66 or something else?

[870Expressmag]

I used to own a model 66 with a 4" barrel. I bought it from a police officer, it was his old duty weapon. Well his son found out and was disappointed so i sold it to his son for the exact price i paid for it. I vowed to always replace that gun because i loved it, but he obviously wanted it worse so i did the right thing. Well now since our home was recently robbed while we were away my wife has a new found interest in getting a gun. She really liked the 66 when i had it before and since i always wanted to replace it, nows the time. My question is, what else would be comparable? that gun shot well, didn;t rise a whole lot and balanced well. I like the size and barrel length....and the main purpose will be my wifes in the house protection. But i am not to familiar with all of S&W's models and was wondering if there was another model close to it that i could keep my eyes open for as well. .38/357 is preference. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help. Oh by the way, they took a lot of guns including my 642-2

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Welcome to the forum, and you did the right thing on selling it to the son. Why not get a 64 from J&G, it is the same size and a set of grips and you will have a nice house gun. For 250 bucks you can't beat it.

 

[kbm6893]

I had a mint 66 4", but I sold it to buy a 686. I do like to touch off some .357's when I shoot, and I got a bit spooked by the "magnums in K frames" threads. I called S&W and they told me to shoot only 158 grain .357, and only sparingly, so I got the 686. Bit heavier, but super slick, and I haven't regretted it.

 

[G-Mac]

Welcome 870Expressmag,

Sounds like you and your wife both liked the 4" 66...and who wouldn't?????

Why not just get another 66? They're not that hard to find and YOU KNOW YOU WANT ONE!!!!!

Just in case you aren't aware...a Model 19 is the same as a 66, except the 19 will be blued or nickel.

19/66's have a huge fan club and for good reason.

Of course, there are many similar models, such as Bullseye Smith suggested.

Hard to go wrong with any of them, if they're in good shape.

 

[max]

You can get the same size gun, but with fixed sights in the M-13 or 65. The Model 15 has adjustable sights, but is 38 only. There are lots of K-frames out there.

 

[Wee Hooker]

First, Welcome!
Next, SMART choice going for a medium sized revolver for a house gun that the wife can use. Can't beat revolvers in your situation. Easy to find grips that fit anyone, good balance, and simple to shoot. No safeties, mag drops, slide releases, mag springs etc to sweat at 2AM in a panic. Pull the trigger and it goes BANG.

As to your question, you are looking for a 4" barreled "K" frame revolver which are all VERY similar to your morned mod 66. In 38 spl these could include the mod 10 ( blued, fixed sights), 15 (blued, adj sights), 64 (stainless, fixed sights), or 67 ( stainless, adj sights). If you want the 357 mag capability the same guns chambered in those cals would be the 13 ( blue, fixed), 19 (Blued, adj sights), 65 ( stainless, fixed) or 66( stainless, adj). For home defence, finish durability and adjustable sights probably aren't real important to you.

These can be had on the used market from $250 on up to $800 or so depending on desirability and condition. Average being $500+/-

That said, many of us have bought the (double action only, 4" stainless) mod 64's from J&G as Bullseye Smith mentioned. GREAT guns for the $. Also police turn In's they have been shot little and carried allot. It should meet your needs nicely.

 

[Allen-frame]

All good advice so far. Any 4" K frame in 38 Special OR 357 magnum will serve your purpose just as the model 66 did.

The models you might seek are ,but not limited to;

Model 10, 12, 13, 15, 19, 64, 65, 66, 67.

By the way, how did they get your guns? Did they break into your safe?

Regards , ,Allen Frame

 

[Nanook 450]

Only a 4 inch 66 or its blued cousin the 4 inch 19 will do. There is not better 357, just don't shoot the light 357 ammo, as mentioned.

 

[870Expressmag]

By the way, how did they get your guns? Did they break into your safe?

