New 66 was worth the wait

[BuckeyeS&W]

Thanks for the input. I can't wait to shoot it have to wait until Sunday. I'll let everybody know how she does. I've been reloading some 158 LSWC and different powders in 357 mag. Keep the good info coming.Now it's time to start saving for a new model 69

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

I was able to take the new 66 to range today. I'm pleased with the way it shot and the single action trigger pull is excellent , double action getting better but not close to my new 617. I shot it about 150 times the first 18 shots where white box Winchesters in 38 special 130 gr bullet. The 38 shot very well and recoil was light. I don't like to shot 38's in my 357's but that just my not liking cleaning the ring out of the cylinder. Next I shot some of my reloads in 357 mag all had new Winchester brass and CCI 500 primers. The first load turned out to be the 66 and my favorite it's 4.7 gr. 700X pushing a Laser- Cast 158 gr SWC with excellent results. The barrel was clean and shots placed well on the target I shot 50 of those. (Will reload more of that combination ).

Next up was 50 rounds of Bullseye at 4.5 gr. the bullet this time was Speer 158 gr. lead SWC ( that's all I could find) same primer
The load shot good but what a mess leading was bad and lots of black everywhere, could have been a bad combo of weight of Bullseye and the Speer soft lead bullet but I know not to waste my time with this load anymore . After those rounds I shot Titegroup at 4.7 grs. and the same Speer bullet after 3 shots everything got tight in the cylinder so I stopped after 6 shots ,the group was my best of the day . I cleaned everything good with some lead solvent and the 66 was running fine again. The next 20 rounds of the Titegroup loads shot very good but leading again was bad. I cleaned the 66 again and went back to the Laser- Cast 158's with 5.2 gr. of 231 I had very good results with this load and as with the 700X load and same bullets ,very clean inside and out. I would recommend this and the 700X load. It was a very enjoyable 4 hours.

 

[riverrat38]

I think your Speer 158 gr SWC load with BE was too hot for a soft lead bullet.
Speer recommends 3.5 gr BE max, not due to pressure, but to avoid leading.
The Lazer Cast should be better for higher velocities, and it seems to be the case.

Best,
Rick

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

I think your Speer 158 gr SWC load with BE was too hot for a soft lead bullet.
Speer recommends 3.5 gr BE max, not due to pressure, but to avoid leading.
The Lazer Cast should be better for higher velocities, and it seems to be the case.

Best,
Rick

I just checked my Speer #14 manual and for their 158 gr. LSWC the data for 357 mag and Bullseye is
Start charge 4.3grs and max is 4.8 grs.

Same powder and Speer 158 gr bullet for 38 Special +P data is
3.5 start and 3.9 gr Bullseye max

 

[riverrat38]

I just checked my Speer #14 manual and for their 158 gr. LSWC the data for 357 mag and Bullseye is
Start charge 4.3grs and max is 4.8 grs.

Same powder and Speer 158 gr bullet for 38 Special +P data is
3.5 start and 3.9 gr Bullseye max

I was looking at 38 SPL non plus P data.
Speer shows 3.5 gr max. They don't show a plus P loading for lead bullets in Speer #12, but I see they do have one for 357 Mag. I don't really see the logic of that, but you are correct. They say that the load should be good for 1000 FPS to avoid leading. But, you are getting leading. I think I would try the 38 SPL load and see if no leading. Every gun is different.
Keep us posted.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

Thanks Rick. I'll have to try 38 special load and slow it down and see what happens. It's worth a go because I have another 400 Speer LSWC's left. Has anybody had any luck with Missouri lead bullets?I see they make them in different degree of hardness. I ask because there are some in stock at local gun shop.158 grain.

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

I shot my new 66 again last Sunday and the more I shot it the more I like it, I have put over 300 rounds through it. I figured out a good load ( with help from the reloading section of this fine forum) I loaded Speer 158 gr. LSWC's behind some 4 grains of Trail Boss and also same amount of Trail Boss with 158 gr. Missouri Bullet .38 Match LSWC with a Brinell of #12 and both shot very well. I had no leading at all and very clean loads with good accuracy.
I just read a new post on the lack of interest in the 66 and the dislike of the 4.25 inch barrel. I have no problem with the extra 1/4" and as I stated before the El Passo holster works great.I think the new model 66 is a well made pistol and I'm considering a new model 69.

 

[wproct]

Thanks for the close up pictures. It looks like it has an entirely new forward cylinder retention system. Is this something entirely new with the new model 66?

