3" Model 66 information, please

[serious lee]

I have a 3" Model 66-4. I bought it new, years ago. It came magna-ported and with red wood grips.

I have only recently been researching this gun. From what I can find, it appears to be part of a run for RSR. Reportedly there were 400 made, but don't know if that number is accurate.

Anything that anyone can tell me about this gun would be appreciated.

 

[Brian894x4]

Give us a partial serial number, first three letters, for at least the approximate year of manufacture.

And a picture would be helpful. Did you save the box? That would give a ton information.

 

[serious lee]

Serial # begins CAT.
Don't have the box. Don't have any idea how to post a picture.

I no longer have the original grips, and I added an insert to the front sight.

As I recall, the guy at the gun shop, who sold it to me, told me it was a Performance Center gun, but I didn't believe him because of the packaging.

 

[feralmerril]

I have this 66-3. One of 300 made for lew horton. Sounds close to yours. I also have wood grips like yours but the paper that came with it says its suppose to have uncle mikes. I bought mine slightly used about 10 years ago. Right after I did I seen another identical except that one had a ivory diamound shaped inset in the grip.

 

[TNDave]

Years ago one of my neighbors bought one of those. I don't think it is a true performance center gun. Just one of the old "gun of the month" guns Smith made there for a while. A very fine gun indeed.

 

[jughed440]

Serial # begins CAT.

this non-ported 3" 66-4 (serial CAA ) was shipped to RSR in Nov '94.
does yours look more like this one, or feralmerril's??

 

[serious lee]

Mine looks like the 66-4 above, but the cylinder latch thumbpiece is shaped differently.

It's magna-ported, not the compensator in front of the sight.

The grips might have been like the 66-3 above. I did not like them at all, and took them off right away.

Thanks.

 

[Centurian77]

My old 66-4.

 

[Brian894x4]

Serial # begins CAT.
Don't have the box. Don't have any idea how to post a picture.

I no longer have the original grips, and I added an insert to the front sight.

As I recall, the guy at the gun shop, who sold it to me, told me it was a Performance Center gun, but I didn't believe him because of the packaging.

CAT appears to date around 1996 from what I can tell.

Book lists a 3" Mag-na ported barrel run made for RSR in 1996, .375" semi-target trigger, .312" smooth combat trigger, pinned black ramp front sight, KT round butt frame, glass bead finish, laminate wood finger groove stocks, product code 102715. Lists as 500 units made.

The thumbpiece design was changed in 1997 per the book, but if it's a late 1996 model its possible that it has an early adoption of the changed design.

I have several 3" K frames. A 66 special run from about 1980 and a former LE model 65. Great guns!

 

[Sportsterguy]

This Model Needs a Sticky

Great revolver! This model comes up every 3 months or so on the forum. My 3" -2 is the best S&W I own.

Here's my -2 which is accurate to 100 yards. Amazing how accurate the little guys are for a 3" barrel. Was your Magnaporting from the factory?

Great revolver. Do Not Sell It! Ever! You will kick yourself in the butt as they are highly sought after.

 

[serious lee]

" 3" Mag-na ported barrel run made for RSR in 1996, .375" semi-target trigger, .312" smooth combat trigger, pinned black ramp front sight, KT round butt frame, glass bead finish, laminate wood finger groove stocks"
That certainly sounds like it.

Were these smaller-run guns typically put together better than the standard models? This example seems to be very well fitted. The chambers are tight. The first handloads I ever tried in it wouldn't fit in the chambers, but worked fine in another revolver. Velocities with factory loads are higher than I expected, also.

 

[Brian894x4]

" 3" Mag-na ported barrel run made for RSR in 1996, .375" semi-target trigger, .312" smooth combat trigger, pinned black ramp front sight, KT round butt frame, glass bead finish, laminate wood finger groove stocks"
That certainly sounds like it.

Were these smaller-run guns typically put together better than the standard models? This example seems to be very well fitted. The chambers are tight. The first handloads I ever tried in it wouldn't fit in the chambers, but worked fine in another revolver. Velocities with factory loads are higher than I expected, also.

If they didn't go through the performance center, my guess is no. I don't notice any difference between my standard 66s and my 3" special run 66. It's possible that slightly better care was taken during assembly but nothing special as far as polishing the internals or trigger appears to have been done on mine. I had to do all that myself.

 

[snw19_357]

...but the cylinder latch thumbpiece is shaped differently.

There was also a thumpiece that the Performance Center used on some of their revolvers.

The PC used this one (sorry, best one I had handy...)

and then this is the new style

 

[serious lee]

Thank you to all who have responded.

Mine has the new-style thumbpiece.

Anyone care to speculate what this gun might sell for now?

 

[Allen-frame]

The 4th.gun in this shot is a 66-4 R.S.R. gun from 1996.
Magna ported ,bead blast finish ,with oversize rosewood laminate
stocks from the factory.
CAT646X serial #.

As to value ,? I traded a Performance center 629 for mine.
Approx value $700. - $800.

Regards , Allen

 

[ray45]

I like the 66-4 over the early 66p&r.

nice ...Allen-Frame

 

[Sportsterguy]

The 4th.gun in this shot is a 66-4 R.S.R. gun from 1996.
Magna ported ,bead blast finish ,with oversize rosewood laminate
stocks from the factory.
CAT646X serial #.

As to value ,? I traded a Performance center 629 for mine.
Approx value $700. - $800.

Regards , Allen

"As to value ,? I traded a Performance center 629 for mine.
Approx value $700. - $800".


That was an excellent trade and once again nice collection Allen! I've seen a few going for more than that on GB but I wouldn't pay it.

If anyone has an F Comp collecting dust please PM me. These 3' 66's are bad to the bone and the perfect all around revolver IMO.

Roger/SG

Must buy another 3" 66, Must buy another 3" 66, Must buy another 3" 66.

 

[serious lee]

Have you guys chronographed factory ammo from the 3" barrels?

I get 1150 to 1200 fps with Federal and Remington 158 gr jhp's. Definitely faster than I expected.

 

[Poohgyrr]

You guys are making me drool with all your snub 66's.