Favorite S&W revolver from this era and why

[SuperMan]

...easy question for a change...4" 57. Just has balance, power and shootability.

Have had a several over the last 40 years and have four left... 1980 blue, 1979 blue engraved, 1980 nickel engraved and a 1964. The 1980 has been my shooter since 1983 when I bought it from a fellow Dallas PD officer.

This was day one way back then but there were Pachmayer Presentation grips on it. 25 yards DA...wish I could still shoot like that...



In Idaho last year...Elmer Keith country...







Shooting across a dry lake bed...200-550 yards...




200 yard target....






1964...







Engraved guns...




The OPs pick of the 5" 27-2...that would be my pick for pre-1960 vntage guns...perfect balance... That or the very rare special order 5" pre-24....

Bob

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

^^I'm with this Guy,A first year 4" Model 57^^

 

[policerevolvercollector]

A 4" Model 66. Why? Because it is everything you need in a revolver & nothing that you don't.

 

[LaVistaBill]

Favorite from this Era?

My favorite from 1961-1980 period would have to be the Model 19 Combat Magnum. I carried one as a cop, deputy sheriff and Fed, so it has a special place in my heart. My Model 19 also saved my bacon one night, so how could it NOT be my favorite...???

 

[bronco45]

For me I have loved many S&Ws but the one with the siren's song is the Model 66-1 2.5" that I bought in 1980 and is still by my side. I will post a photo in a day or two.

 

[bananaman]

My 625 JM goes to the range most! Next would be my 586 no dash, 4", and 686-3, 6". I have K's, L's, & N's. K's get shot the least. It is not that I don't like them! I like the others better!!! Bob

 

[charlie sherrill]

5 1/2" 627-0 w/unfluted cylinder followed closely by my 686-3 seven shooter in 4".

 

[howiema]

Old Faithful

Model 19-3 older grips I love em'. This one goes on the road trips up north here and to the range also.

 

[Shooting Padre]

How long is an Era? I have this M&P22 I'm pretty fond of, its lots of fun to shoot.



Of an earlier age, not particularly earlier era, is this 1958 Model 18-0. I consider this is in my era, whereas some of you would look at this as ancient history.



In dog years I'm already gone! Why are these my favorites, mostly because I own them I guess. There are many I'd LIKE to own and they would be pretty favored also, but alas, I am only rich in spirit.

 

[Engine49guy]

Technically 1961 could include some late 4 screws but perhaps the focus is 3 screws of which my favorite would be a difficult choice between this 6" Model 27-2 and 4" 19-2,
Both shipped in 1966 with "3-T's", damond GA's and yellow Baughman FS inserts with "Proud" site pins .

 

[Bert Man]

From this period I favor my 66-1 and 15-3, both 4 inch. Carried the 66 and a 19 for a number of years on the job and.as for the 15, what can I say, the sweetest 38 Spl. revolver ever produced.

 

[Troystat]

My favorite is my 17-4, I like almost any older S&W but this is my favorite because it is my first S&W bought with money from my first job out of college and it was tuned by Bob Chow an long gone but most missed gunsmith in San Francisco. I shoot it all the time and I would guess that I have put close to 10,000 rounds through it. the case is a wood shop project of mine.

 

[gmborkovic]

Mine, a 27 5" right out of the box. In 1972 my buddies and me continuously pumped every hot hand load that was popular. The imprints on the recoil shield are testimony to the wonder full life this old girl has lived. Sorry, there is a drag line. Mike

 

[ILTim]

I really haven't sampled many from this era personally, mostly from the 80's and 90's. But what I love is the classic appearance. It's not one gun from this era, but I can point to one feature that overshadows the rest.

I really want to be excited about the new classics series, but they somehow miss the esthetic so badly that before I even get within arms reach of the dark display cabinets I can see something is wrong.

The biggest feature to me is non underlug barrels. I know that trend has been in motion since... What? WWII? But the round heavy no-lug barrels really do it for me more than any feature.

Even in the modern Ruger SP101 with 4.2" barrel, the .22 looks hot but the .357 adds a full underlug and the appearance suffers.

Then it's all the little (and not so little) details that make the new classics stand apart. Cylinder gaps, the shape of the release button, the flat blueing, all the engraving and barrel markings. The hammer, firing pin, case hardening. Those beautiful flush mounted head stamps.

Ahhhh. I'm, gonna go broke accumulating old guns. Yet i only wish I'd started sooner.

There was such a long slow and painless progression from the early 1930's until the end of P&R guns, and that change is such a clear marker of the cumulative and rapid evolution of manufacturing details in that period. The next such big obvious marker is the IL, but that's for another thread.

Underlugs. That's my one feature.

 

[TDC]

I'm with you, teesur.... The 5" 27!!

 

[jaymoore]

I was just wondering what other S&W revolvers top the list of revolvers you shoot regularly.

For this era ('61-'80): Model 58. Made only in this time frame until just a few years ago. And in this particular case, I like the old ones better.

 

[M3Stuart]

Well, TODAY, I would say my 67-1 for its tack-driving shootability. I'm loading a lot of Trail Boss - midrange .38 Special LSWC loads - and it is very enjoyable to shoot. The 15-2 gets about equal time but I just like the looks of the 67 a little bit more.

Sorry to hear about your health FYIMO...hope you're feeling better soon!

 

[153]

In 1963 Dad brought home this K-22. It's been around since then, and is probably my most used handgun. If they all had to go, this would be the last to leave my hand.

The original walnut stocks got pretty used, so I replaced them some time back with ivory.

 

[Retired W4]

Fyimo, I'm with you. My favorite shooter and the one that gets the most ammo through it is a M-28-2, S prefix. I have others similar to it but this particular gun is the one.

 

[A10]

I don't own a single one that is not a perfect gun in its own right. My Js for power and concealability, my 28s for multi use durability and power, my 66 for its weight, balance, and power, my 5" 27 for its overall perfection of the manufacturers art, my 29sfor power and accuracy, and my 57s because they are truly the best balance of power, shootability, and packability.

If I had unlimited ammo at my disposal it would be my 4" 57s. Otherwise, my 3 1/2" 28.