Looking for your input

[keithherrington]

In a couple of weeks I should have my grubby little paws on the gun shown below, a very nice Model 66-4



My plan is to modestly customize it and use it as my primary carry gun during the hot part of the year. So far I've settled on the following mods:
a. D&L fixed rear sight and dovetail tritium front sight combination
b. Spegel smooth bootgrips in Cocobolo



What I'm considering are:
a. Melt all sharp edges and points
b. Satin vs brushed finish
c. Round and polish the trigger
d. Remove the hammer spur
e. Refinish the trigger and hammer so I have no bare steel that can rust
f. Duty action job

Those of you that have customized your short barrel Model 66s please post pictures with a short description of what you've done to them. Most important, if mods have NOT worked out as intended, please let us all know. Thanks in advance.
Keith

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Sounds like a good plan to me!

I would love to ad a NS to my 2" model 10.

You might not need to do a melt job or tune the trigger pull, the trigger pull on my model 10 is a smooth 8lbs and feels lighter.

It's not a model 66, but here's my model 10 after being "tuned" by me. (Bobbed and removed SA sear on hammer then blued the back of the hammer.)

BTW: I plan on rounding the back edges of the trigger soon.

 

[jinx]

That is a pretty valuable and sought after gun just as it is. Couldn't you find a model 65 or 13{or even a model 10 or 64 if you like 38 special} to put that much time and money into?
Don't get me wrong, I have a model 19 that I had customized after I got out of the Army,{was my carry sidearm}. This when the cost wasn't that much.

 

[AveragEd]

I'm with jinx. Why not buy something that is still made and available in plentiful numbers instead of ruining the collector value of a gun that is long out of production and experiencing rapid value appreciation? Obviously, it is your gun and your decision to make but you'll come out way ahead in the long run that way.

Ed

 

[Muss Muggins]

I'm with jinx. Why not buy something that is still made and available in plentiful numbers instead of ruining the collector value of a gun that is long out of production and experiencing rapid value appreciation? Obviously, it is your gun and your decision to make but you'll come out way ahead in the long run that way.

Ed

I'm with these fellas as well. I've never understood this mindset. Why try to make a handgun into something it's not? There's several out there that will do what you want without trashing this one . . .

 

[regalsc]

Its your gun you asked but the only change I would make would be some grips.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Since you asked.....

I can see some benefit in the sight mods and new grips. I'd skip the other stuff. I'd only do a trigger job if the original trigger was bad, like gritty and/or crunchy (doubtful). S&W triggers are typically just fine and improve with use. At most I might drop in a 14 or 13 lb. rebound spring.

 

[ironhead7544]

I would just switch the grips and carry it for a while. Make sure you like the weight before you spend the money.

 

[H Richard]

Be sure and try those grips before sinking a lot of money in them. Shot with hard recoiling 357 ammo you might not like as much as you think you do. Contouring and polishing the grooves out of a trigger will leave a shiny smooth trigger face, and even though it is bare metal, you have to really neglect it to ever get it to rust.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I do like mine!
It's factory except for the grips.
Speaking as a long time 357 shooter,
these little guys seem to torque a bit.

 

[keithherrington]

I appreciate your input....

I'd agree with your concerns if the gun was NIB, but it is not. I've got the original box but the gun has been shot and has some use under its belt. I don't know how to respond to those that don't ever want to see S&W revolvers modified. I'm 62 and grew up in the era that factory guns were a starting point only, not perfection personified, and were made to be used, not fondled. Customizing revolvers to suit my needs and desires is just the way it should be, at least for me. However, as a rule, if the gun is a NIB collector grade gun then I never bother with it. I'll leave those to guys like you that really care about preserving them for posterity.

I don't know of any fixed sight 357 that would suit me as well. The fixed sight models are fine but are not as quick or as accurate for me to shoot. Adjustable sight models with their larger sight picture are faster to acquire and I shoot them more accurately as well. The D&L rear sight gives a nice big sight picture and are also more rugged than the original adjustable sights.

As to the grips, I mount Spegel Bootgrips on all of my carry guns. The ammo I shoot is the Remington 125 grain Golden Saber which is a mid-range load, not full power. It is also very accurate and has a very good record on the street. Used to be the issue ammo for the FBI and other Federal agencies. I use it in my SP101 and while not pleasant, is very manageable.

Finally, the action job. I agree that it is not always necessary. But most of the time smoothing out the action allows me to shoot the gun more accurately, especially at speed. I've been carrying and shooting wheelguns in competition for well over 30 years and over that time a bit of bias has crept into my beliefs. That is why I don't carry an auto. Bottom line, if I'm going to put my life on the line, then the gun I carry will be tuned to meet my needs. If it detracts from its value (I've never understood why it would) then so be it. My faith in my gun eclipses all other concerns.

Keith

 

[Muss Muggins]

I don't know how to respond to those that don't ever want to see S&W revolvers modified. I'm 62 and grew up in the era that factory guns were a starting point only, not perfection personified, and were made to be used, not fondled. Keith

Well, My father and I bracket you on each side, pretty evenly. Not sure what era you're talking about . . . Before 1980, factory Smith's were a thing of beauty from the factory, hand fitted and ready to go . . .

