Model 66 questions

[S&W1006]

I wasn't sure whether to post here or on the pre 1980 but since I'm pretty sure the models I'm looking at were made after 1980 I chose this one. My favorite pawn/gun shop has several model 66 Smiths. Some are 4" some 6". I have always liked the 686 but there is something about the look and feel of the 66 that I am falling in love with. I have heard the 66 isn't as durable as the 686 but I don't intend to beat on it but I have no way of really knowing what the previous owner did. What do I need to look for? I know the signs of abuse on auto pistols but I am becoming a huge fan of the double action revolvers but I am new to it. I own a 617 that I love and 2 Rugers a SP101 2 1/4" and a 4" Security Six(on layaway but mine soon). I was thinking about a 686 but I think I like the balance of the 66 better. What is a fair price for a good used 66? I appreciate the help.

 

[ma deuce]

You don't say where you are, but around here (Maryland), I'd say about $500 - $600 for a good 66 w/o box or papers but with original grips. Others are going to gasp and say "no, that's too much, why here in (name rural place) I can buy them any day of the week for $400", but around here, if I saw one for $550 I'd jump on it. As a matter of fact, I'm still kicking myself for not buying one a LGS had for $550, w/o original box, papers or grips but with nice Hogue cocobolos. 'Cause you don't see 66s around here at all, period. 4" would probably bring a small premium over 6", 2 1/2" substantially more.

Re 66s not being as durable as 686s, it's the same story as with 19s, or in general, any .357 K frame versus an L frame. Although opinions vary widely, the scoop seems to be that a steady diet of 125gr .357s can cause excessive flame cutting and possibly a cracked forcing cone in a K frame. 148 - 158 gr are generally considered safe. An L frame, on the other hand, can fire are many as you can stand of full-house .357s, regardless of bullet weight. That's what they were designed for. But since most of us probably shoot mostly .38s anyway, it doesn't really matter. .38 +P is just fine in K frames, all day, every day.

 

[JCS&W]

I am by no means an expert, there are others on here that are, but I will try and answer some of your concerns.
I do not blame you for liking the M66. It and the M19 are some of the best balanced and best looking revolvers that S&W made, in my opinion. The M66 has had forcing cone problems, if you hammer .357's all day long in it. That is why the L frame M686 was built. However, there are many on here that have never had a problem with .357 rounds in a M66, me included. If you are not going to "beat on it", it will shoot .38s all day no problem. You should make sure the gun locks up properly, timing is correct, and little to no end shake, check the bore and the cylinder and give the gun a good overall look for signs of abuse, just like you would do on any revolver. You do need to check the forcing cone for cracks and check for any flame cutting.
As for pricing, that is very subjective and is area of the country sensitive. Also, the 6" barrel is valued a little less than the 4". Not having seen the guns your are speaking about, I will just give you a price on a good to excellent 4" M66 in my area. I have seen them sell for as little as $425 and as much as $575 depending on whether or not the correct grips are included and if it has the original box and acessories.
I have both a M586 4" and a M66-1 4". I find it hard to pick between the two, but if I had to, I would go with the M66-1, 4". Just my opinion. Good luck in deciding which way to go. Of course, I would try and buy them both so I would not have to pick one or the other.

 

[AveragEd]

I own Model 66s and Model 686s; my preference is the Model 66 for many of the reasons you and the other respondents mentioned.

The Model 66s in the photo are a 6" 66-2, a 4" 66-2 and a 2-1/2" 66-4. I bought all three on the auction site GunBroker.com during the last two years and paid $436, $540 and $416 for them, respectively, but only the 4" came with its correct stocks, box and other goodies.

I am in south-central Pennsylvania and agree wholeheartedly with ma deuce with regard to pricing. Model 66s are no longer made, which means that nice like-new ones available for purchase become fewer in number every month. If I were in the market for either a Model 66 or 686 and found both but could only afford one, I would choose the Model 66.

Ed

Another plus for the Model 66 that I forgot to mention in my original post is the availability of the wider and longer target hammer and wider target trigger, nice features if you plan to do a lot of single-action bullseye shooting, which is how use my revolvers the most. My 4" came with those parts and I installed them in the 6" along with a Millett rear sight. I have never seen a 686 with a target hammer and trigger but they can be purchased. I installed them in the 686 I use for target shooting the most.

 

[S&W1006]

I am in NC by the way I failed to mention that. This pawn/gun store prices everything high on the tag but will negotiate. He is pretty sharp on his guns and he knows the values. I never go by tag price with him but he knows what the market is but has been fair with me. I have been reluctant to price one of the 66's so far because he is usually close to the top end on S&W revolvers. Since he has multiples maybe I can strike a deal. The numbers do give me a ballpark. As far as my intended purpose I will shoot some magnums but mostly target 38's. I was just concerned because I had heard with a steady diet of hot magnums they would wear out. I'll go by there Friday and see what he has to have for the 4 inch or even the 6 inch if they don't show signs of abuse.

 

[bubba t]

I too always liked the 66. I carried one back in the 70s. I had and still have a 19, but wanted a 66 also. I never got around to it and now they don't make them any more, do they? I was on the S & W website and they have some of the classic K frames, but no 19s or 66s listed.

