This guy makes the case that the Model 66 is the answer to most handgun scenarios -


It's a bit lengthy, but well thought out and I couldn't really disagree - that is why I have a few of these gems!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I like some other handguns better for the one-gun scenario, but if all I had was a 4" 66, I wouldn't feel sorry for myself.
Bob

Who is he? I don't recognize him.

Well, I have a 681 so I'd go with that one!

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Forum consigliere

Well, I have a 4" M19 and a 2-1/2" M66, so I guess I'm covered.

While I do love my 66's... the pre IL 686-5+ Mountain gun is lighter, stronger, lifetime warranty and has 7 shot cylinder.

The 66 wouldn’t be my first choice in 357 magnum, that would be a 686 of some sort. But if I could only have one handgun, the 66 might very well be it. It could serve for concealed carry, home defense, hunting, and plinking.

Long winded for sure. I don't own a .357 mag. My revolvers start with a 2 and jump to a 4. Just 2 model 52's in between. A 3 1/2 inch 629 works just fine from cowboy 44 specials to full house manglenums.

Mike Beliveau is a fairly successful YouTuber with over 100,000 subscribers on that platform. I’ve enjoyed his content, especially regarding mid-19th Century handguns.

I have no idea why anyone would want a Smith & Wesson Model 66 revolver 😝

This is the second handgun and first revolver I ever purchased.


My daughter liked that one so much I gave it to her. This is its replacement, another 3” Model 66-4


Model 66-3


Model 66-2


Model 66 (sans dash - note stainless rear sight)

Luckily I'm not restricted to one handgun. For now.

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The best I can with what I got

One gun.
What is he, a Democrat?

I don't remember the model number but there was a short run of
K frame 4" full lug .38s that would serve me well.

Once S&W introduced the L frame, I became a convert, personally and professionally.

At the time I was commander of my department's patrol division. Our issue revolver was the 66. We had a lot of problems with them. When I went through the two week CA POST rangemaster course, by the time the course was finished, I was on my third 66, the first two having developed issues with locking up.

About a year after the introduction of the L frame, Bill Davis, among many other accomplishments, owner of the Davis Law Enforcement Equipment Co, came to the various departments with a killer (to me) deal. Straight across trade; our 66s for new 686s, department pays just the sales tax. The reason was that there was such a demand for 66s, that he could make his profit off the resale of the traded in 66s. I was able to swing the deal. Once the new 686s were issued, our prior problems ceased, never to return.

For myself, I bought a 586 with the tall Patridge front sight that I had customized for competitive use. I still think this is S&W's ideal 38/357 size revolver.

During this era, the issues with the 66s were well known. In one of his columns Massad Ayoob wrote that if a LE agency mandated stainless steel revolvers, he recommended the Ruger Six series over the stainless K frames. (Note: Incoming shots at Ayoob stipulated).

On that note, when I wanted a snubby K frame size revolver, but not wanting the 66 problems, I went with a 2 3/4" stainless Ruger Security Six.

I still have both of these revolvers. I don't believe in letting great revolvers (or other guns) go.

I am not an 'only one handgun' advocate. I am in the 'different courses/different horses' category.

It is nice to have choices available and be able to exercise them.

If I could only have one handgun, I think I would be really sick. I love all my handguns. That's like sayin I could only keep my wife and not my girl friend! Just joking on the second scenario.

You could do worse. I might grab my Wiley Clapp GP100 over my 66, but I'd been fine with either.

Ever since I owned handguns I have had more than 1 but that's because my first 2 were given to me at the same time. Two old, .25 ACP pistols. When I bought my first revolver it was a 4" M19. That gun could have sufficed if I could only have one and the next was a 2" M10 and that could have sufficed as well. So, to try to pick one only now is a much harder proposition seeing as I have been accumulating such machines for so very long. How to pick just one?

Not going to try..............but...........

M10




3" M686+


One of those would suffice............

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Come and take it!!

My friend 18DAI was a true firearms lover and quite the shooter. He bought guns, shot them and they “went away” immediately if they didn’t perform for him. Few of his purchases actually remained in his collection.

