New Model 66 Combat Magnum

[SWFan27]

I have the 4 inch 66-8 (and a M69).
Both have smoothed up nicely, and I lightened them somewhat with a lighter rebound spring and a slightly lighter hammer spring.

One thing that should be pointed out. The new ball and detent system has several advantages, stronger lock up, no longer reliant on the end of the ejector rod having to pivot on it's end to secure the front of the cylinder, and not having to mill the bottom of the barrel flat so the cylinder can close.
But one negative is the lack of a gas ring. I definitely can see faster build up of carbon around the ejector rod, and this will have to get cleaned more often than a style that still uses a gas ring.

The 66-8 got VZ grips and a Dawson Tritium white dot front sight.
The new 66, my 686, 69 and 63 all have the rear sight bottomed out, and could use a taller front sight.
So when I ordered the Dawson I got one slightly taller than the factory red ramp. The vertical post is much easier for me and my 65 year old (today!) eyes to deal with.
I'm gonna order that sight for the 69 as well.

I have a load that I worked up for my 16" Rossi .357 levergun, an MBC 180 grain coated WFN over a full charge of A#9 in Starline brass.
The Rossi's slow twist would not stabilize the 180 with anything less than a max load.
I happened to try the 180 load in the 66-8 over a pistol rest at 25 yards.
Walked up to the target and the 6 shots were clustered together in a group the size of a 50 cent piece. Best load I've shot thru it yet.
The 66 won't keep up with the 686 for groups, but it isn't half bad, and is a lot easier to pack around all day in the mountains and desert.
The DeSantis thumb break holster makes carrying it or the 69 a breeze.

I might have to get me some of those VZ grips. Those look pretty darn cool.

 

[schutz5]

Because a 2-3/4" barrel is prettier & the number looks neat when you write it like this.

.

I like!
.


.

Dang that's some good shooting!

 

[sandog]

I like the VZs. I can't imagine a tougher grip material.
Wish I'd have got the Tactical Diamond texture though. I was worried that they would be too rough, but you can always tone them down with sandpaper.

The smoother texture they call the VZ 320. It has small lines punched into the surface all over the grip.
More grip than you'd think they have, but I wouldn't want them any less grippy.
S&W K/L Frame Boot Grips (Round-Bottom) | VZ Grips

 

[cmansguns]

new ones - canted 2 piece bbls - front sights off perpendicular

Sold most all my Magnums last year but kept this Model 66-6, 4" because the one daughter (a LEO) likes it for woods tromping, trail duty and off duty plinking. Her duty issue is Glock 21, in 45 acp, so she likes the change and I can shoot 38 Special out of it.

This gun shipped in June 2002, and the original blue plastic case end label matches, and fired case was dated May 28, 2002. It was the last Model with the one piece heavy barrel. Shoots fine, decent trigger, carries nicely in Bianchi, or B.T. Crump duty holster from Richmond, VA. Evne fits in a old Uncle Mikes when weather is possibly going to get us and everthing ww have on wet.

I have seen locally two of the "modern" new Model 66's with 2 piece barrels and both (used guns at different LGS) appeared to be "off" when holding normal hold for offhand sight picture. The front sight actually looked to be angled off to the left as viewed from grip end towards muzzle (or to the right when viewed from muzzle end). These guns were priced right around $700 but weren't moving. Granted that was 3 years ago just before Covid but I don't know much about the two piece barrel manufacturing process and whether an "off clocking" situation can be user remedied or what??

 

[HamHands]

My 66-2 2.5" is one I'll never part with. Even though inherited it from my dad I would sting never part with it. It fits my hand perfectly and the balance is just right. Also my dad had a trigger job done and it's as slick as glass. IMO the 66 is pretty close to perfect.

Wow, what a nice piece! Personally I'd install a Tyler-T grip in front of those lovely Stags and that would fit my mitts to near perfection and make for superb balance! That is a nice Revo your father left you for sure and in good taste!

 

[HamHands]

Yeah, me too. Can't find anything at all wrong with it. No reason to go for one of the new-fangled ones with (choke) the lock and the two-piece barrel.

John


(Click for larger image)

I couldn't agree more with the emboldened... However, when I first got into Smith's I didn't know the difference until my taste became refined a bit more. Some slightly older members of a club/range called me over and let me have at some 60's and 70's manufactured/vintage "Smith's" in .38Special, .45ACP, and .44Special. Then I became a die-hard fan of "The Classics" and their attributes such as their fitment, pinned barrels, recessed cylinders, glass like clockwork timing of the triggers, and then that lovely Blue finish that cannot be replicated anymore!

The new(er) Smith's are very nice for the value they bring though! I'd only buy Smith's "if" I were in the market for a New Revolver...

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Personally I've never come across a two or three piece barrel S&W revolver with a canted barrel & I own thirteen of them.

I do have several S&W one-piece barrels that are canted though, even a Colt Detective Special from the late 70's.

If the two-piece stainless steel shrouded revolvers, like the M66-8 & M69, are made the same as the two-piece Sc framed revolvers with the indexed/keyed shroud to frame union then it's hard to see how they could get canted but I'm sure stuff can happen.

I've always contended they're the best hedge against that occurring though.

.

two-piece barrel assembly
.


.
.
.

three-piece barrel assembly
(picture from forum contributor, name undocumented)
.


.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Dang that's some good shooting!

It's just a "good in your hand feeling" revolver & it handles recoil well, even with the mediocre factory grips.

I did give it some TLC by chamfering the forcing cone & muzzle though, which I like to do to my shooters.

Which reminds me I haven't taken her out in a while. That needs correcting!

.



.
.



.

 

[SWFan27]

It's just a "good in your hand feeling" revolver & it handles recoil well, even with the mediocre factory grips.

I did give it some TLC by chamfering the forcing cone & muzzle though, which I like to do to my shooters.

Which reminds me I haven't taken her out in a while. That needs correcting!

.



.
.



.

Doesn't chamfering the forcing cone thin it a little and possibly weaken it some?

 

[sandog]

Any thinning at the end of barrel is very minimal. What gets changed is the taper of the forcing cone, from abrupt to a more gradual approach, and that change is more inside the barrel.

Here I'm doing an 11 degree on a Ruger Flattop barrel.

And chamfering the charge holes on a 686

The muzzle on the 66-8 isn't bad but the muzzle on my M69 was really sharp, so I put some crown on it as well.
The proper brass guides for the caliber you are doing are a must to keep things straight.

 

[gunsrfun1]

Getting back to the OP's original question (looks like this thread got somewhat off course): I would echo HughD1's comments (Post #2). I have a the 4-inch version of the Combat Magnum, and have no complaints. I actually just sold my older 66-2 because I didn't need two of them, and I bought the current version (66-8) so I could put a fiber optic front sight on it.
Bottom line to the OP - If you like it, no reason not to buy it.