Needing a new 3"(ish) magnum... Model 66-8, 69, or 629 Talo?

[Stopsign32v]

Well I'm in the market for a new revolver, honestly one I'd like to carry which has me slightly leaning towards a 66-8 2.75" barrel so I can shoot hot 357 magnums through it. I have a 686 Plus Talo edition that I love oh so much!

I reload so I would enjoy being able to make light 357/44 magnum reloads for the range.

I love the brushed stainless steel but I honestly feel a N frame is slightly too big. I really like an L frame but again, almost too big for IWB. I'm leaning towards the 66-8 but feel I'm shorting myself not owning a 44 magnum/special.

Thoughts?

 

[Macinaw]

I have plenty of .357 caliber guns. I had to scratch my .44 caliber itch with the model 69. You will love it. I have shot mine in a EDC Home Defense shooting competition with 44 Specials. It is a fun gun to shoot.

 

[Warren Sear]

Here are my 3" revolvers. From top to bottom;
Model 24-3, 44 Special
Model 65-4, 357 Magnum
Model 629-8, 44 Magnum

I hand load for all of them, and have concealed-carried them all at one time or another.

 

[Stopsign32v]

I have plenty of .357 caliber guns. I had to scratch my .44 caliber itch with the model 69. You will love it. I have shot mine in a EDC Home Defense shooting competition with 44 Specials. It is a fun gun to shoot.

I really like the 69, but for whatever reason the 5 shot capacity bothers me. No idea why I think 6 shot should be the minimum. I can come up with no good reason, but it bothers me. Doubt enough to cause me not to get one though.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Have carried an older Charter Arms Bulldog 44 for many years-21 oz's stainless and rubber-44 spl. IWB appendix carry in an open top Uncle Mikes=Goldie Locks.

 

[RoyM52]

The Model 69 with the 2 3/4 inch barrel, Is very nicely done. Nice balance, love the new engineering for the detention . Grips cover the back-strap and work very nice. I also like the cylinder notches lined up where the meat of the cylinder is. This is one fine rendition. I have one and the only thing that I'm changing are the sights. {going with night sights.} Everything else works for me.

 

[TENWOLVES]

I Have the new 66-8 2.75" and love it, I have several 357's as well as 44's, they're all good, the 66 or the 69 they both rock, you can't go wrong with either one, and a 2.75" or 3" makes a great carry gun in a revolver, outside or concealed...IMHO...

 

[BLUEDOT37]

66 or 69... Can't decide ??

Get one of each! Problem solved.

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66 Combat Magnum

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69 Combat Magnum

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[jban357]

Do they have the new crane lock retention system on the 4 inch 66 and 69 yet?

 

[justintyme]

For Carry? against 2 legged things or 4 Legged. For hiking I would take the 69, but otherwise the smaller size and extra shot of the 66. I keep going back and forth between trying to find an older prelock 66 or just buying the new one after a thorough checking out, problem is finding one instock around here to check. I would rather have prelock, but the lock isn't a deal breaker, I have have a 340 M&P and 610-3 with it.

 

[M3Stuart]

Get one of each! Problem solved.

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66 Combat Magnum

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69 Combat Magnum

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Question; did you buff off the bead blast finish? That looks like a 'regular' stainless finish?

 

[Stopsign32v]

For Carry? against 2 legged things or 4 Legged. For hiking I would take the 69, but otherwise the smaller size and extra shot of the 66. I keep going back and forth between trying to find an older prelock 66 or just buying the new one after a thorough checking out, problem is finding one instock around here to check. I would rather have prelock, but the lock isn't a deal breaker, I have have a 340 M&P and 610-3 with it.

I do not like the lock at all. And really struggle to understand why S&W still puts it on new guns. But the extra durability and arguably accuracy of the new 66 has it a winner to me over the older ones.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The new 66 in 2 3/4 inch or the 686 Plus in 3 inch would be excellent choices.

 

[UncleEd]

Oh my, I may be taking my life in my hands.

OK, OK, I love S&W revolvers and have lots of them.

