Model 69 and New Model 66-- observation

[GB]

I have read several write-ups, in various gun rags, in recent months, about the new 69 and the new 66.

Last week, I had an opportunity to handle both models at my local enabler. Here is my observation on both.

The 69 had a good feel and pointed well. Fit and finish were excellent. Single action was fair (new gun feel, gritty with a little roughness in pull.
Double action was,( how should I say this? ) Robust ! Probably 14 lbs. +
My thoughts on a LFrame 44? I would most likely shoot mostly specials thought it and save the big boys for Grizz. country. If I didn't already have 3 mags and 3 specials, this would be on my short list of new guns to buy.

What can you say about a 66 that hasn't already been said? Ideal carry gun and with the remodeled forcing cone should be ready to shoot anything within reason. The one I handled was nicely finished and looked great. Trigger pull on this unit was a match for the 69. Gritty single and wang leather tough double pull.

If I was a younger man and in the market for a K-Frame .357. (and didn't already own a dozen older 19s and 66s) I would buy a new one. Especially with the current sharp rise in prices on used, older, K-Frame magnums. Especially with the lack of parts for the older guns and the lifetime warranty on the new units.

A couple of general observations on the new S&Ws.
1. These are the first ones I have ever held. I am kind of an old school guy and resisted the new guns. With a little action work, both of the guns I handled would be fine guns, for their intended purpose.
2. Do I like the worm hole in the side? No. But it is a fact of life and isn't going away.
3. The new two piece barrel system looks fine and I have read the horror stories about failures but like the lock, it is the world as we know it now and with the warranty, I believe I could live with it.
4. I am happy that Smith is still willing to market newly made revolvers to the shooting public. The market share for revolvers is small and getting smaller as we "old guys and gals" move on to the great range in the sky. Not many new shooters have much interest in non plastic, real steel firearms, anymore. (Those that give them a try usually find they are a great deal of fun).( and you don't have to stick your hands into the pucker bush to get you brass back!)

OK, it is about 1AM Sunday morning, at my house. I will conclude my sermon and ask that you make your donations as the collection plate is passed among you. GB

 

[zelda]

l have handled both 66 and 69. l found both triggers felt rough as did the fit and finish. Not near a nice as my 686 Competitor. l eagerly anticipate a Performance Center 69

 

[TDC]

I'll loan you a picture.....

Excellent fit and finish on mine. They are both a sure hit in my opinion....

 

[perfectcircle1]

Visually there isn't anything I don't like about them...except......the black thumb piece....fail.

 

[ironhead7544]

The K frame is about the perfect size for a 357 Magnum carry gun. If the new one holds up I may have to have one.

Had many K frame 357 Magnums and really had no problems with them. Used 158 gr loads and that might make the difference. Never heard of any problems with the K frame 357 Magnums until the 110/125 gr loads came out.

 

[CWH44300]

Nice thread GB,
Thank you,

Its so great to read something positive, this sub forum is famous for negative reviews and first time posters with problems. I for one, enjoy the new revolver's and I'm happy they're still offering new guns that interest me.
As some of you might not be aware.
I like 629's!!!
I have 629's from the first production run, right up to guns being offered today. The new guns take a backseat to nothing. In terms of fit, finish, action and precision of assembly. I enjoy the new ones as much as the old ones.

Thanks again GB

Chris

 

[scooter123]

A local gun shop has both models in stock and I have to admit I find the model 66 to be very very tempting. As an owner of a model 620 and a Dan Wesson 15-2 I am quite familiar with the accuracy advantages of a tensioned barrel.

However, there are two things about the current model 66 I would like to see changed.

One is the finish, I also have a 625 JM and am very familiar with how easily S&W's bead blasted finish can be marked up. S&W really needs to look at the finish on the Ruger SR1911 and copy that, it just doesn't seem to get marked up. Or go back to the brushed finish that used to be standard, that is a finish that is easy to touch up when it does show a few marks.

