For those of you that have or have had a S&W 66 Combat, what are your opinions? Interested in recoil for one thing. Anyone carry one? Which holster style? Thanks.

My 66-4 probably has the best trigger of any revolver that I own and is remarkably accurate at the range.

Carried sparingly OWB in a custom Snubbyfan holster.

For EDC, I much prefer my J’s…

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I've carried all three barrel lengths of the Model 19 as an LEO for many years and I think that it's the best carry magnum out there. I still have a 4" and a 6" and I shoot them quite often for fun and for practice.

If you're worried about recoil, just shoot +P 38 Specials or standard 38 Specials. That's all I shoot anymore in my K Frames.

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Keep your powder dry.

Got me a 66-8 2.75"

Recoil is basically the same as a 4" L or K frame. It can be a lot of recoil for some people and lots of range ammo will wear your hand out unless you want to shoot 38, special which pose no problem.

I carry IWB 3 o'clock in a Tucker Texas Heritage. It's for a 4" 686, but it can hold a k snub up to my 5" 627. The 66 feels quite slim in a holster that wide. It disperses the weight well.

It's not small like a J frame or K6s. It certainly doesn't carry as big as a 686. It is very much a goldilocks gun.

Depends on what ammo and your intended use.

For SD where you want fast repeat shots, the .357 magnum is an experts round. That’s true for pretty much any .357 revolver, not just the Smith K-frames.

I can pass various standard drills (like the Wizard Drill, or Revolver Super Test) with a Model 66 shooting magnums, but my EDC is still a .38 Spl.

Now if you mean is recoil tolerable in general, yes, with the right grips.

When I head out to the boonies, it’s with a 4” M-66 or 3” M-65 and full-house magnums to handle 2 or 4-legged vermin (the latter being mostly feral hogs.)

The Uncle Mikes that used to be standard on K-frame round-butts are hands down THE BEST. All of my K-frames wear them.

Here they are on my carry M-64:


The factory grips on the current 66-8 look like they should handle recoil pretty well, too.

The old wood factory target stocks are OK for single-action slow-fire, but too thick for my hands for DA shooting.

I’ve found with hard-kicking DA revolvers, wood stocks thin enough for my stubby fingers are very punishing. Shooting magnums with them will lift skin from the web of my hand pretty quick.

Oh, as to your question: I own 3 M-66s and have had as many as 5 in my safe, if that tells you anything.

The holster pictured is a Lobo leather offset belt clip for EDC. I carry a 3” M-64 AIWB and occasionally a 2.5” M-66.

My 4” guns are carried 3:00 in a Safariland 568 or Garret Industries Silent Thunder OWB, through I’m not crazy about either one.

No different from any K-frame .357; the longer barrels seem easier to shoot with magnum loads, a little more weight to counter the recoil. The snub nosed versions are pretty ferocious; manageable, but nothing you want to shoot all day at the range. Reduced magnum loads or .38 Spl +P are just fine, though. I carry this one from time to time:

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I find 2 1/2 inch 66s with full magnum loads not so fun to shoot.

4 inch are not bad if it's the 125gr load... but mighty loud.

6 inch are ok.

But I would not use a whole bunch of full loads. I'm talking about maybe 200-300 are ok. Most of the time shoot .38s and enjoy. The snub 66 is a dandy gun with +P .38s. My favorite load is the Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWHP at 'standard' pressure. Makes 900 fps from the 2 and 1/2 inch barrel. Easy to shoot one handed.

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Deaf

I too have a new 66-8 with the 2.75" barrel and I think it is fantastic! Sure there is a bit more recoil with a 357 round than a 38 special - but not that much more it seems to me. For me the 66 handles 357 rounds much, much better than expected. One of my favorite, and easily controllable, rounds out of this gun is the Buffalo Bore 140 Barnes 357 Mag cartridge. I could easily see making that my trail load.

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.38 +P for sure. It’s probably my favorite round. .357 is fun and enjoyable out of a 4” barrel. When you drop down to a 2.75” barrel them the concussion at an indoor range gets to be a bit much. Outdoors is far more enjoyable. My ears wear out before my hands indoors.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a 4” and a 2 1/2”. Both are great.