But when it comes to the L-frame sized .357s, you might
consider the Ruger GP 100 with 3-inch barrel.

It's also one of my favorites.

I now am sitting in a corner saying a dozen acts of contrition.

 

[GunnerMichael]

That would be a tough choice. But selecting the right caliber when you can only afford 1 gun, or only want to purchase 1 gun, is almost always a difficult task. I would say it depends on your needs.

I think the 629 would be to heavy for carry and for sure will not work IWB. But it is the only one with 6 rounds of 44mag.

If you go camping/hiking and intend to carry in the woods and in public I would get the M69 and 2 speed loaders. I did, I own the 4.25" model. Keep in mind that a 357 from a short barrel is similar ballistics to a 9MM +P. (I live in California and they just put the 2.75" M69 on the roster so I will own both 69 models as soon as I can save up.)

If you are just getting it just for SD then go with the Model 66.

I don't think you will be unhappy with any of those. If you can afford it get the 66 for city and the 629 for woods. Problem solved.

 

[Stopsign32v]

Thanks guys. I don't do "woods", wish I could but I sadly live in the city and more worried about the ghetto hoods around. I agree, 357 out of a 2.75" barrel makes little sense. But I really love the blast and recoil at the range. BUT my hands down favorite load is 45 Colt. So I have a great love for the big bores... Choices choices

 

[TENWOLVES]

For Carry? against 2 legged things or 4 Legged. For hiking I would take the 69, but otherwise the smaller size and extra shot of the 66. I keep going back and forth between trying to find an older prelock 66 or just buying the new one after a thorough checking out, problem is finding one instock around here to check. I would rather have prelock, but the lock isn't a deal breaker, I have have a 340 M&P and 610-3 with it.

Sounds like you haven't had one in hand, the 66 that is, you'll love the lock up, much stronger than earlier models, it was a game changer for me, and I'm glad I jumped on the only one they had in the case, and I haven't seemn a 66 or 69 since, the new 66 and 69 will take the 357 mag and 44 mag much better now with the more solid lockup. which ever one you choose you will be happy, the 66 was my choice, even though I live in the mountains of Oregon, I feel more than well armed with a 357, and it carry's real nice...

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I think the 629 would be to heavy for carry and for sure will not work IWB. But it is the only one with 6 rounds of 44mag.

The 329NG is the lightweight N-frame snubbie alternative at 27.5 oz. -vs- a 629 3" at 39 oz.
(L-frame 396NG: 24oz, 69 snubbie: 34.1 oz.)

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S&W 44 snubnose: M396NG-M69-M329NG

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Do they have the new crane lock retention system on the 4 inch 66 and 69 yet?

Actually the new 66 & 69 snubbies have an improved ball detent crane lock that's even better than what the original 4" 69 had.

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69 Combat Magnum - ball detent lock

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Question; did you buff off the bead blast finish? That looks like a 'regular' stainless finish?

Yes, I used some Flitz, & a little elbow grease, to brighten it up a little, but less than that of a regular's shine.

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69 Combat Magnum, with Badger grips

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Sounds like you haven't had one in hand, the 66 that is, you'll love the lock up, much stronger than earlier models, it was a game changer for me, and I'm glad I jumped on the only one they had in the case...

I agree! I've been impressed with these two new snubbie. The 66-8 is my first K-frame & the way they beefed up the barrel->frame threads (receiver ring) doesn't make me feel like I need to baby it. Same for the 69. Lock up is great on both still after hundreds of rounds. Good balance & recoil control too.

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69 Combat Magnum - (forcing cone)

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[Bullet Bob]

For .357 carry with a 3" barrel, I would use a J-frame. This one is a 60-15 that I put bigger grips on, because if I'm going to shoot .357's out of a small gun, I need something to hold on to!

In a Bianchi Stinger holster:

 

[Buzzsaw]

For .357 carry with a 3" barrel, I would use a J-frame. This one is a 60-15 that I put bigger grips on, because if I'm going to shoot .357's out of a small gun, I need something to hold on to!

In a Bianchi Stinger holster:

what grips are these?