It just amazes me, (I've been out of it for about 26 years), the ones I have now cost an arm and a leg compared to what I paid for them. A 17 that I paid $160 for in the 70s now sells for $959 on their site. My 36 that I paid $260 for in about the early 80s is now listed for $749.

I would say examine them close, pick the one you like, barter on it and buy it.

 

[Budnjax]

I much prefer the 66 over the 686 since they're smaller and lighter. I used to wholesale S&W's back in the 70's. Once we got a whole shipment of 66s for the Highway Patrol and after they sent their gunsmith to examine the guns they refused the entire shipment due to the poor workmanship. Thus, you may find some 66's that really aren't up to par, as with many S&W guns made under the Bangor Punta regime (about 1965-83 or 84, as I recall). The early 66's had recessed cylinders, pinned barrels and shiny stainless steel rear sights.

 

[S&W1006]

I couldn't come to an agreement on a price for a 66 yet. He was pretty busy today so I'll go back next week and see if I can make a deal. The 6" is gone but he has 3 4" 66's in stock and a 2.5" that looks like the one AveragEd has pictured. I liked it a lot but I can't do a 2.5 now because I want to shoot plates with it and 25yards is a stretch with a barrel that short. He has all of the 4" models at the same price but one of them is pretty beat up. I'll see what I can do if not I'll keep looking and I'll find a deal somewhere.

 

[AveragEd]

Don't overlook GunBroker.com - I just checked there and entering just "66" in the revolver search window brought up 132 guns, some of which are Taurus Model 66s, so there might be 100 S&W Model 66s available on that site alone. Pick one out, decide what the most you want to pay for it is and enter that amount in the Auto-Bid window. If you are outbid later on, life goes on. Keep trying and you'll get one you like at a price you feel is fair.

That 2-1/2" 66-4 of mine is a good example. I have little interest in snub-nose revolvers, especially at the prices they seem to bring these days with the current snubbie craze. But when I came across that gun with a $416 minimum bid, I figured what I might as well see if I could add it to my collection, fully expecting to be outbid in no time.

The seller had it described as being in "average" condition, which concerned me. So before bidding, I downloaded his two photos and enlargened them but saw nothing that didn't say "like-new" to me.

Between it not having original stocks and that "average condition" description, I think a lot of would-be bidders were turned off as mine was the only bid entered.

The 6" gun was actually listed on GunBroker by a small shop about five miles from me that deals primarily in "black guns." The owner had taken the Model 66 in trade and not being familiar with S&W revolvers, didn't have a good feel for the current market for Model 66s.

You just have to keep looking and when you see a nice one, move on it.

Ed

 

[VaRecon]

I much prefer the balance of the K frame to the L as well.
Got rid of my 681 for a 66 and have not once regretted it.
I don't feed it a steady diet of .357 but I do shoot them enough to be proficient.
As for my neck of the woods they go between 400-600 depending on the - and the condition.

 

[steamloco76]

The 4 inch 66 is a great everyday, every purpose gun that is very durable unless you fancy shooting nothing but 110-130 grain 1450 fps hot magnum loads! Shooting any weight .38 Special, STD or +P and 140 grain and up .357 Magnums loaded to modern standards a 66 will outlast the shooter.

I like heavy revolvers, so the 686 is right up my alley, but I also own a couple 66's and love to shoot them too. My 2 1/2 inch is no slouch at 25 yards as long as I concentrate on sight alignment.

By the way, in PA 6 inch 66's are scarce as hens teeth and sell immediately as do the 2 1/2 inchers. The Security-Six you have coming will be one of your favorite guns! I sold off my GP-100's after getting a set of Security-Sixes.

 

[S&W1006]

The 4 inch 66 is a great everyday, every purpose gun that is very durable unless you fancy shooting nothing but 110-130 grain 1450 fps hot magnum loads! Shooting any weight .38 Special, STD or +P and 140 grain and up .357 Magnums loaded to modern standards a 66 will outlast the shooter.

I like heavy revolvers, so the 686 is right up my alley, but I also own a couple 66's and love to shoot them too. My 2 1/2 inch is no slouch at 25 yards as long as I concentrate on sight alignment.

By the way, in PA 6 inch 66's are scarce as hens teeth and sell immediately as do the 2 1/2 inchers. The Security-Six you have coming will be one of your favorite guns! I sold off my GP-100's after getting a set of Security-Sixes.

Yeah I am looking forward to getting my Security Six and I have heard good things about them. I had to get it he was only asking $325 for it and I like Ruger revolvers as well. I know the trigger isn't as nice but my SP 101 is a great shooter for a 2 1/4 barrel. I love Smith revolvers as well and the 66 4" is very close in size to the Security Six. I like some of the N frame performance center 8 shot 357's but they are not in the budget for now. I have been looking on Gunbroker as well but I am concerned about buying one without seeing it. Like the one at the pawn shop one of his was very rough in opinion. I will keep working on him. He's not moving many revolvers now so I think I can get him to come down some more. Same guy has a 41 magnum Performance Center Hunter model I drool over everytime I'm in there and it has been there for a long time. I hope to talk him out of that one too. I'm becoming a revolver junky.