*Opinions/input on new S&W 3" K frame*

[Toblerra]

Model 66 Combat Magnum(R) | Smith & Wesson

About a month ago I posted a rather lengthy thread asking some opinions and ideas concerning cutting down my 4" model 19 to a 3". I have always wanted a 3" k frame revolver and I almost pulled the trigger and shipped it off to a gunsmith recommended by someone here. The whole conversion would have cost nearly $1000. I did not do it because of the cost and second because I didn't want to regret it later.

Then to my astonishment I happened to visit the S&W website and came across the gun pictured in the link above! I didn't know they made a 3" (2.75" actually) k frame revolver! Needless to say I'm very excited and am looking for ways to come up with the cash to buy one but I would like to hear from you all about this new addition to the k frame line. Personally I wish they'd make the same gun in the model 19 (blued version), I can hope. Below are a couple of features that I'd like to hear your opinions about since I have no experience with them.

1. Two piece barrel? Why did they do this and what are the pros and cons? I read somewhere this was for the stronger forcing cone installation.

2. Ball detent for better crane lock up?

Thanks, and if you own the gun or have shot it please include pics and your impressions of it if possible.

 

[Macinaw]

I love mine!

 

[Toblerra]

Very nice!

 

[silversnake]

In some ways I consider the new Model 66 to be the best of the current production revolvers. I would pick one up if not for my older 66s working so well.

 

[Toblerra]

Do the new model 66 4" have the two piece barrel like the 3" version?

 

[riverrat38]

Do the new model 66 4" have the two piece barrel like the 3" version?

Yes, and they have been around since about 2014.
The barrel is 4.25 inches. So, an inch and a half longer than the snub. I bought one of the snubs when they came out a couple of months ago. Like some others have mentioned, mine was spitting "something" back at me. Powder, Copper or Lead, I don't know. It is back at S&W for inspection and repair. Been over a month and I am waiting.
I like everything else about the revolver, tight and accurate. I like the two piece barrel, no flat spot and seems to be thicker steel.

Best,
Rick

 

[BLUEDOT37]

M66, 2-3/4"

I just picked one up, at the gun show today, to go with the M69 2-3/4" I got about two months ago. I really like these two!

I'm very picky & have been very impressed with the ones I've handled or bought. The fit & finish was better than the PC revolver along side of it. I don't know why these "cheaper" revolvers are a step above what we've been seeing recently but I'm glad.

The two-piece barrels have several pluses, IMO:

-Since the shroud is indexed/keyed to the frame you can pretty much forget about getting one with a canted barrel & tilted front sight.

-since the barrel is not "torqued" into the frame you don't have to worry about having a bore constriction where it screws into the frame, like sometime's happens with the one-piece barrels.

-while they still have EDM/ECM rifling they seem to have slightly better defined edges on the rifling, & more notedly, formed forcing cones that are markedly better than the one-piece barrel's cut forcing cones.

The ball-detent:

on the new short barrel M66 (K-frame) & M69s (L-frame) is a revised version of the one on the original 4-1/4" models. It seems to give a more positive latch & has better alignment of it's halves. In doing so, it provides the front locking point closer to the cylinder.

Haven't shot the M66 yet but my M69 shoots great. Out-of-the-box lock-up is tight on all chambers. The B-C gap on my M66 is outstanding.

Once I find another picture hosting site to replace PB I'll add some pics.

These are just starting to show up locally even though they were introduced at the beginning of the year.

If you decide to get one, let us know what you think of it.

PS: The M66 snubbie has a short rear sight blade, which has a proportionally shorter notch window. While this can make front sight acquisition a tad more deliberate, the M69 snubbie has the same height rear blade (but with a taller front sight) & it hasn't been a problem at the range for me so far.

.

 

[Dpris]

See my thread on new 66 vs old 66 farther down.
Denis

 

[Spokes]

That is a beautiful revolver Macinaw...

 

[Dpris]

Two things I didn't mention in the 66 thread:

You'd think the front sight cant would not be possible on the two-piece design & I don't see it visible to my eyeball, but I did have to move the rear sight farther to the right than I did on the older model (it now sits roughly 1/16-inch off-center).

And the ball detent allows the cylinder to be pushed very slightly to the left at lockup, creating a visible gap between the frame & crane where they join.
NOT a big gap, and not one I'd necessarily worry about during ignition, but the cylinder can be moved slightly to the left.
Understand I'm NOT saying there's side to side cylinder play normally, just that the cylinder CAN be pushed slightly sideways.

The older cylinder with conventional lockup is much tighter when I try to move it sideways & movement is barely perceptible.

The downside of the two-piece barrel is that when it needs work, as the sample here does with a badly cut forcing cone, it has to go back to the company for repairs.

S&W does not make the barrel removal tool available outside the factory.
Denis

 

[DocB]

Wow! I paid $800 for this 99% M19-5 with 2 1/2 inch barrel last year and really thought I over paid. Vintage 1982-1983. I hope you can get a big discount on the new one you are looking at because $850 is a ton of money for that gun.

 

[Ashlander]

I have one of the new 2.75" 66-8 revolvers. The detent lock-up is tight as a drum and the fit of the yoke to frame is precise. A big advantage to this lock up is we no longer have to worry about the ejection rod backing out and jamming our cylinder shut.

Because of this new detent lock-up design, S&W could make the ejector rod a bit thinner which made it possible to bulk up the forcing cone. No flat spot anymore. In fact, it looks as robust as the one on my Ruger GP100.

I have a bunch of older S&W revolvers which I really like, but I have to say they should have made these changes long before now.

 

[lhump1961]

Your were right not to cut one down to 3". Your 1k price probably didn't include the price of the donor gun and if it did it's still cheaper to keep it and buy a 3" and have 2 guns.

 

[Macinaw]

Grab-A-Gun had them listed for $669. My LGS matched their price.

 

[TDC]

Others are answering your questions well. These are nice guns! The S&W revolver is back and they
are a major success in style, engineering and function...

If PB permits a photo here is a picture of two of mine....

 

[Hopper]

Macinaw, I had the Altai basket weave grips installed, just like yours, but set them aside in favor of something that would allow for easier conceal carry. In addition to the Wilson Combat spring kit (with 13# trigger return spring), I went with these boot grips, and recently installed a HiViz FO front sight.

Regarding the sight, not sure I would do this again. It's great to get your attention if your eyes are starting to get a little tired like mine are, but it's taller than the stock sight front height, so you have to raise the rear adjustable sight to catch up with the new front height.

Didn't mean to hijack the OP's thread, but I'm so far absolutely digging this gun. I have the 4.25" model released in 2014 as well, and love it dearly, but this little guy here has proven worth the wait.

 

[Toblerra]

Loving the pics and great input! I'm convinced I need one, now to figure out what to sell to help fund it!

 

[damienph]

I don't have a new model 66 but I do have a J frame model 360J with a two piece barrel and the lock. I have six older Smiths, a 1917, K22, 66-1, 686-4, 15-2 and 631. With all of the negative stuff that I had read on several forums, including this one, I was hesitant to buy any of the new Smiths, however I got a heck of a deal on the Scandium 360J and because of it I would have no reservation buying any of the new models currently being made.