As far as I know, he only named one of his guns. This was “Mrs. Jones”. After watching him shoot it, I asked why the name.

“We got a thing going on”.

As mentioned in a previous post by Engine49guy and for the reasons he stated, my 686-5 Mountain Gun would be the last handgun that I would ever get rid of and if limited to only one gun, it would be it. Shoot all the .357 rounds of any weight and power that your hand and bank account can take, and never have to worry about the forcing cone cracking.

I have both a 3" 66-2 and a 3" 686 CS-1 and love both of them but not sure if that would be my only one gun choice. Luckly it is not an issue for me.

I love me some model 66 & 19. My first duty gun. But the 686 is a sturdier build and I like them too. Aesthetically I like the 66 better but from a practical perspective the 686 wins. I've never actually seen a 686-5+ Mountain Gun in real life but from the pics (looked it up) it would win hands down. Not that I need another duty type revolver, being retired, but I wonder how many of those things a floating around out there?

One more tidbit, the odd number 7 shot cylinder ( like J frame 5 shot ) places the cylinder stop notches over solid steel
Vs even number cylinders puts the notch cuts over the cylinder bore holes where the metal is thinnest.

Ps the 686-5 also is pre drilled for a scope base too.

It would be just my luck, got rid of everything and keeping a 3" (or 4") M66 and then the end of the world would happen, and while I was foraging for ammo I found a large stash of 110 & 125 grain full zoot .357 Mag ammo and the first shot out of my trusty M66 it would crack the forcing cone.... then what????

No sir, it's a M686 for me on the "if you could only have one" question was asked......

Fortunately - I just woke up from that bad dream - and reinforced my long held opinion that you can't (and shouldn't) have just one......

Yup, that's the ticket


Pic added for context....

Please note, to off-set the heavier M686 I've gone with light weight aluminum cased ammo...

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.............SmithNut

4 inch L frame for me.

Or maybe a 7 shot 3 inch.

Just one man's opinion.....We all got one.

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S&W Accumulator

OINK: The 686-5 Mountain Gun was a stocking dealer special in 1998 with only around 2000 made. I was lucky to find mine (used but in excellent condition with no box or papers) at a local gun show in 2018 for $550 OTD. If you can find one today for sale, better have big $$$$ because there are very few left out there.

I understand the logic and for the average person this is not a bad choice. For a 357 I would always prefer a L or N frame but that is me. At my age however I would opt for my beloved 17-1 since all I do these days is punch holes in paper and do not veer too far away from home.

The 66 is a fantastic gun and if I was told it’s one and only gun I could own I wouldn’t complain. If I had a choice I’d probably pick a Python because I like a little more weight but the 66 is a sweet gun and a very close second.

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The 66 isn't a bad choice; that's for sure, but I'd go with this:



My 681.

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Let's be careful out there

Nooooo, A model 27-2 blue 4" seems like a much better choice to me.

If I didn’t have my late dad’s no dash 4” 686 (purchased Sept. 1981) it would be my ‘78/‘79 vintage 4” 66-1.

I am also in the camp that believes it might not be my first choice, but if it happened that way, I wouldn’t feel too sorry for myself. I might go with the L-frame, for the reasons others have suggested, or I might be more inclined to pick a 1911. But in any case, a 66 would be well above “take it or leave it” category. I’d prefer the 4-inch model.

Put me down in the 686 camp

Well I love my revolvers and agree that some model of L-frame would be a great choice. But with the given that you can only have ONE.

I am going to jump ship and choose my 5906 DPA model. Can go up or down depending on what I want to shoot. Great accuracy and proven to be very reliable.

I know the argument that you can handle most situations with less that 6 rounds, but its the "most" part I don't like and also a few of the other combat advantages of a semi-auto.

I might change the make and model of my one gun if I could also have a 22 conversion as long as it was only one gun....

One handgun would indeed be a sad situation...