 

[keithherrington]

Well, My father and I bracket you on each side, pretty evenly. Not sure what era you're talking about . . . Before 1980, factory Smith's were a thing of beauty from the factory, hand fitted and ready to go . . .

Well Muss, I was referring to me and not the gun's era. I started serious carrying and shooting in the late 70s and early 80s. My first carry and competition gun was a 4" Model 29 with heavy duty loads. For the next 20 years I never came across a serious shooter that had not modified his gun to suit his/her personal taste. Just the way it was and no one every said a concerned word about it...unless the mod was just plain stupid or dangerous, then the unfortunate individual would hear about it...in spades.
Keith

 

[Muss Muggins]

Well Muss, I was referring to me and not the gun's era. I started serious carrying and shooting in the late 70s and early 80s. My first carry and competition gun was a 4" Model 29 with heavy duty loads. For the next 20 years I never came across a serious shooter that had not modified his gun to suit his/her personal taste. Just the way it was and no one every said a concerned word about it...unless the mod was just plain stupid or dangerous, then the unfortunate individual would hear about it...in spades.
Keith

There's a lid for every pot.

 

[AveragEd]

Those of us who don't want to see your gun altered appreciate older non-Il, non-MIM S&Ws for the fine pieces of craftsmanship that most of them are, regardless of their current condition as that can be restored by Smith & Wesson so your gun CAN become a true collector piece. That cannot be done with a new-production one.

I'm not saying they aren't as good but they're different and still in production and available, albeit in one barrel length only (for now, anyway). Your Model 66 is not available new and likely never will be again. Your gun truly is irreplaceable unless you come across another one like it. You can't go to a gun shop and order a new one.

But as I said earlier, it is your gun and what you do with and to it is your business. You asked for input and you now know what a 67 year-old thinks.

Ed

 

[Goldstar225]

I'd agree with your concerns if the gun was NIB, but it is not. I've got the original box but the gun has been shot and has some use under its belt. I don't know how to respond to those that don't ever want to see S&W revolvers modified. I'm 62 and grew up in the era that factory guns were a starting point only, not perfection personified, and were made to be used, not fondled. Customizing revolvers to suit my needs and desires is just the way it should be, at least for me. However, as a rule, if the gun is a NIB collector grade gun then I never bother with it. I'll leave those to guys like you that really care about preserving them for posterity.

I don't know of any fixed sight 357 that would suit me as well. The fixed sight models are fine but are not as quick or as accurate for me to shoot. Adjustable sight models with their larger sight picture are faster to acquire and I shoot them more accurately as well. The D&L rear sight gives a nice big sight picture and are also more rugged than the original adjustable sights.

As to the grips, I mount Spegel Bootgrips on all of my carry guns. The ammo I shoot is the Remington 125 grain Golden Saber which is a mid-range load, not full power. It is also very accurate and has a very good record on the street. Used to be the issue ammo for the FBI and other Federal agencies. I use it in my SP101 and while not pleasant, is very manageable.

Finally, the action job. I agree that it is not always necessary. But most of the time smoothing out the action allows me to shoot the gun more accurately, especially at speed. I've been carrying and shooting wheelguns in competition for well over 30 years and over that time a bit of bias has crept into my beliefs. That is why I don't carry an auto. Bottom line, if I'm going to put my life on the line, then the gun I carry will be tuned to meet my needs. If it detracts from its value (I've never understood why it would) then so be it. My faith in my gun eclipses all other concerns.

Keith

Your gun, your money, your choice.

Given your reaction to the input you solicited, were you really wanting input or affirmation of your plan?

 

[keithherrington]

Your gun, your money, your choice.

Given your reaction to the input you solicited, were you really wanting input or affirmation of your plan?

Good question Goldstar, but a better question was in the original post that was never really answered: "Those of you that have customized your short barrel Model 66s please post pictures with a short description of what you've done to them. Most important, if mods have NOT worked out as intended, please let us all know." I'm really surprised that no one has responded to this part of the note.

As for AveragEd, Muss and the others that don't like the idea of altering such a nice gun, you all make a very compelling case for not doing so. So compelling that I've decided to take all of your advice and look for something better suited to my needs. To be honest, spending all that money is a factor in my decision but AveragEd's last note was the most compelling argument in my opinion.

Keith

PS: I just found a Performance Center 13-4 that is a bit rough around the edges. I'm buying that and will then have the PC put it back into its original factory condition.

 

[AveragEd]

Thanks for the kind words, Keith. Perhaps no one has come forth with info on their Model 66 modifications because very few have gone that route? Just a thought...

Ed

 

[Watchdog]

Only thing I'd do to that revolver is ditch those horrible looking rubber grips.

 

[klausinak]

OP-
No I haven't done any modifications to a K-frame. You've already sold yourself on the sights/grips & I'm not one of those people who think all modification is taboo. As for the rest, I would shoot the snot out of it before I sunk all the money into it, just to make sure I needed/wanted the rest done.

Just my .02

-Klaus

 

[Cpo1944]

IT`s your gun to do as you wish, but modified stuff is never as good as stock, why not just enjoy the Smith as is and get a great little Ruger LCR to put in your pocket. It is the perfect pocket pistol just as it is.No need to reinvent the wheel.

 

[R. G. Amos]

Leave it the way it is.