Hey folks, I have a chance to purchase a mint 65-3. It was built in 89, and is flawless. Does anyone have an opinion on the durability, accuracy, and good/bad reputation of this gun? I know it's a K frame with only a front site and notched rear, 6 shot, looks to be stainless, but thats all I know. Any help would be really appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Lou

Solid as a rock. Very durable. Quite a few available currently as Police trade in's. In the $300 to $400 range, depending on condition, good buys.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

If it's fairly priced GET IT!

It's perfect for concealed carry - Many LE Agencies used them in the revolver's heyday.

Here's mine.......

It's actually a trade.. I have a Sig P228 9mm Nickel, 2 high caps, and night sites. 3 to 400 hundred range is considerably less than mine is worth. I wasl looking for a good snubbie, doesn't matter J or K frame. Got to think about this one. Thanks alot for your opinions, they mean alot. I'm kind of new (even though I'm old) to revolvers. This also looks to be a 3" or 4" barrel.

A mint 4" M-65 is worth about $425, with a three inch barrel about 75 bucks more.

If it's the 3-inch, it was the issue of the FBI in its prime of production. I love mine and it is one of my favorites to have in my hands...the other being my 696. I would highly recommend this model revolver in 3-inch.

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GA 2A member
Vietnam Vet

The 65 does about everything. It is hard to find fault.They make a great bedside gun.

Great carry revolver especially with new 38+P ammo, like Buffalo Bore and Speer Short Barrel stuff.

I have a 65-5 and it's all a K frame should be it is a 3" but I'm hesitant to shoot 357s in it as I think the Buffalo Bore 158grain LSWCHP
+P at 1000 fps meets all the requirements for an excellent K Frame round.

I don't think I would trade that SIG straight across, and I would assess my need for a revolver vs an auto.

Here's a picture of mine:

I would not trade my M65 carry gun for any other.
it is my winter and long trip carry gun.
you can't go wrong with a M65.
3" is ideal but 4" will carry just as well and be just a bit easy to shoot with the longer sight radius.
this is mine and it is kept loaded with CCI 158gr.JHP .357mag rounds.

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M 686-3

I have both S&W M65s. One in 3 in bead blast and a 4 inch also bead blast both made 30 years ago this past March and I shoot 158 rain .357 semi jacketed softpoints for defense and target practice without a crack sofar on the forcing cone. rz625-8

I've owned both 65-3 and 66-6. I was a better shot with the 65-3 with what I called fixed sites than with the 66-6 adjustable sites. Shooting 357mag with both. Sold the 66-6. Concealed carry? I did put it in my pants one night when there was something going on outside. Almost took my pant down to my ankles.

I wish I had one in mint condition. I owned a 4" model 65 and sold it. Wish I had it back. The 3" barrel would be preferable, but a 4" barrel would do. I do not like adjustable sights, we carried a model 19 before we transitioned to a model 645, and later a 4506.

Well i love Sig and own them myself and would not trade for that even but everyone needs a Smith as well
I would keep the Sig and find a Smith as well
God Bless,John

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

I see u state j or k frame too it all depends on how u plan to carry it
I own a j frame and a lew horton 24-3 round butt
any way u go with a Smith u will be very happy with
Smith is like Sig with excellent quality and reliability


Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

Exactly what I paid for my 3"!

I recently bought a 10-5 2-inch snub. I like it so much better than any J frame that I ever had or shot. just a personal thing I guess . I also shoot it much better. I need all the help I can get Bob

That was my first S&W revolver and still my all time favorite. Feels good in the hand, pleasing to the eye and fun to shoot, mostly .38 but it's nice to have the option for something with a bigger bang.

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Back to back World War Champs.

The value of 400-500 for a mint 65 is a little shortsighted depending on where you are. I've seen them go for 600+ for the 3" model. I don't know where these guys are finding these "mint" 65's for $400, but I'd be all over them for that price!

"Mint" is in the eye of the beholder.

My recent poking around has shown the 65-3 with the 3" barrel to be quite a bit more than the 4". If I saw a nice 65-3 3" for less than $600 I would have to say so long to the Benjamin's!

How about "cherry", then?

This is a resurrected zombie thread. Prices have indeed gone up since then.

Look nice - even for a zombie.

Good luck finding those $300-400. The LEO revolver trade in well is a dry hole except for occasional 64s & 10s. The 3" K-frames are uncommon and highly sought after, so they command higher prices and disappear fast.

You gun is a gem!

The prices mentioned like this thread are seven years old.

While not a "sexy" as the 2.5" RB M66, the M65 3" is the BEST sort of snub nose Magnum Smith ever made. The 3" barrel is better at delivering closer to Magnum velocities than the 2.5" is and it has fixed sights that I personally prefer in a CCW gun (won't catch clothing or or accidentally move).

I use my M65 as a hiking gun against 4 legged animals and it gets stoked with Buffalo Bore 180 grain 357 Magnum SWC hard cast lead moving out of the 3" barrel at over 1300 fps. Now that's quite a bit for a 180 grain projectile and the hard cast bullet insures maximum penetration.

For home defense or street defense BB 158 grain .38 Special +P LSWCHP-GC will move out at about 1150 fps from the 3" tube and is not hard to control at all. The 3" M65 is one of Smiths BEST!

3" Model 65-4 gits er done for me...

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Bianchi Model 111 Cyclone holster?

Ahrends stocks?

Nice setup. Can even be a pretty goods woods gun.

^^^ Yes, yes, and yes.