The 4” is the only SS or blue steel revolver I own with rubber grips. [I have three 386s and they all wear rubber, and need rubber.] They’re Pachmayer’s and very comfortable to shoot with, even high end 357. 38spl is a joy to shoot.

My 2 1/2” has combats and they’re great to shoot with too. Full power 357 is tolerable, but not the joy to shoot that 38spl is.

I typically load either BB 158gr SWCHP +P or Gold Dot Short Barrel 135gr +P.

I have a 4 inch Model 19, recoil with full power magnum loads is a little on the stout side, but not horrible. It is easy to shoot with reduced power magnum ammo and any variety of 38 Special ammo. I will say that regardless of ammo, the K-frame is easier to shoot than the smaller J-frame S&W. I'm making that comparison based on my experience with the Model 19 and Model 640-1.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

OP, if you are asking this question, it would probably be a good idea to go to a range and rent or borrow a 4” Model 66 and buy a box of 158 gr +P ammo. Fire it at police type targets at 7 1/2, 15, and 25 yds until the box of ammo is gone, then make your own decision. If you like it, buy one. I’m partial to the K frame for middle magnum cartridges, but that is a function of my training and experience. As the old saying goes, “You do you”.

Froggie

I carry my 4 inch 66 in a DeSantis pancake holster. It rides close to the hip and is so comfortable I forget it is there.
My M69 is in it here but I also use it for the M66.

You will notice the recoil with full power .357 but it isn't too bad, especially if you are used to shooting big bores.
I only load .357 when going up to the mountains, for town carry I use Remington .38 Special +P JHP.

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U. S. Army Veteran

Before I became an over the hill J Fanboy my 66 Shorty was my primary carry gun.
It’s a hand full with full loads.
Kind of twisty.
Get some grips that fit!
Bought that holster in Lafayette.
It was in a big pile of used holsters.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

The goldilocks comment seems spot on. This is a timely thread as it's one of the two models I'm strongly considering for my next purchase, mainly as my woods/boonies gun. Unfortunately, no LGS has one in stock.

While I've never shot a K frame, I can chime in on magnum rounds in J frames and L frames. My J frame model 60 (3") is a delight to carry. For me, shooting magnums with it works without much drama for slower, controlled DA firing and SA work only. I'm not the kind of shooter who can quickly empty a cylinder of magnum rounds from a J frame achieve the accuracy I'd like to see. Consequently, running .38 +p in it is much more realistic. On the other end of the spectrum, my 6" 686 soaks up magnum loads and does everything better...except carry. It's weight and bulk mostly relegate it to home use.

I think for my purpose (I live in the boonies and mainly carry in the woods while hiking, bushwacking, foraging), a 4" 66 sounds almost perfect. Otoh, a 4" 686+ weighs only 2 ounces more and would most likely offer better performance with magnum loads. For the OP and others, what about the model 66 would make you choose it over the slightly heavier 686, particularly if one of your benchmarks is performance with magnum loads?

It would be hard to find a finer self-defense revolver than a 4" Model 66. Mine was bought as new in the box and treated to a primo action job by Nelson Ford in Phoenix. This one dates from May 1978. It's a dash one, the last of the pinned and recessed models. I love it.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Well 2 1/2, 3 and 4 inch models were my go to carry guns for about two decades. +P.38s in urban areas, 158 gr .357 soft points when out in Penn's Woods. My favorite are the 3 inch 66s with Spegel Boot grips.

Today I baby my K-frames. While I still carry the 3" 66 IWB in a Milt Sparks Summer Special. If I plan to, or think I might need to, shoot more than a cylinder of .357s I opt for a 4" round butt 686 or 681.

Why? Because I can't replace those K-frames at a price I'm will to pay!!!!
And my 4" guns are early no-dash, P&R with stainless sights.

I occasionally carry my 2.5” 66-1 in either an older DeSantis or a basket weave Bucheimer “Concealer”. Both OWB style holsters.

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It's very easy to find a better carry gun. It's called a 686+ and it's very common.

I sometimes carry this, but would rather a 3" 65 or 13 RB. I find a 4" 19 SB with PC magnas just as wearable.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

Unfortunately I no longer have the 6 inch I carried walking the beat when I first became a policeman. We provided our own sidearms but when the city bought and issued model 65s it got sold. My 2.5 inch carries on and is all day comfortable in a Kramer MSP paddle holster. Pricey? Yes but quality leather and a quality dedicated gun belt makes all the difference (Kramer or any of the other good makers, The Beltman, etc). The Kramer scabbard is also great. Lower cost option DeSantis speed scabbard is good.