Regards , ,Allen Frame

Stole my truck out of the garage, backed it up to the back door, pushed the safe(700lbs) completely through my ENTIRE house on my hardwood floors (gouging the $h!T out of them) and tipped it into MY truck, which they found 2 miles away in a field....no it was not bolted down, but the detective figures since we were gone for the holidays they had plenty of time they would have gotten it anyways since they stole a chainsaw(among lots of other things) from the neighbor. They also broke into my cabinet in the living room, took 30 guns in all...left me 2. Cops have linked em to 4 in the area by footprints....but suspect they are responsible for around 300 of 1100 in a tri-county area

 

[870Expressmag]

I really appreciate the great info guys! couple of questions. I guess when i researched the 66 when i owned it before i remember hearing something about the magnum stuff in the K-frames. I want her to practice with 357 since thats what will be loaded in it all the time....i reload 38spcl so that would be on the majority of practice but i believe she still needs to practice with 357 to be comfortable.....i know it will handle it but whats the "precaution" of magnum ammo in a k frame?

besides going all the way to a 686 is there anyone of them listed above that would take magnum loads more often?

just trying to get all my info before i start looking...and thanks again for the help guys....i don;t wish this situation on anyone!

 

[870Expressmag]

Only a 4 inch 66 or its blued cousin the 4 inch 19 will do. There is not better 357, just don't shoot the light 357 ammo, as mentioned.

why not the LIGHT ammo? i don;t understand?

 

[murphydog]

why not the LIGHT ammo? i don't understand?

The lighter (particularly 125 grain) JHP and JSP ammunition at high velocity hits the forcing cone with a great deal more energy than the standard 158 grain loadings at lower velocity. Also, the very hot gases from the hotter light bullet loads erode the forcing cone area and cause a sideways groove to form in the top strap just above the barrel, referred to as "flame cutting". This damage has been reported with all bullet weights in .357 but tends to occur more with the light/fast loads.

 

[davel686]

I would recommend either getting a 66 with adj. sights or a 65 with fixed sights and stick with .357mag rounds that are 158 gr. with balistics of no more then 1200fps and 460ft lb at the muzzle.
when i had several M 65's that was the type of round that I found that worked best in the K frame guns with out beating them or my hand to death.
if you want a 4" revolver that will handle any .357mag load out there then I would go with the M 686 or its blued brother the M 586.

 

[max]

I just don't enjoy magnums that much. The new 38 sp loads are as effective as yesterday's magnums. I would get her some premium 38 specials and not worry about the magnums.

 

[epj]

Suggest you get another 66 and load with .38 Spec. +P rounds. The 66 will shoot them forever, they will get the job done and you and your wife won't feel beat to death by the gun. Full bore .357's can overpenetrate and cause damage to other folks on the far side of walls, etc. A good hot +P hollowpoint will often serve you better than a magnum.

 

[WVfishguy]

I occasionally see good, used Smiths at gun & pawn shops for good prices. You could also check out gun shows. If you are used handling an older Smith, this may be the way to go.

Also, I would not rule out any good Ruger revolver. The action, while not quite as smooth as a Smith, is quite acceptable.

 

[P&R Fan]

K-Frame magnums

The main reason S@W came out with the L-Frames was for reasons discussed earlier here. However IMHO it takes quite a bit of shooting the hot loads to cause a problem. Ask yourself, am I going to pour thousands of rounds of hot .357s through it? First of all, with todays ammo prices, could you afford to? Only you can answer that. The revolvers mentioned will all serve fine. I would recommend stainless, or else wipe it off with rust inhibiting grease (RIG) or your fingerprints will cause it to rust on a blued gun. Stainless guns don't have that problem.

 

[870Expressmag]

i may just go with one of those J&G guns for that decent price.....will those handle +P ammo? she can practice with lighter 38 ammo and use +P's for self defense if they will handle it?

 

[P&R Fan]

.38+P

Any K-Frame in decent shape made in the last 50 or so years should have no problem with +P.

 

[18DAI]

Get the 66....pre lock version of course. Doesn't get any better than a model 66.

Anything else is just a revolver. My 0.02 Regards 18DAI.