My father passed three days ago at the age of 72. Very fast and unexpected. What he wanted actually. No long illness for dad. He was a retired police officer, Vietnam veteran and gun collector. Not to mention husband, father and grandfather. Among his many guns that I have just inherited (I'm an only child and mom isn't a gun person) is his old State Police Model 65 w/4" barrel. Terrific revolver. It's one of the ones that I'll never let go of.

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I type. Therefore I am.

Checkman:

My sincere condolences on your father's passing. It sure sounds like he had a full and adventurous life, lived on his terms yet focused on family and service to his community and country.

While his possessions can never replace his physical presence in your life, they represent part of his legacy that you can pass down to the next generations.

God bless you and your family......

Today a stone new in box M65 3" unfired unmolested would bring $1000+ ,about as rare as hen's teeth in that condition.lesser guns less. A well used one would still bring $500+.

I recently purchased a 65-3 3" new in the box from a collection left to some one , if I knew what I know now I never would have fired it, got it for $350 it has the 3" bull barrel and I love it. Its a very nice carry gun and very accurate even with the fixed sights.

You stole it,not the norm!

My 65-2 is my favorite revolver, it is my home defense gun too. Solid, tough, and very accurate.

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Just picked up my 65-3 with a 3" barrel. Excellent shape with the original matching box, paperwork, and tool set. Got it and (3) boxes of 357 shells for $650. Will post some picks when I get home.

The 65 is an awesome defense and range gun!
Here's my 65-3. I picked this one up with original grips from an LGS for $299 The appearance of the grips suggested it had been carried much. The condition of the steel suggested it had been shot very little. The drag line is my work

Given the savings I felt it was appropriate to put set John Culina's k-frame Walnut combats on it.

Aubie Spr96, that's a great deal on a 3" Model 65-3. Three boxes of .357 are worth about $75 alone. The 3" Heavy Barrel, Fixed Sight, Round Butt K Frames are among the best guns S&W ever made, in either blue or stainless, .38 or .357. The just feel right in the hand and usually shoot very well too. Maybe not as glamorous as a 3" Model 19 or 66 but they will get the job done.

Yep! I've been looking for a 3" since I first got the 4". Cruising Gunbroker and other sites looking for quite a while. I couldn't find a 3" with the matching box for under $900. The 3" is what a carry revolver should be IMO.

Hi guys. I'm a new member to forum - hope doing this right. Retired LEO. Chose Model 65, 3", over all carry options (I ALWAYS carry). Loved my original issue M13, 3". We were set to buy, thru SW, & Clinton/Reno had them melted. 65 shoots great. Trigger pull smooth as butter. Still...I'm planning to invest in having S&W Performance Center gunsmiths eval & do ANYTHING they determine useful to "tighten" & ensure fit for duty. Anyone have opinion/experience? It was formerly a PR State Police issue, per paper.

I got my 65-6 3" RB with a cracked forcing cone and original Uncle Mikes in nice shape for $100 at my LGS. A week later found a 3" barrel on EB for $85. Installed it a week later, went to range loaded with 158 +P and shot first two rounds dead center. Enough said :-)

When they first came out, at least in my neck of the woods the LEO's had first dibs on them. According to the distributor, I got the first privately owned one he sold. 65-1 I think
135.00 new. Now to answer your question, that is going to be the next gun I look for. I answered the ad the other day about " your opinion of what a combat magnum is", and I answered the 65. I did LEO combat qualifying with it and it was just a perfect gun to shoot.4" bbl. Just buy it, or please tell me how I can get my hands on it. You will not be disappointed

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I wish I lived where you do. You will never get a mint 65 for 425 here

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

This sold on GB over the weekend...$595 with shipping.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/780479567

That was also almost 10 years ago....

I've had mine for 41 years, cost me $200 bucks. My best friend kept borrowing mine until I bought one for him as a gift. Years later his Feminist Progressive wife made him get rid of it, I still got mine and a wife. My friend got rid of the gun, his man card and went bald.

Hello Forum;

Sometimes opening a 10 year old post has benefits for other newbies. This one was resurrected in 2016, then later in 2017, and now again. Could it be that the Model 65 is a "favorite of several generations"?

My 65-3 (1974) is a 4" and definitely one of my favorites and preferred over my Model 28-2 if wanting to CC the 357 Magnum round.

On the other hand the Model 36-1 (1976) is a 3" HB with J Frame Targets and is really super for me as CC. Better accuracy than the snubbies, but limited to 38 Special.

Can't discount the Model 15-3 (1969) Combat Magnum for superb accuracy, excellent grip but again limited to 38 Special.

Probably could run + P through the 15 or 36, but current EDC is a Model 637-2 (1-7/8") with + P, while the current truck gun is for sure the Model 65 with 158 grain Federal lawman JHP aboard.

I remember reading somewhere (SCSW 4th?) that the 65-3 was the standard FBI issue weapon for a couple years, 1986/1987 IIRC.

Love em all!

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

Finally found one about two months ago at a LGS.
I now understand the attraction these 3” K Smiths have...best handling revolver I own...

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At the cabelas (no more bargain cave) I head over to check out the used guns and I see this 65 - 3 now its mine and I get to show it off
Need help with grip and holster recommendations.

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You'll get a lot of opinions on holsters, just need to find what's best for you. Either IWB, pancake or paddle. The stocks on the gun are smooth round butt targets. Worth about $140. I personally like these for a round butt K frame. Hogue Bantams

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