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I have 5 model 66's, and 3 model 19's.Can you tell I like them.

A side-by-side shooting opportunity with .357 Smiths of different frame sizes will leave you in no doubt about where the K-frames sit with regard to shooting comfort. The easier they are to carry, the more they can sting with full loads. To use .38 Spl +P in them is wise if one anticipates the need for shooting multiple targets with any speed.

Rubber stocks/grips work better than anything else for control, but they tend to print under garments more because fabric doesn't slide over them easily. They are relatively unattractive to be sure compared to wood, ivory or bone. For slow fire work with heavy loads Jordan Trooper stocks worked well for me. They can be a bit large though. The long-discontinued Pachmyr plastic ones are more shock absorbent than wood ones.

Uncle Milty's Versa Max IWB works well for me when I carry my 3-inch 66-2 socially, which I find I do more than my other .357's. Like Bam-Bam reported above, when afield and desirous of real .357 potential power, I use a 4-inch 686 wearing the Hogue rubber it came with, but in truth for than kind of use the 4-inch 66 would work as well for me.

Ultimately I believe in being well dressed for any occasion, so I have one of each. My 6-inch is a M19-3, but I have considered trading for a 6-inch 66-1 just to satisfy some OCD and complete the set all in stainless.

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I’ll go a little different way. I used to use a Galco Jacka** shoulder holster to carry heavier guns. I recently bought a new one that will carry 2,3, 4 inch K frame guns. I love it as it takes weight off of my titanium and arthritis hips. Works great with heavier clothes. This summer will be my Shield or a 3 inch J-frame. Hope this helps. Expensive but worth it for my comfort.

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SWCA 3255 SWHF 615

I prefer the 6” variant. Balance is perfect for me.

Thanks. My son and his family live in Albuquerque. He works for UPS.

Which model is this? What is the grip device that was added?

Why would bigger, fatter and heavier be better for carry ?
I've had two 686's and they are awesome range guns, but no way I'd carry one all day every day over a M66.

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U. S. Army Veteran

I guess for the same reason some like to carry an N-frame S&W. It is personal preference.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

My recent reloading endeavors have left me convinced that if you want to shoot a 357, you should be thinking 4”.

Crunching Ballistics by the Inch’s data, a snub just won’t get a JHP up to the velocities they made their reputations at. Might still work, sure... but all that street cred doesn’t really apply because you aren’t shooting the same apples.

Likewise, applying “more power” might get it closer, but the snub’s recoil from the heavier loads negates some of the benefit.

357 is a great round, and the 38 capability adds so much versatility. It’s kind of a tough fit for a small EDC tho.

I don’t find the recoil of a 2 1/2” K frame 357 significantly different than a 4” K frame when they wear the same grips.

I think yesterday’s reputation was earned collectively by 2 1/2”, 3”, 4” and 6” 357s in use, with a lot more input from 4” because more were used. Despite the prevalence of 4”, I think the strong reputation is fairly attributable to all of the barrel lengths.

But yesterday’s reputation was earned a LONG time ago and bullet technology has come a long way. It’s actually amazing to me how many ****** self defense loads still exist given the advancements.

A look at Lucky Gunner’s ammo gel tests can help differentiate which loads work in shorter barrels and which need longer barrels.

IMO, any +/- 30oz revolver is a tough fit for everyday EDC when the P365, P365X and P365XL and similar are readily available. You have to want to carry a revolver.

Model 66 (no dash)
Milt Sparks PMK
R. Grizzle “Workin’ Man”

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One of my all time favorite Smiths. My current 66-1 is the 7th 2.5" I've had over the last 40+ years. Super accurate and fun for new shooters to try with .38 Special ammo.

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Bill - SWCA #2327

That is why some ammo manufacturers now make ammo specifically for use in short barrel handguns. This ammo typically has a very modern bullet that is designed to expand at lower velocity.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I've been daily carrying a 4" 686 for years. Better balance, better trigger, better shooting, more bullets. I don't really notice a difference in size or weight. I do notice a difference in all other metrics.

