New to me Model 66-7

[lskbike]

I just purchased a used S&W Model 66-7 in excellent (perfect) condition with Pachmayr Presentation grips. It has the lock. I have been a semi-auto kind of guy but have aways wanted a 357 mag and this revolver really caught my eye and feels great in my hand.

I understand the model 66-7 is no longer made. I would appreciate it if anyone could advise me about the good, the bad and the ugly regarding this handgun and where and it stands in the S&W pecking order! Also, any ideas what the "newer" used ones should sell for in a shop?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

lskbike
Southeastern Indiana

 

[steamloco76]

The 66-7 is the last in the great line of K-frame .357 Magnum revolvers. A lot of "traditionalists' on the forum have no time for the "Lock" models or anything with MIM parts. I love my older Smiths, but some of my best shooting, favorite to take to the range Smiths have MIM parts and the "lock".

All K-Frame magnums are great carry guns and will last a long time. Stick with 140 grain plus .357 Mag loads and anything you want to shoot in .38 Special. The K-frames got a bad rap as fragile when the ultra-hot 125 gr. .357 mag loads were the 'in' thing. Those loads are hard on the K frames' flat bottomed barrel at the forcing cone. Avoid those loads and you have a revolver that should provided many thousands of rounds of great shooting.

 

[rromeo]

What should a 4" go for ? A guy on the local trader board has one. Wants to trade for a Glock, or $500.
If they're not so bad and I can get rid of my G30 in the process, then so much better.

 

[Jeb21]

Congrats on finding an excellent revolver.

 

[Ashlander]

Steamloco was correct about the older K-frame magnums which had a flat spot under the forcing cone that gave it a reputation for being less than stout if fed a diet of nothing but magnum loads. The 66-7 however does not have that flat spot -- it was made with a two-piece barrel design that eliminated the weakness.

There was an earlier thread on the subject: "S&W 66-7 Two Piece barrel question"

I have a 2 1/2" 66-7 and love it.

 

[Stainz]

My LGS had them, 4" 66-7's - the last batch, for $449 new five years ago. A year or so back they had a LN no box one in the used case - $550 firm. My only 66, actually a 6" 66-6, was bought new from a TX-based closeout store - for $350 new! It was a deal 9/03 - I had a HiViz front sight and Ahrends cocobolo fg square-conversion grips for it the day it arrived. Great handgun, even if +P 158gr LHPSWC's are my maximum load for it. It'll last forever here... I need to shoot it more. In all honesty, it could be a great 'last revolver'.

Older or later models - everyone needs a 66!

Stainz

PS My 12/02 made 6" 66-6 has the flat spot on it's forcing cone. No problem here - if I shoot .357 Magnums in it, they'll be 158gr - and S&W states they are fine - as long as they don't exceed the SAAMI spec. The gas cutting/fc overheat problem arise with 'hot' <125gr l.357 Magnum loads.

 

[stantheman86]

I just got a 66-7 4" and I love it.

I am a huge fan of the "new gen" S&W revolvers, I have 2 10-14's, a 64-7, just got a trade-in 64-8, and now the 66-7. All of them are excellent shooters and I think they are every bit the equal in durability or shootability as the older guns.I don't plan to shoot any more than a token amount of 158 gr. 357 in my 66-7, but as a .38 Special plinker, an occasional carry piece, HD gun, etc. it will last me forever. The 66's receive a better heat treat than the .38 Special revolvers, so that gun will take all the .38 you can afford to run through it and still be tight as the day it was made.

+1 for the above, no flat spot on the 66-7 forcing cone.


Yours may be an Australian PD trade in, like mine is. If it is, the lock has been de-activated. If you turn the key and the flag goes up, but the hammer will still operate, it's an Australian re-import.

I traded a Dan Wesson 4" M15 in like new condition for my 66-7 , even up, and I am happy with the trade.The 66-7 has seen some holster time but looks to have been hardly fired, it's as tight as new and has no flame cut line. Probably never saw a .357. I never warmed up to Dan Wessons and the 66-7 is as accurate, if not more so, than the DW. DW's sell for $350-400 and I feel both me and the seller got a fair deal.

If hunt101.com will get back up, I will post a pic of mine. I had Pachmayr presentations on it for a while, but went back to the Uncle Mikes.

I didn't know the 66-6's came in 6"! I would buy one of those in a second.......the IL doesn't bother me a bit, and they are easy to deactivate. It's easier to work a deal on a used S&W with the dreaded IL.

My Dad bought his 2.5" 66 new back in 1990, and it's a great gun. I always wanted an older 66 in 4" but I couldn't be happier with my 66-7.

 

[cjtraining]

M66

The 2 1/2" was the best service weapon I was ever issued. The 6"er was bought for fun. I only need a 3" & 4" to make a family.

 

[rromeo]

So I made the deal, we'll meet up this weekend to trade. Pics when it happens.

 

[MTKTM]

I bought a 66-7 4" new in '05 as I heard at the time that they were being discontinued. I used the gun for IDPA competition for several years and it worked great, no downside whatsoever. I still have it, haven't shot it much recently but think it's a great functional revolver, even if it's not considered quite as desireable by many S&W afficianados as the earlier no-lock/noMIM guns.