The other thing I would like to see in a new model 66 is one with a 3 inch barrel. I sort of suspect that a 3 inch model 66 would be an instant hit that would be on every revolver shooters wish list.

As for the model 69, I have a enough problems with accuracy with full power 357 Magnums in my 620. Even with the 500 Magnum monogrip mounted on it I just can't make it through a full box of ammo without starting to flinch. So, I'd be purchasing the 69 to be used as a 44 special. If that is going to happen I'd like it to have a 3 inch barrel.

Then there is the matter of adding another caliber to my reloading kit. That means waiting for Starline to do a run of 44 Magnum cases and ordering in a couple of thousand, a near 400 dollar hit on the Fun Fund. Then getting in a few thousand bullets to reload with, likely another 400 dollar hit. Finally, if I'm reloading for a 44 I may as well purchase that 1892 Takedown in 44-40 the local Cabela's has in stock for 1500 bucks then another 1000 44-40 cases for another 200 dollars. So, I'm sort of glad that S&W didn't decide to make the model 69 in a 3 inch barrel, they probably saved me close to 4 thousand dollars.

 

[madmikeb]

Nice thread GB,
Thank you,

Its so great to read something positive, this sub forum is famous for negative reviews and first time posters with problems. I for one, enjoy the new revolver's and I'm happy they're still offering new guns that interest me.
As some of you might not be aware.
I like 629's!!!
I have 629's from the first production run, right up to guns being offered today. The new guns take a backseat to nothing. In terms of fit, finish, action and precision of assembly. I enjoy the new ones as much as the old ones.

Thanks again GB

Chris

I agree 100% Chris.

I've got old Smiths, I've got new Smiths, and I think that there is nothing wrong with the new ones.

Maybe I've been lucky but I have never had any issues with any of them, old or new, other than some wear and tear on my first M29 which you can't blame the gun for.

 

[muddocktor]

scooter, instead of buying the 1892 Takedown in 44-40, just buy one in 44 Mag instead. Then you save a good chunk of change by not buying 44-40 brass along with 44 Mag brass. As for brass in 44 Mag, until a few days ago Starline and Midway had 44 Mag Starline brass in stock. And remember, with 44 Mag you can also run 44 Special and 44 Russian through the same guns. Just think of how many 44 Russian rounds you could load in the 1892 Takedown.

 

[Voyager28]

Having been accused of being closed minded and stodgy when it comes to my firearms (All of my hand guns except one are revolvers and all of my rifles except one are lever action) I resisted the urge to buy one of the "New" Smiths for quite some time for all of the same reasons expressed by all the other closed minded and stodgy gun owners; IL, two piece barrel, firing pin not on the hammer, ball detent, etc, etc, etc.

But, with my older revolvers becoming more valuable and starting to show a bit of wear, my desire for a tougher "woods" gun lead me to give a serious look at both the 69 and the new 66. Since I have several 19's and older 66's (I only owned one 44 mag at the time) my attention was naturally drawn to the 69 and, after a lot of looking and "kicking the tires", I bought one.

I find it to be an excellent woods carry gun and even after a number of sojourns into hunting environments the finish is spotless. Plus, after about 200 rounds through it at the range the action has smoothed out quite a bit in both DA and SA.

At the range I shoot mostly specials and end up with a couple of cylinders of magnums just for feel and accuracy. I find it not to be a tack driver but that is a result of my skill, not the fault of the gun. It will, however, even in my hands, hold very nice groups at 25 yards. Yes, at my age the recoil is a factor and the 69 is very typical of a 44 Mag. Hit the bang switch and it leaves no doubt in your mind that it went off. I do, however, find it less so than my 629. Adding a 500 Monogrip has also helped to make it much more manageable.

As I have said many times, it is certainly not the most beautiful revolver I own but it is one of the best "working" guns I own and I do not hesitate to rely on it to do its job if ever needed to do so.

IMHO, S&W has a sure fire winner with this revolver.