686+, the best gun ever built.

First, thank you for your military service.
I have a Model 66 2 1/2” that is my primary edc and I carry it in a Simply Rugged Sourdough pancake.
Because I don’t have large hands for a guy, I had Patrick Grashorn, a member of this forum, make a set of pre-war elk stocks ( no the elk wasn’t pre-war, he was a much later issue I assume).
The stocks fit my hand perfectly and shooting magnum loads are no problem although it mostly get fed a diet of .38’s.

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The 686+ does offer the advantage of a 7-shot cylinder.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

My model 2 1/2” 66, like my 4” 686, need a committed shooter. You cannot be a lackadaisical shooter, or you’ll give yourself trouble, and repeatable accuracy will be hard to achieve. Proper application of grip, sight alignment and a proper trigger press will show a gun that will outshoot many, many others on the line. A set of Pachmayr grips helped a lot. These are wonderful guns. Leather was custom made for the model 66 because of my choice of carry.

I carried the 2 1/2 Model 19 for years with 125 gr. JHP. It was a workhorse. I had the Pachmeyer grips so felt recoil was managable.

A 4inch M19 or M66 is the perfect .357 in my book. I have less issue with recoil in a K frame than I do with a N frame, despite the added weight of the bigger revolvers. K frame targets fit my hand perfectly, which makes a big difference in felt recoil.

a 66 4 inch was my father's carry gun for years.. Old Betsy... he shot IPSC with it back in the day as well... recoil is manageable and controlled by what you put in it... carry is comfortable either inside or outside the waist band... dad carried both ways in holsters he made... I only carry mine OWB in a pancake he made for me...

That is a 2 1/2" Model 66, wearing factory Magnas and a Tyler T grip adapter.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Carried a 2 1/2 66 polished in an upside down shoulder holster for many years working a a US Marshal and cop. Had to use it once on a bad guy. 2 357 125 golden dots Cops 1 - bad guy 0

Agree. Hand fit is everything.
In my hands, a 3" 65 handles .357's better than a 4" M28. I shoot better groups, and feel less recoil. I'll shoot a full box (50) of 158 JSP's in a session, and love every second of it (double up on the ear protection!). I think the round butt makes all the difference. My favorite set-up is the original grips, with Tyler's T-Grip. I have set of Uncle Mike's boot grips, that I also like. OTOH, I have a 4" 66 no dash that really lets you know when you're shooting full house loads! It is a square butt, wearing target grips. Different hands, different ergonomics.

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George

Personally, I have great confidence in the .357 mag cartridge and prefer six rounds of that to ten-fifteen rounds of 9mm. I can run plates with this gun in double action mode and keep up with most guys shooting race guns.

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The Uncle Mike rubber grips are a licenced copy of Craig Spegel's wood Boot Grip! I love Spegel Boot grips for size and shape.


IMO some of the best grips for shooting full power .357s are the Pachmayr Compacts and Professional Compacts. Really like the Compacts on my round butt 4" 686 with the covered backstrap!

The 4" model 66 with Hogue rubber grips was THE best duty revolver ever available. That's DUTY gun. I know, the L's and N's have better endurance and might be a little easier to handle with magnum loads, but for a day in, day out duty gun the 66 was the best, hands down.

I know the thread is about snub 66s, but I just had to throw in my highly-prized 19-4 2.5 inch that I bought used in 1980.
I bought the finger groove combats at a LGS, shortly after I bought the gun, off of a counter display of S&W grips he had. They fit my hand perfectly and look great to boot.
I generally shoot +P.38s on the range and carry it with 125gr .357s or some of my old stash of .38 SuperVels.
It's either in an old-school Strong high-ride pancake at 4 o'clock or an "upside down" tear out that I think is a Bianchi or Safariland.
It's a little on the heavy side for all-day belt carry, but very reassuring. I generally carry a pre-36 RB 1.75 inch for EDC.

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I have three Model 66s, a 2-1/2" -4, a 4" -2 and a 6" -2. I also have a half-dozen Model 686s but prefer the good old K-frames. For holsters, I use all Lobo Gun Leather gear. They re custom-made to your order, his prices are fair and his selection of styles is very good.

Ed

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Thank you for your service as well. Love the elk grips. My hands are on the small size too.