M66 - which engineering # for the best shooter?

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shinbone

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I am looking for a .357 magnum revolver to carry while I am hunting. The gun would be carried in addition to the rifle or shotgun I would be hunting with, i.e. a lot of carry and a little bit of shooting, which steers me away from the N-frame guns from this application. I've got a bunch of 686 models with half-lug 4" barrels that I like, but . . . I want a 6" barrel gun and I strongly dislike the full underlug the 6" 686's always seem to have. This seems to be leading me to a M66 as my only option. I would love to have a 686 6" with half-lug barrel, but, sadly, I don't think S&W has ever made such a gun. Also, for aesthetic reasons, I am not interested in any models with the internal lock when a non-IL version is available.

For a M66 for shooting (i.e. not collecting), which engineering change is the best shooter model of M66?

TIA

--shinbone
 
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You're probably going to be limited to what dash number you will find in a 6" model 66, they don't show up for sale that often and I don't think it would matter much. Dash 0,1,2 probably will all be great revolvers, buy whatever decent one you can find.
All my 66's are great guns.
 
Take whatever you can find, the dash number means nothing when it comes to shooting quality. All engineering changes are made for one of two reasons, simplifying production/cost cutting and improving durability, nothing more.

Shootability from an accuracy standpoint is strictly how well an individual gun matches up to the ideal combination of parts and how they relate to each other. Differences of less than .001" can make the difference between a tack-driver and a gun that won't shoot in a bucket. The reality is quality revolvers in general, as a rule shoot far better than they have any right to, and far better than most shooters are capable, even very good ones!
 
sodacan said:
Model 27 or 28. What's not to like?
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Great guns, and I love me the N-frame - feels good in the hand and shoot so nice, but I am looking for something smaller than an N-frame for the "carry a lot, shoot a little" aspect. I also prefer SS for this application for the lower maintenance aspect. I edited my original to clarify this.
 
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Alk8944 said:
All engineering changes are made for one of two reasons, simplifying production/cost cutting and improving durability, nothing more.
Click to expand...

Good point! Which dash-number in the M66, short of a version with an IL, would be the most durable?
 
Pinned and Recessed are

Model 66: no-dash and -1s.................

Model 19 no-dash through -4s..............

might be easier to find a 6" 19 than 66.



SS/66s are easier to maintain when carrying in the woods.........

If it's not your primary hunting gun ....... I'd go with a 4 or 2 1/2" for ease of carry.........................
 
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shinbone said:
Good point! Which dash-number in the M66, short of a version with an IL, would be the most durable?
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For aesthetics, the last pinned & recessed model, 66-1. for having all up-grades that mean something. the 66-5.
 
bdGreen said:
There is a Model 686 Mountain Gun currently for sale in the classifieds on this forum. That is what you need to check out.
bdGreen
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Thanks for the tip on the gun for sale, and I know those are not that easy to find. Luckily, I already have a 686-5 Mountain Gun. I was shooting it yesterday, and it is a great gun. It is the best of the 4" barrel .357 guns, IMHO. For the sake of completeness, in 4" barreled .357's, I have a 19-3, a 620, the already mentioned 686-5 MG, and a 627-5. All very sweet guns.

But, I am wanting to try a 6" barrel without a full lug.
 
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I am still looking for a shooter grade M66 with 6" barrel, but . . .

Anyone have any experience with the relatively new M66-8 (4.25" barrel)? The few reports I have heard are saying the two-piece barrel is shooting some impressively tight groups . . . ?
 
shinbone said:
I am still looking for a shooter grade M66 with 6" barrel, but . . .

Anyone have any experience with the relatively new M66-8 (4.25" barrel)? The few reports I have heard are saying the two-piece barrel is shooting some impressively tight groups . . . ?
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At least the 66-8 has the full diameter forcing cone - eliminating one weakness of the older guns. As far as accuracy unless you are an Olympic shooter I don't think you would test the limits of 2 piece barrel accuracy unless you clamp the gun in a rest.

This being the year 2017, I might point out the alternate technology would be something like a Glock 20. 10 MM punch in a gun that's 10 ounces lighter but still very shootable. I know, blasphemy.
 
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Thanks for the alternate suggestions, and, no doubt, each has its merits, but I prefer to stick with S&W, even with the many other valid options out there.
 
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M-66-3. Probably -4's are good, too. But they added the endurance package in the yoke assembly at M-66-3. Mine has been a superb gun, the one I've carried most over the past 26 years.


It has a four-inch barrel, but I've owned a six-inch M-19 and think you're on the right track. The stainless gun is the better choice in the real world.


Jeff Cooper was best known for advocating the .45 auto, but he liked some revolvers, too, and commented that the six-inch Combat Magnum was a fine combo of power and portability. He liked it as a trail gun for hikers and backpackers.
 
Older 66's aren't too hard to find but you'll see many 4" barrel before finding anything else. You can find the model 19 with a 6" barrel occasionally but a 6" model 66 is rare. You will probably have to pay a premium for the 6" due to the rarity.
 
Alk8944 said:
For aesthetics, the last pinned & recessed model, 66-1. for having all up-grades that mean something. the 66-5.
Click to expand...

^^^ This ^^^ :D

I had an early Model 66 no dash (police trade-in, 4" bbl) that I rebuilt and had retro-fitted with a factory 6" barrel. After much use and abuse it has now been resurrected as a 4" full under lug 327 Fed Mag (See my Project 616) but it was a fine range gun. If I were to replace it now, I would have a Model 66-1 that would IMHO retains all of the good features of the no-dash, with the most glaring manufacturing shortcomings addressed. As you have seen from preceding answers here, all of the dash numbers work fine, and so long as an individual example has a minimum of features that you personally dislike, it would be hard to go wrong with any of the Model 66 manufacturing variations. You asked for a recommendation though, so I vote for the dash 1.

Froggie
 
Shinbone did not ask for suggested guns for his needs/wants. He asked for suggestions on a "specific" gun. He obviously has other guns and knowledge about them. He even has guns that would serve the purpose stated, but he wants a 6" model 66!

So my answer is...-1 simply because I like P&R guns. They're not better, I just like them. I would not turn down a no dash unless it had SS sights. Those are for collecting, not shooting.

Good luck in your search. That is part of the fun too. ;)

Dan
 
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