and 9mm are. Easy.
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