 

[Peak53]

Thanks Rick. I'll have to try 38 special load and slow it down and see what happens. It's worth a go because I have another 400 Speer LSWC's left. Has anybody had any luck with Missouri lead bullets?I see they make them in different degree of hardness. I ask because there are some in stock at local gun shop.158 grain.

I am running some Missouri 158 grain match bullets (brinnell hardness 12) at about 950 fps with very little leading and great accuracy

 

[JayFramer]

I handled a new Model 66 in a shop a couple weeks ago, it looked pretty nice! They also had a Model 69.

 

[Swengen]

Thanks for sharing your pics and impressions. I have an older 66-4 with 3" barrel that is a Performance Center model. Would like to try a new one to see how it compares. Mine shoots very well as it should. Did they continue with the flat on the bottom by the forcing cone? I've not had any problems but I've heard there were issues.

 

[Gryff]

Nice looking revolver!

 

[jmbrowning]

IMHO, S&W is not the same in regards to their older revolvers. I have 2 N frames and an L, nothing from their performance shop. I have tried newer versions of all 3 and there is a difference in the trigger and the assembly. It stands to reason that if they were made the same, prices would be higher. That's the reason Colt is out of the revolver business, except SA. You can send them thru the custom shop, but they will still be MIM.

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

Thanks for the close up pictures. It looks like it has an entirely new forward cylinder retention system. Is this something entirely new with the new model 66?

Yes it's new ball detent system

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

Thanks for sharing your pics and impressions. I have an older 66-4 with 3" barrel that is a Performance Center model. Would like to try a new one to see how it compares. Mine shoots very well as it should. Did they continue with the flat on the bottom by the forcing cone? I've not had any problems but I've heard there were issues.

No the forcing cone is new design also with no indexing of cone it is a full cone. The 2 piece barrel system allows for a full forcing cone.

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

Nice looking revolver!

Thanks Gryff, I'm happy with it. I think in todays world we have the best of both worlds. You can still buy the older "better Smith's" and also try out what's new and improved from Smith & Wesson. I like and appreciate both new and old I like my firearms blued and with fine wood grips or stocks but understand the benefits of stainless and rubber. I liken it to the Shelby Mustang the originals are my favorite and are awesome cars but the new Shelby's are graced with twice the horsepower and better brakes and like the classic Smiths you can have both. I think in some ways these are the good old days.

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

I am running some Missouri 158 grain match bullets (brinnell hardness 12) at about 950 fps with very little leading and great accuracy

Thanks that's what helped me slowing it down with the Trail Boss 4 grains I also loaded some of the same Missouri 158's with good results.

 

[Jebus35745]

Nice looking gun and it shoots great. If you are near NE Ohio, check the lounge from page 1 to 3 for the NE Ohio bunch meeting. Bring the 66 so we can see it. Larry

 

[goanra]

The model 66 messed me up years ago. I shot in the top 2% of the state in the Police Combat Leagues w my issued 586 4 in.
I liked the looks & feel of the 66 so much, I traded my 586 in on it.
Many years as the 'Shooter' in my dept... gone.
I was a youngster & didn't know better... nothing wrong with the 66, but when you are shooting at the top of the AA-Class Masters & near always winning, you don't change sidearms.... also, you never turn loose of the best sidearm you would ever master.
Too bad I didn't start out w the 66 as I think it was the finest looking duty arm of its time.
Used (issued) 158gr LSWC for daily practice & competition in each.
Hard to imagine how S&W improved both models since the 80s. Of course ammo has evolved exponentially.
I'm envious.... what a combo.

 

[KertP]

Dan Wesson - S&W collaboration

I seem to recall that S&W and Dan Wesson did some collaboration back in the '90's. There was even talk of a merger. The end result of their work was that S&W learned how Dan Wesson was able to make 2-piece barrels work so well. I had the chance to purchase one of the demonstration revolvers, which was a Model 66 with a Dan Wesson-style removable 2-piece barrel, but I foolishly turned down the offer. I do have a Dan Wesson Model 744 (.44 Mag) with both a 4 inch and a 6 inch barrel. It has the best factory action of any revolver I have ever shot. It is also extremely accurate. I would hope that S&W is able to replicate the accuracy of the Dan Wesson revolvers. If you go to the CZ-USA website, they announced that they will produce the Dan Wesson Model 15 revolvers starting this coming summer. If I could get a pistol pack with 2-1/2, 4, 6, and 8 inch barrels, I would purchase that in a heartbeat.
BuckeyeS&W, thanks for starting this thread. Please keep us posted on how your new 66 performs. I still enjoy my 66-1