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I have both a M-66 and a M-28, both with 4” barrels. Although the M-28 is a boat anchor compared to the Model-66, for a .357 Magnum I would choose the Model 28. It will shoot everything I load into he camber. That said I have a soft place in my heart for the Model 66 since it was issued to me while I attended my first police academy

I wouldn't be to upset if I was only limited to a 66 or 686. A state law enforcement agency traded in all their revolvers at the local police supply store which in turn sold them. All of these came home with me plus some 10's and a 15.

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My favorite M66 is the 6”. Best balance to me.

If I could only own one gun?

Benelli Super Black Eagle II 12 gauge with two barrels.

I'll take a wild bird over a sheet of paper any day. My big friend can carry any handgun he wants.

Cut in my teeth quail hunting with my Father, doves with my friends, and fell in love with waterfowling. Slug barrel for a deer or two per season. Great for Personal Protection. Everyone used to ride to the diner for lunch in their trucks with windows down and shotguns on window racks. Those were the days.

I don't feel too bad with my 65-2 4 inch

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Only one handgun...
I will go with the 29.

This may be blasphemy on an S&W forum but my choice would be my Sig P220 and I own 2 m66 4" no dashes.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

Xfuzz; That is a BEAUTIFUL picture. Very nice.

The 66-1 has been mine since 1978. The 686-6 TALO is heavier but it's growing on me. I replaced the IL with The Plug. I keep both loaded with 180 gr. Black Talons

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Mine............

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S&W Accumulator

As an intellectual excercise Mike did a good video. A 4” .357 is a great, practical choice. Maybe there are better revolvers than a Model 66, that’s debatable. I support his choice …



Still If I really had to have just one …



It would be my K22.

JMHO, the four inch 686 made the 66 obsolete in 1981.

Mine would have to be my 4" 686 round butted no dash; I've had since the mid 1980s.

Be hard not to stick with my 3" 66-4 for concealed carry though;or give up my 4" 681.

Limited to my personally owned S&Ws, I would take one of my N frames over a K frame (have 2 M-19s). Limited to a choice between a pickup truck and a sedan, I would opt for the former. A pickup truck can always
carry passengers but a sedan can't substitute for a pickup truck.

I have a number of S&W K and L frame revolvers to choose from.











As well as some Ruger six series:





While I like the Model 66 in many ways, if I could have just one it would be my 3” 686+ for a number of reasons:

1) A Model 686+ is only about 2 oz heavier than a Model 66 of the same barrel length and has the same grip size and trigger reach. And it’s still only a 35 oz handgun.



2) the 686+ offers 7 rounds rather than 6 for the Model 66, and like the 66 it’s heavy enough to shoot well with full power .357 mag loads and still light enough to carry all day.

3) The 3” barrel is short enough to readily conceal and long enough to be reasonably ballistically efficient with the .357 Mag, particularly with proper load selection.

4) The L frame 686+ is much more durable than the Model 66. A small price to pay for a couple more ounces in weight.


——

The Model 66 wouldn’t be my second choice either. The Ruger Speed Six and 2 3/4” Security six are also much more durable than a Model 66 and split the difference weight wise between the 66 and 686.

When I first worked in law enforcement I purchased a Service Six (pictured above between a 6” Security Six and 2 3/4” Speed Six) because it was much more affordable than a S&W Model 19. But I quickly noted not many officers carried a Model 19, they were more likely to have a Security Six or a Model 28.


——-

On a related note, this morning I reorganized the “ready” gun safe, the small one with the rifles and handguns I use on a regular basis. The two revolvers that made the cut were my S&W 3” 686+ and my Kimber K6S. The K6S does a nice job when the 686+ is just a little too large.


IMHO Kimber may have gotten this one right size wise. It’s a bit bigger than the J frame and very close to the SP101, but offers 6 rounds. Once you put a little larger grip on it, like the SP101 it becomes a tolerable to shoot but easy to conceal revolver.

It would be this one, my 66 is beloved, but a big man needs a big gun.....

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Could have been if they didn't add that totally useless heavy under lug. I prefer the 66/19 much more.

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S&W Accumulator

3" M65 like my avatar.
It'll be the last one to leave.

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