Nice looking gun you've got there. Congrats!
Got the new 2.75" 66-8 "Combat Magnum"
- Thread starter Rick_A
- Start date
OP
Rick_A
Member
Aesthetically I just don't like the looks of the two piece barrel.
While the wood grips look excellent, for shooting magnums with regularity I prefer Goodyears.
While the wood grips look excellent, for shooting magnums with regularity I prefer Goodyears.
HamHands
Member
Ahhhhhh, the (2) piece barrel... I think it's a mistake on Smith's part to ever go with that design for production costs but I digress and won't go into that here and (P) in this thread with my disdain for such...
I wear "Cop-Gloves" for every-time I shoot in practice, competition, and at the farm shoots I sponsor because they make shooting all "N" frames and CZ's (my favorite handguns to shoot all time) so the Wood grips and recoil are very comfortable. I finally wore out my first pair of said Cop-Gloves and just got a replacement pair off of Amazon for under $40 bones... They will see a lot of action before they wear out.
Good looking gun OP and the best Handgun Caliber(s) ever; in my opinion!
Pic of My M29 3" barrel and my "Cop-Gloves" that make shooting the "Combats..." both 80's LHS and 90's Morado's super comfortable... I've got about 3,000 Magnums worth of wear thru said gloves and about 4,000 "Non-Mag" .38 Specials, 9mm's, 45ACP's and even some hot .40Cals before I consolidated calibers to make a about 7K thru these gloves before they became toast... Their replacements need some wear to make them feel half as comfortable and snug as the first pair but that's an easy fix!
alwaysoutdoors
Member
Put some wooden stocks on those for God's sake.ha
OP
Rick_A
Member
I prefer to shoot sans gloves. My 22-4 in 45ACP is my only remaining wood stocked revolver as it is relatively mild in recoil with most loads.
Changing to a lighter rebound spring typically involves some polishing & an assortment of springs, one over & one under, what you're trying for, which generally is 14#. Doing it another way can give the results you lament.
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Most people aren't sure, when they see the current style on the M66 & M69, if it's a two-piece barrel or not. Much better than the style used on the early Sc framed two-piece barrels, IMO. To not like it for the barrel's looks (only noticeable at the muzzle) you almost have to go out of your way.
. . .
IMO, the two-piece barrels have advantages:
- canted barrels are almost unheard of with them since the shroud, with it's front sight, are indexed to the frame by an alignment notch & thus are not subject to barrel installers judgement of when it's straight up like on a one-piece barrel.
- forcing cones appear to be formed when the rifling is formed rather than cut later as in one-piece barrels & are generally smoother.
- since the barrels are not hand torqued into the frame, like one-piece barrels, the problem of over tigthening it & causing a constriction at the barrel-frame union is eliminated.
Finding my new revolver doesn't have a canted front sight with a rough forcing cone along with a constricted barrel, all defects I've encountered as well as countless others, is worth the change & I welcome it.
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Current style two-piece barrel on stainless steel revolvers (fairly innocuous)
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Original style two-piece barrels, Sc frames (fairly obvious)
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OP
Rick_A
Member
I know the manufacturing and engineering advantages...I don't like the thickness and profile. The classic 3" guns look best to me.
S&WsRsweet
Member
That's a great review it's good to hear good things about the newer guns S&W puts out .I would buy that if I needed another 357 .
HamHands
Member
Changing to a lighter rebound spring typically involves some polishing & an assortment of springs, one over & one under, what you're trying for, which generally is 14#. Doing it another way can give the results you lament.
.
Most people aren't sure, when they see the current style on the M66 & M69, if it's a two-piece barrel or not. Much better than the style used on the early Sc framed two-piece barrels, IMO. To not like it for the barrel's looks (only noticeable at the muzzle) you almost have to go out of your way.
. . .
IMO, the two-piece barrels have advantages:
- canted barrels are almost unheard of with them since the shroud, with it's front sight, are indexed to the frame by an alignment notch & thus are not subject to barrel installers judgement of when it's straight up like on a one-piece barrel.
- forcing cones appear to be formed when the rifling is formed rather than cut later as in one-piece barrels & are generally smoother.
- since the barrels are not hand torqued into the frame, like one-piece barrels, the problem of over tigthening it & causing a constriction at the barrel-frame union is eliminated.
Finding my new revolver doesn't have a canted front sight with a rough forcing cone along with a constricted barrel, all defects I've encountered as well as countless others, is worth the change & I welcome it.
.
Current style two-piece barrel on stainless steel revolvers (fairly innocuous)
.
.
.
.
Original style two-piece barrels, Sc frames (fairly obvious)
.
.
We all agree that 1 piece barrels are the S#** and best thing since sliced bacon... and then comes this guy BlueDot comes into this thread with all his reasoning and practicality...
Seriously though, I don't own a 2 piece designed barrel but you make some extremely solid and practical points that has me thinking (2) Piece barrels aren't the end of the world and actually have some very good "Plus Points"... Good synopsis "BD"! As always, I really enjoy your responses, threads, and your posts. Case in point... your Post on the "Endurance Package" explaining exactly all the finer points on the subject the other day in the "pre 80's sub-forum" was truly stellar my friend and I certainly learned something new! Thanks for that and for the above post about 2 piece barrel advantages/plus points...
white cloud
Member
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I wish there was a way to get rid of the "black trim".
alwaysoutdoors
Member
Is the street price $750 on these?NIB
OP
Rick_A
Member
There is. Refinish or replace.
OP
Rick_A
Member
I think the GP100 looks okay...especially in three inches...and the Redhawks are hideous.
OP
Rick_A
Member
Just about.
junglefighter
US Veteran
Next step is to buy the Model 69 with the 2 3/4" bbl.I think that would make a nice set.
HamHands
Member
I've thought Ruger's Revolver handguns were UGLY since I was a 6 year old little boy... Especially the GP series compared to Smiths, Charter Arms, or anything else even... Ruger's have their merit in a lot of ways though. Their Mark I and Mark II series .22LR's, their .22LRRifles, and of course their out of production .44Carbines are just love at first sight and even more lovely in form and function. I'm on the hunt for a semi-auto .44Carbine right now so they aren't all hideous...
OP
Rick_A
Member
I've been a fan of their rimfires...and own a 10/22, 22/45, and LCR-22. My son has a MKIV and wood stocked 10/22 to shoot. I owned a Mini-14 for some years...some of the wood stocked variants through the years have been rather attractive. Their model 1 rifles are quite attractive, and the SP101 looks purposeful. They look elegant polished up with the right stocks.
HamHands
Member
I carry mine often in Azula OWB leather. It is far and away my favorite Smith, favorite Smith trigger and my most accurate at 25 yards. I have a 2.5 no dash and a 2.5 ladysmith 66s and this is what I bet my life on over all my other Smiths and Snubs and I have a lot. Here are some pics of it wearing various pairs of shoes.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
That first pinned barreled 2.5" REvolVer with the ivory colored grips... that is a lovely piece! Tell me/us more about it please? What a nice Revolver!
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