Need some Model 65 advice

[Savoy06]

So for months I've been looking for a model 65 4" in a low key sort of way with my friends and family. And low and behold in the span of a week I now have two. A 65-2 and a 65-3. So that got me thinking it sure would be nice to have a 65 with a 3" barrel. My question is would it be worth it to have the 65-3 which is a round butt non pinned barrel sent to Smith & Wesson and have them put a 3" on it? Not sure what the cost would be, should I just spin it off and pit the money in the 65 3" jar. Thanks for your help Joe


Artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.

 

[lhump1961]

The 4" is a great gun but I sure do enjoy the 3". For me I would rather have one of each so perhaps spin one of the 4" to offset the price...the 3" can be a bit spendy compared to the 4". The standard 3" 65 will have all of the regular characteristics while the Lady Smith will have a shrouded extractor rod and a bead blasted finish. Both great guns. I only have the LS version but would like a standard as well...don't have it yet. May get a 3" 64 instead at some point because I don't have a .38, only a bunch of .357's. Yes, they will shoot .38's but I don't like putting the shorter cases in my .357's.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Likely not cost effective vs just buying what you want. Buy the 4" and enjoy it for what it is. If you "need" a shorter barrel, keep your eyes out for a 3" 65 or (the more common) 2.5" 66.

 

[Ashlander]

Do you have a 3" barrel? I would be surprised if you could find one for less than $200 (that did not have something seriously wrong with it).

 

[Savoy06]

Thanks all, good advice ill keep a eye out for a 65 3" and spin off one of the 4" 65's.

 

[Gripgrabber]

Hello, I recently ended up in the same situation, but my second 65 was a 3" 65-5! THe other is a 65-1 P&R square butt. The 3" is by far a better handling gun. And it being a round butt makes it bigly better! The 4" set me back 400, and the 3" 550.
Good luck

 

[m1gunner]

Don't pass on a 3" 64 either. 38sp is more fun than full 357 loads out of essentially the same gun.

I had a 3" 64 and wish I had never traded it.

 

[sac-gunslinger]

Not cost effective, I'm afraid.

The three inch is a nicely balanced revolver and they seem to be showing up regularly on the police trade-in market (of course, we cannot buy them here in the People's Republik) so look for one of those.

And m1gunner is right, the 3" M64 is just as nice (don't mind the whimpering in the background, that is just some poor soul who had four three inchers at one point but had to let them go).

Booowhowhowho

 

[Double-O-Dave]

My first center fire revolver, my first snubbie, my first .357 Magnum, my first stainless steel handgun, and my first S&W was a Model 66-2 with a 2.5" barrel. I currently own .357 Magnum revolvers with barrel lengths of 3.0, 4.0, and 6.0 inches. I was very surprised at the difference in the handling characteristics between my Model 66 (2.5" barrel), and my Model 65-3 (3.)" barrel). Really? A 0.5" difference is detectable or significant? Yes, it is. To me, the 3.0" barrel is the most versatile and useful for a number of uses. I own a Model 64-3, a Model 13-4 and a Model 65-3 with 3.0" length barrels. My grail gun is a Model 65 Ladysmith edition...that's not crazy priced.

Good luck,

Dave

 

[Savoy06]

Hey Sac-gunslinger, good to see Sacramento represented on here. My Father is a retired Deputy there in Sac Co.. I still have his Model 15 from when he first started there in 1964 someday it will be passed down to his Great Grandson. Cheers Joe

 

[SLT223]

Buy! Especially if it's a three in barrel. That's my general Model 65 advice

 

[FlaRon]

In my neck of the swamp a 3" Model 65 in very good condition could cost well into the $700 and up range. I was fortunate and got mine a few years back at a little lower price. If you send one of your 65's to S&W (I sent a 6" 686 to them to have a 4" barrel put on some time ago) the cost will be much less than buying a good 3" 65. Decisions, decisions ! Good luck on solving your dilemma.

 

[bananaman]

I had a 3" 65. It was just so-so to me. Had a couple of 36's. A 2", and a 3". J's don't work that well for me. My latest short barrel is a 10-5 RB, 2",10. Best short barrel experience yet for me! Bob

 

[clang444]

I have a 3" 65-3 with a hammerless trigger and round butt and a 4" 65-nothing that has been converted to round butt. The 3"er definitely has the cool factor and is more rare, but I shoot the 4" gun better because of the longer sight radius. The 4" gun is not muzzle heavy and balances just fine to me. The 4" gun also happens to be pinned and recessed, which has another type of cool factor.

I also have a 2.5" 66 and two 4" 66s. Again, I shoot the 4" guns better.

I don't conceal carry any of these guns, but the 3"er would be a little easier to carry.

 

[Beachcomber]

In the mid 80's I carried a 4" Model 65 while on duty and I carried my personal 3" Model 65 off duty. To many there is only 1" difference between the two revolvers... but to me the 3" Model 65 carried and handled so much better.

To this day I still own a 4" Model 65, for nostalgia, and a 3" Model 65 for carrying.

 

[tommy F]

Food for thought, a 4" can be easily cut and crowned at 3". A 1911 style dovetail front sight added. Boot cut type grips are nice addition.

 

[emore]

My life is a series of poor decisions on gun purchases. Luck changed recently for the better. In December of 2016 a friend at work mentioned he had a 65 for sale. When he mentioned 3 inch round butt, I was interested. When he said, two hundred dollars, I said SOLD! It is a sweetheart with a beautiful finish. Has the new style cylinder release but I have an old style if I can ever decide to change it. I should have bought a lottery ticket that day.

emore

 

[sac-gunslinger]

For years I have been a "firearms snob" insisting on having my weapons configured "just so" for imagined best performance. I loved the M64 3" and M65 3" as the best possible combination. Now that time has knocked a bunch of the rough edges off of me I am not so persnickety. 4" works just as well as a 3" plus is easier for finding holsters.

Fact is I shot four-inchers far, far more than the 3" models due to my training activities. T'ain't much difference McGee. I would be plum happy to have ONE 4" right now rather than the dozens of pistols I have gone through over the years (M64 in 38 Special, thank you, although the M65 is just as nice).

Seems I recall some old hand giving me that advice way back in the mid-70s when I first started carrying professionally. Too bad I did not listen, eh?

 

[44wheelman]

Be patient. I bought my 3" 65 about 5 years ago for under $300. Outside had some wear & tear, but some very knowledgeable armorer knew what he was doing. Action is silky smooth, and locks up vault tight. Not police marked, but someone put some miles on it.

 

[Model39]

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