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I just got a Model 66-3. What problem should I address ? Something about a floating Hammer ? Thanks.
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Model 66-3 Stainless 4.25 what is a floating hammer and should I change it.
- Thread starter Springerdude1
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Floating hand. If it is functioning normally, and carries up properly, I wouldn't change anything.
(You can remove the floating hand and install a regular hand if you desire to do so)
(You can remove the floating hand and install a regular hand if you desire to do so)
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It was a design change that occurred in the 80's and was phased out shortly thereafter. There are people who say it provides a poor trigger and/or that the pin connecting it to the trigger can easily be broken.
There are a ton of S&W revolvers from the era of the "floating hand" still going strong. It's one of those things like pinned & recessed vs not, or MIM or not, where the internet has blown it way out of proportion, IMO.
There are a ton of S&W revolvers from the era of the "floating hand" still going strong. It's one of those things like pinned & recessed vs not, or MIM or not, where the internet has blown it way out of proportion, IMO.
Texas Star
US Veteran
I got my M-66-3 with 4.0 inch barrel in 1990 and carried and used it almost daily until 2011, when I last worked the job.
Mine has given no troube and the only change made was to swap the factory target stocks for two-panel Pachmayr Presentation grips and to add belt, holster,and speed loader pouches. Oh, and ammo.
This gun has an improved means of securing the yoke and is said to resist cylinder endshake better than prior dash versions.
Trigger pull is the same as other S&W revolvers. Mine has an excellent trigger in both SA and DA modes. I didn't have the action honed, either.
I tried Uncle Mike's grips and liked them, but usually rely on the Pachmayrs.
Ammo when working indoors was lead HP 158 grain .38 Special and outdoors, I used Federal Hydra-Shok .357, same bullet weight.
I don't know why people feel compelled to make extensive changes on a gun as good as the M-66-3.
I never heard of any problem with a floating hand. If it was an issue, these pages would be full of reports, and some gun magazines would have been honest enough to mention it.
I think you have one of the best defense and outdoors guns ever made. Limit full .357 loads to maybe 15% of your use and it'll last well. I suspect that Buffalo Bore's hot Plus P .38 round is a killer and not as hard on the gun as is Magnum ammo.
Let us know how your gun shoots, with which ammo.I think you'll like it.
Don't know why you said a 4.2 inch barrel. Ruger and maybe S&W now use 4.2 inch barrels to comply with a Canadian law requiring that much barrel length for ownership up there. I think the M-66-3 was out of production by the time this applied.
Mine has given no troube and the only change made was to swap the factory target stocks for two-panel Pachmayr Presentation grips and to add belt, holster,and speed loader pouches. Oh, and ammo.
This gun has an improved means of securing the yoke and is said to resist cylinder endshake better than prior dash versions.
Trigger pull is the same as other S&W revolvers. Mine has an excellent trigger in both SA and DA modes. I didn't have the action honed, either.
I tried Uncle Mike's grips and liked them, but usually rely on the Pachmayrs.
Ammo when working indoors was lead HP 158 grain .38 Special and outdoors, I used Federal Hydra-Shok .357, same bullet weight.
I don't know why people feel compelled to make extensive changes on a gun as good as the M-66-3.
I never heard of any problem with a floating hand. If it was an issue, these pages would be full of reports, and some gun magazines would have been honest enough to mention it.
I think you have one of the best defense and outdoors guns ever made. Limit full .357 loads to maybe 15% of your use and it'll last well. I suspect that Buffalo Bore's hot Plus P .38 round is a killer and not as hard on the gun as is Magnum ammo.
Let us know how your gun shoots, with which ammo.I think you'll like it.
Don't know why you said a 4.2 inch barrel. Ruger and maybe S&W now use 4.2 inch barrels to comply with a Canadian law requiring that much barrel length for ownership up there. I think the M-66-3 was out of production by the time this applied.
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Bill In Texas
Member
Congratulations on a great revolver!
The floating hand sometimes caused a hitch in the double action pull. Apparently, it was serious enough that the factory only used it for a short while before going back to the original style.
As Armorer951 stated, if its not a problem, don't worry about it.
As Armorer951 stated, if its not a problem, don't worry about it.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Might they have changed the hand without changing the dash number? My gun may not have a floating hand, as it was sent new in 1990, and the -3 came out in 1988, if memory serves.
Maybe that's why I had no trouble. My M-60-4 probably dates from the 1994 (?) production run. It has also never been an issue.
I know that no prior owner has changed the hand in the M-66-3 as the gun was sent to me directly from S&W, via the PR lady at the time. (I was then a masthead gun writer.)
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Fishinfool
Member
OP - Did you perhaps mean floating firing pin? If so, the firing pin is riveted to the hammer, and as long as it is not broken, and moves freely, you are good to go.
Larry
Larry
It probably did not come with the floating hand, but if you really care you could pop the sideplate and check.
sac-gunslinger
Member
Great revolver, don't mess with it.
I doubt that you can make such a change to the gun as you are thinking. The whole frame is machined for specific parts, you cannot change the entire "operating system" in the physical frame.
I doubt that you can make such a change to the gun as you are thinking. The whole frame is machined for specific parts, you cannot change the entire "operating system" in the physical frame.
Welcome to the forum from Pennsylvania!
Congratulations on choosing a great revolver. You should have no issues with it. Enjoy using it, and if any problems present themselves the forum members can walk you through to a resolution.
Congratulations on choosing a great revolver. You should have no issues with it. Enjoy using it, and if any problems present themselves the forum members can walk you through to a resolution.
If he does have a floating hand in the 66, he could change it to a standard hand fairly easily. But it's probably not worth it unless there's a problem.
