Model 66 ready for duty

[Nabodie]

Thought I'd share a shot of my new to me Model 66-2 decked out in Safariland combat grips with my old duty gear. The serial number dates her back to the end of 1985 through early 1986, which makes her pretty special since I started the job in Jan 1986.

 

[75Vette]

Nice shooter! Great to find a gun that has a special meaning. I like your set up too. Great pics, enjoy!!

 

[BUFF]

The Model 66 was THE revolver to carry when I started in 1981. I carried a 6 incher until we went to semiautomatics 10 years later.

 

[Nabodie]

I carried a 6 incher until we went to semiautomatics 10 years later.

Man that made for a long draw!

 

[Texas Star]

I have Safariland speedloader pouches like yours and gold 14K Cross pen like that in the photo. But I wore my M-66-3 in Safariland M-29 and Bianchi Model 5BHL holsters.

A six-inch barrel can be drawn sooner than some think. Jordan pointed that out in, "No Second Place Winner." The force of an emergency draw is more than enough to get the gun out.

But my M-66 is a four-incher. I did wear a six-inch revolver of other brands at times, and had no trouble drawing quickly.

 

[BUFF]

Man that made for a long draw!

No, not really. I carried it in a Safariland 29, which is a fairly high-ride holster with sight-track and thumbreak. The holster kept the gun butt up to where I could easily shield it with my elbow and forearm. I found I really liked the extra 2 inches of barrel length as it helped calm the flash and blast from the normal carry load (usually Federal 125 grain JHP Magnums, but sometimes Winchester 145 grain Silvertip Magnums and aided in recoil control.

What did you carry early in your career?

 

[CH4]

Nice rig! I started in 1984 and carried a 4" 686. I never felt undergunned with my 18 145 gr. Silver Tips.

Here's a picture circa 1985 - I am the cop in the back, my 686 barely visible. The gentleman in front is my partner, Mark Estey.

 

[xray 99]

I can remember when an M66 carried a premium well above MSRP - it was the hot set up for police.

 

[Nabodie]

I found I really liked the extra 2 inches of barrel length as it helped calm the flash and blast from the normal carry load (usually Federal 125 grain JHP Magnums, but sometimes Winchester 145 grain Silvertip Magnums and aided in recoil control.

What did you carry early in your career?

I can see where the extra weight would come in handy for reducing the recoil on those mag rounds. We were only issued +P ammo for carry. Now me being on the smaller side at 5'6" a 6" barrel would have been massive for me! You bigger guys could pull it off but I was very happy with my 4".

My very first issued gun was a 4" S&W 65 that I traded it in on a 4" 66 as soon as one became available about a year later. I carried that until we transitioned to those dag gum first gen Glocks.

 

[petepeterson]

I love the "official" notebook. Would someone actually return that, or just read about their friends?

 

[Nabodie]

I love the "official" notebook. Would someone actually return that, or just read about their friends?

We used those for taking notes on calls before we wrote up the reports. Once we filled them up we filled them in case we needed them later.

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the FORUM! Nice 66, and great picture! Some people are just creative! Bob

 

[trigger945]

Very nice gun and setup. Thanks for sharing!

 

[153]

I'll toss in my old gear and revolver as well. When I picked up my 66 in March of '79 I was faced with a choice of the Rogers Grip (like the Safariland) or the Hogue. I picked the Hogue Monogrip.



We were issued the horrible S&W holster pictured. I soon replaced it with the "Border Patrol" style. My duty belt shrunk many years ago and is not pictured.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Nice grips! For my hand, the Safariland/Rogers were probably the best K-frame grips ever made.

 

[Nabodie]

Nice grips! For my hand, the Safariland/Rogers were probably the best K-frame grips ever made.

Yep they are the perfect size for my hands as well!

 

[Green Frog]

That long Streamlight and your baton make the 4" look like a snubbie! I still prefer the factory smooth combats with finger grooves... that's what my Model 66 wore through the original 4" barrel days and the 6" replacement barrel days. I bought and used it for my PPC shooting days. I never had any trouble getting the longer barrel out of the holster, even to shoot that rather quick first stage. I have to admit that the front break Bianchi (Berns-Martin style) with the 4" barrel may have been a little faster, but not enough to really notice.

Froggie