Bob

 

[Paul105]

I have both M69 & M66 -- both are keepers. Over 4,000 rounds thru the 69s and not quite a 1,000 thru the 66. I must be real lucky because the single action triggers on these guns are excellent and while some folks would say the DA could use some attention they work fine for me.

The 66 is on the floor at my side (ready for a range trip this PM) as I type this.

I recently added a 4" 617 (22 LR) that is an absolute joy to shoot. All three of mine are fitted with the Hogue 500 grips and transition from one to the other is pretty much seamless.

Also have and have had "old" S&Ws -- must be my luck, but have had problems at one time or another with both.

Even though I've shot them quite a bit, I have had zero problems with the new 69, 66 and 617.

Good thread.

Paul

 

[S&WForty]

I made it to the range with my new 69 one night last week. It and my 6.5" 29-10 shared a 50 rd box of .44 Specials, then I was going to shoot 25 rds each of Remington's 180 gr JSP and Winchester White Box 240 gr JSP Magnums. I ended up shooting about 15 each of those two. They were shared with the M29, too.

I found the recoil to be more or less even between the two with the N-frame feeling a tad easier to handle. The Rem and Win .44 Magnums kicked a lot harder than the local reloaded .44 Magnums I have shot through the M29 many times. That's why I cut it short at about 15 rds each of the Rem and Win Mags. My right thumb and both forearms were noticeably sore the next two days!

My M29 has a set of Hogue Monogrips. If the 69 had a pair of equivalent grips, I think the felt recoil would be even closer.

In terms of trigger feel, my 686-6+ feels slightly smoother than the 69 in DA, and in SA the break is crisper in the 686. Straight out of the box new, I have zero complaints about the 69 other than as Hickok45 stated in his review, the stock rubber grips are hard!

Edit: extra comments 1. my M67 is what I call "the best trigger in the family." It's smooth as butter straight out of the box. By comparison, my other revolvers need a trigger job. If the 69 felt that good, I'd be overly pleased with the 69. 2. The 180 gr Rem's and 240 gr Win's had distinctively different "booms," but the overall recoil was about the same in terms of force. I've heard some say a .45 ACP "pushes" and a .40 S&W "flips/kicks." I almost want to apply that description to the Rem's vs. the Win's. I think it was the 180 gr Rem's that kicked and the 240 gr Win's pushed.

 

[kaaskop49]

I have both M69 & M66 -- both are keepers. Over 4,000 rounds thru the 69s and not quite a 1,000 thru the 66. I must be real lucky because the single action triggers on these guns are excellent and while some folks would say the DA could use some attention they work fine for me.

The 66 is on the floor at my side (ready for a range trip this PM) as I type this.

I recently added a 4" 617 (22 LR) that is an absolute joy to shoot. All three of mine are fitted with the Hogue 500 grips and transition from one to the other is pretty much seamless.

Also have and have had "old" S&Ws -- must be my luck, but have had problems at one time or another with both.

Even though I've shot them quite a bit, I have had zero problems with the new 69, 66 and 617.

Good thread.

Paul

Good post. Paul, I would think the 1000s of rounds put through the 2 guns would go a long way to smoothing the actions and triggers. I never consider a gun a "gun" until I fire a cylinder-full of rounds SA. Then I know it fires and I can work with it.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Paul105]

I always enjoy Jerry Miculek -- Here he is with the M69 -- notice the grips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_i_8Elcdzc

Paul

 

[scott1970]

I want a Model 69 so badly, but I don't have the money nor do I want to thin the existing herd.

 

[Kifaru]

The model 69 just might be my first ever S&W revolver with the IL. That's a testament as to how very much it appeals to me.

As to the new model 66, I notice it has a ball detent lockup rather than the traditional locking bolt in front of the extractor rod. In the new configuration, it should be possible for S&W to produce a 66 with a 2.5" barrel and a full-length extractor rod. Hmmm...IL #2?