Navy Seals use of Model 66s or 686s?

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Brian894x4

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I've read some snippits here and there of the Seals using both Model 66s and Model 686s. Nothing concrete, just a lot of snippits, including things like Seal Team 6 was the only one to use the 66 and the rest used 686s, that they were used because stainless steal was easier to deal with in salt water environments.

I've also read that the Seals might "still" use the 686 in some cases, because it's less likely to jam in silty water, etc, etc.

I'm curious if anyone has a more detailed account of their use by the Seals. And especially any pictures or information on when they were used, how they were carried (where and holsters, etc) and specificly what models were used. Were they only 4" barrel models for example, or did they carry 2.5 or 3" versions too?

Also, if any modifications were done to them...i.e. changes in sights, internals or anything else?

It just really peaked my interest when I read this and I'd like to find out as much as I can about their use by the Seals since I'm a big Model 66 fan. If there's a website or anything that I missed while trying to search I'd appreciate the link too.

I figure these were probably all mid 1960s guns so that's why I posted in this section. Thanks for any insight or info.
 
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I never saw a 66, but the Teams at Little Creek VA did use 686's. I saw two at the SEAL Team display at NAS Oceana in 2004.

One was submerged in an aqarium tank. Periodically the sailors would pull it out and fire it (blanks).

I did hear that LCDR Marchenko wanted stainless S&W revolvers, but don't recall what became of that request.
Hope this helps. Regards 18DAI.
 
It is sort of interesting - AND - what would the duty round have been? I've never seen any mil-spec/Hague-compliant .357 ammo. I'd hate to depend on .38 spl. 130 gr. FMJs for anything critical.
 
When I went to firearms instructor school in the mid 90's there was an active duty Navy Seal going through the same class. That dude sure could shoot, and he was the only one who could still function after taking a face full of pepper spray. (He took the blast, held his eyes open with his fingers, and told the instructor "I could kill you right now". Not sure if that was a threat or a mere statement of fact.)

Anyway, in conversation with him one day he mentioned he "swam a 686", which I took to mean he carried one when scuba-ed. I know they work underwater, and I imagine a contact shot with one would do the trick.
 
Because the SEALS are often deployed against terrorists, they probably are not hindered by the Hague Accords prohibition of hollowpoint or lead ammo that applies to war between nations.

I know that French equivalents use whatever .357 ammo they want, including some pretty exotic stuff. They have employed Manurhin MR-73's and S&W 586's. French cops also use a variety of other Ruger, Manurhin, and S&W .357s. One Manurhin model is based on Ruger's old Security-Six, with refinements. But later actual Rugers also see use, often with Trautsch grips.

I think the SEALS do still use stainless S&W's, and not just with Hague Accords "legal" ammo. However, their primary handgun is the SIG-Sauer P-226 9mm, with a Navalized finish. I believe that SIGARMS also offers that finish option to civilian buyers.

T-Star
 
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This is all cool info. Thanks for chiming in. I wonder if aoyone has any pictures on the net somewhere. I never thought to ask which round they might shoot out of the things, but that was a great question too.

The idea of them using S&W revolvers at all is one thing, but the idea they still might be using them today is just flat out amazing. I have to imagine that while the original Seal revolvers might have been stock, that anything used today, must be modified in some ways.
 
Famously, Dick Marchinko the founder of SEAL Team Six, the hostage rescue and anti-terrorist team, bought the S&W Model 66 for the Team.

The original Team had something like 78 members, all "shooters", no support people.
In their first year in business, they shot up more ammo in practice then the entire US Marine Corps did.
Later, and still, the Teams use the Model 686 for training and for use when "going swimming with the gun".

From the founding of Navy UDT to today, the teams have used many types and brands of revolvers, including the Colt Detective Special and Cobra to the S&W Model 15 and 629.

There's always a flurry of comment whenever the Teams or Special Forces is seen test firing a new firearm.
A few years ago everyone was all a-flutter after Special Forces was seen testing the Desert Eagle .50.

Point is, they're ALWAYS testing guns to see if they have any use, they don't necessarily actually buy many or actually use them.
 
Udt

While stationed in Key West , FL. the WWII sub I was on at that time ran operations with the UDT teams in training. We would go out at night, surface(miles off shore), place rafts and men(no motors) on the aft deck, and then submerge. As I remember these guys carried an assortment of firearms. I saw grease guns, Thompsons, 1911s, revolvers, sawed off pump shotguns, but most all there arms were small and compact! No 686s, they weren't invented yet!
jcelect SWCA#723
 
Brian894x4 said:
This is all cool info. Thanks for chiming in. I wonder if anyone has any pictures on the net somewhere. I never thought to ask which round they might shoot out of the things, but that was a great question too.

The idea of them using S&W revolvers at all is one thing, but the idea they still might be using them today is just flat out amazing. I have to imagine that while the original Seal revolvers might have been stock, that anything used today, must be modified in some ways.
Click to expand...


Why? If it works as-is, why "fix" it? Apart from changing grips, I usually never modify my handguns. Some people seem to make a hobby of that, though. It's their money and their hobby...
 
I didn't mean to suggest that it "needed" be modified, but was just curious if it was.

I was thinking more along the lines of action jobs, and in today's modern warfare environment, would they be modified with night sights or flashlight adapaters or anything like that. Maybe any modifications to make them more friendly in the water...i.e...better sealed up gun..or maybe the opposite, holes drilled to allow it to drain faster.

One thing that I wonder if was changed was grips. I'm not sure how the factory wood grips would do in a salt water environment and if maybe they wanted anything different.

SWAT type teams regularly modify their weapons, or have specific add-ons or toys, so that's where I'm coming from.

I'm curious what kind of holsters they use(d) and how they packed the things plus carrying spare ammo. I probably have a lot questions that answers would not be easy to come by.
 
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The SEAL Model 66 revolvers are shown in Richard Marchinko's book.
They had Hogue rubber Mono-Grips fitted.

The holsters appeared to be an upright type nylon shoulder holster fastened tightly to their vests.

The Teams now have huge support organizations including world class gunsmiths.
They can have any modifications they need to their guns, so some probably have modded S&W revolvers, or even several with different mods.
 
In his book Marcinko said they wore out S&W .357s regularly. Don't recall which model though.
 
tekarra said:
In his book Marcinko said they wore out S&W .357s regularly. Don't recall which model though.
Click to expand...

Huh...apparnetly his book is available online by google and you can basically read and search it for free. At least major parts of the book. Weird stuff. Here's a couple of interesting and relavant excerps....

Definition of "Smith": Smith and Wesson, Generally a .357 Model 66, stainless steel revolver with 4" barrel

"Desert Target Practice during Training of Seal Team Six. Those Model 66s got real hot too".

"The Men Hung silhouette targets and then practiced aquiring a sight picture and squeezing the trigger of their stainless steel Smith and Wesson Model 66 .357s"

(Listing gear) ".....Smith and Wesson Revolvers in stainless steel, so they wouldn't rust when we swam with them".

"...Delta used .45s, while my unit used .357 or 9mm...."
 
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Check out "Weapons of he Navy Seals" by Kevin Dockery. He is one of the curators of the Seal Museum and covers the history of firearms used by the Seal Teams in depth. Both the 66 and 686 were used.
 
I hate being a "I have this buddy who..." guy, but one of my good friends honest-to-God just finished his enlistment as a SEAL. He was stationed in San Diego, and he unequivocally told me that they used 686s for some situations due to its salt water resistance. He specifically brought it up with me because he remembered I had a 686 when we were in high school and let him shoot it.

However, he still preferred the SIG 226 9mm because it was simply ingrained in him through the training.
 
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