Revolver help: 65-5 and 686 Talo

[Dennis The B]

A few weeks...

...ago, I fulfilled at least a part of my "grail list" by purchasing a Model 65-5. It was part of a group that my LGS purchased from a local bank's security department.

My intention in buying the gun was to fill a wish, but things have worked out quite differently. It is now my primary carry revolver, and I love to practice with it. It's loaded with Remington 158gr LSWCHP's, the older FBI carry load. It also came with the no-longer-available Uncle Mike's combat grips. I regularly run some 158gr JHP's in .357 Magnum, and it gets its share of .38 Specials. The recoil is very manageable, and I can carry it all day, and not feel loaded down with a heavy gun. Down the road I may get a set of Ahrends' combat stocks and see how they feel.

I have several favorites among my carry guns. I really like my Model 696 3" in .44 Special, and also a Model 325NG in .45 ACP.

S&W broke the mold with the Model 65. It has everything one could want in a carry revolver.

 

[Gunsandguitars]

Another vote for Model 65. A perfect self defense gun. Wish I could find one when my pocketbook was a little full.

As to safety issues re the internal lock vs no internal lock...

I have owned guns since before my three children were born, and routinely have my two grandsons (7 & 8) in my house. Yes, I have a gun safe. But I ALWAYS have a loaded gun either on me or within easy reach. The key is education. Both of my grandsons have shot my Ruger .22/.45. They know how to check a handgun to see if it is loaded, and have had drummed into them that they cannot touch any gun unless ol' paw-paw is around. If they ASK, they can hold or shoot any gun I have. If they are caught TOUCHING a gun without my permission the consequences will be, shall we say, severe.

If you take away the mystique from guns (because ALL kids are kind of fascinated with them), teach them what REAL guns, not movie guns, are all about, and allow them supervised access, then the urge they have to satisfy their natural curiosity is curtailed.

If I have kids in the house whom I have not taught, then all guns are locked up except for the one carried on my body.

The internal locks have shown themselves to be a problem with light, hard kicking revolvers. The TALO may work just fine...but it might not. And fumbling for a key in the middle of the night with sleep in your eyes is NOT conducive to survival.

Off my soap box now. Sorry for the rant.

 

[steamloco76]

I have A 65-5 Lady Smith 3 inch (recently acquired), 686 no dash 4 inch and a 586-4 6 inch.

The 6 inch gun is great at the range and would be a good short range hunting gun but is NOT a good nightstand, desk or CCW gun due to the barrel length. The 4 inch 686 makes a good range gun, good nightstand or desk gun, but is still too heavy for most CCW. The 65 3 inch is OK at the range but superb as a desk-nightstand-carry/ concealed carry weapon.

Buy the 65 and you won't regret it for the intended purpose.

INTERNAL LOCK NOTE--I have some internal lock S&W's that I love to shoot at the range, however, I do NOT carry or use any of them for home or personal defense. They stay locked in the safe.

 

[XDfense]

I don't know what that one post was about concerning kids. This will be at my Dad's house with only my kids coming by to visit. My pistols as well as my Dad's will be securely put away. Plus, my kids are too young to even know to look for a gun. Light sabers are still their interest.

I'm hoping to pick up the 65-5 this week. Once I do, I'll post some better pics. She's photogenic but the seller's camera is all wrong. Also, those wood combat grips are going on asap.

Also, I happened to stop by my LGS that I don't frequent that often. They had a model 66 which is similar to the 65 I've learned - thanks to ya'll. It is one solid piece of pistol. I can't wait to get the family out on the range come some family reunion.

 

[Benderx4]

It took me a year, but I finally found this Model 65 LS for my wife. She LOVES it. Whereas she never wanted to shoot with my semi-autos, now she's always asking when we're heading back to the range. Plus, the 3" barrel balances that revolver perfectly. No question here, get the Model 65!

 

[Fishslayer]

Fourth, if you had to choose one over the other and price wasn't an issue, what would your choice be?

Oh man... what a tough one! I think inventory would have to be the deciding factor.

I don't own a 3" revolver and have multiple 6".

I don't own a 5" revolver either, and that unfluted cylinder looks daaaaid sexaaay!

Sorry. I got nuttin'. Yer on yer own. Wish I had your problem tho!

 

[rz625-8]

The Model 65 9s a great gun but do not use the 125 grain 9n .257 load as a steady diet because,the 125 might or will crack the forcing cone.

 

[Gunsandguitars]

I don't know what that one post was about concerning kids. This will be at my Dad's house with only my kids coming by to visit. My pistols as well as my Dad's will be securely put away. Plus, my kids are too young to even know to look for a gun. Light sabers are still their interest.

I'm hoping to pick up the 65-5 this week. Once I do, I'll post some better pics. She's photogenic but the seller's camera is all wrong. Also, those wood combat grips are going on asap.

Also, I happened to stop by my LGS that I don't frequent that often. They had a model 66 which is similar to the 65 I've learned - thanks to ya'll. It is one solid piece of pistol. I
can't wait to get the family out on the range come some family reunion.

I was referring to a post made by another member. He was schooling us on how if we dislike internal locks, we were putting children in danger. I apologize for getting on a
soapbox on your thread.

 

[Ashlander]

I'll chime in as well for the Model 65 with the 3 inch barrel. It's a good gun with a scary heavy barrel -- totally intimidating look to it.

The 3 inchers were those carried by the detectives and their bosses (more concealable). The 4 inchers were more for the patrolmen who did not need to carry discreetly. I understand too that the 3 inch 65s were the last revolvers carried by the DEA before switching over to semiautos (FBI used the carbon steel version, the 3 inch Model 13).

I have 2 65-3s and they make my day.

 

[XDfense]

Well, we got the 65-5 today. All I can say is wow. I'm going to post up some pics I just took in another thread.