S&W Model 65-3 Opinions?

[Fleshwound]

Hey folks, I have a chance to purchase a mint 65-3. It was built in 89, and is flawless. Does anyone have an opinion on the durability, accuracy, and good/bad reputation of this gun? I know it's a K frame with only a front site and notched rear, 6 shot, looks to be stainless, but thats all I know. Any help would be really appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Lou

 

[H Richard]

Solid as a rock. Very durable. Quite a few available currently as Police trade in's. In the $300 to $400 range, depending on condition, good buys.

 

[AKsRule]

Originally posted by Fleshwound:
Hey folks, I have a chance to purchase a mint 65-3. It was built in 89, and is flawless. Does anyone have an opinion on the durability, accuracy, and good/bad reputation of this gun? I know it's a K frame with only a front site and notched rear, 6 shot, looks to be stainless, but thats all I know. Any help would be really appreciated.
Thanks in advance Lou

If it's fairly priced GET IT!

It's perfect for concealed carry - Many LE Agencies used them in the revolver's heyday.

Here's mine.......

 

[Fleshwound]

It's actually a trade.. I have a Sig P228 9mm Nickel, 2 high caps, and night sites. 3 to 400 hundred range is considerably less than mine is worth. I wasl looking for a good snubbie, doesn't matter J or K frame. Got to think about this one. Thanks alot for your opinions, they mean alot. I'm kind of new (even though I'm old) to revolvers. This also looks to be a 3" or 4" barrel.

 

[Farmer17]

A mint 4" M-65 is worth about $425, with a three inch barrel about 75 bucks more.

 

[luangtom]

If it's the 3-inch, it was the issue of the FBI in its prime of production. I love mine and it is one of my favorites to have in my hands...the other being my 696. I would highly recommend this model revolver in 3-inch.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

The 65 does about everything. It is hard to find fault.They make a great bedside gun.

 

[bronco45]

Great carry revolver especially with new 38+P ammo, like Buffalo Bore and Speer Short Barrel stuff.

I have a 65-5 and it's all a K frame should be it is a 3" but I'm hesitant to shoot 357s in it as I think the Buffalo Bore 158grain LSWCHP
+P at 1000 fps meets all the requirements for an excellent K Frame round.

I don't think I would trade that SIG straight across, and I would assess my need for a revolver vs an auto.

Here's a picture of mine:

 

[davel686]

I would not trade my M65 carry gun for any other.
it is my winter and long trip carry gun.
you can't go wrong with a M65.
3" is ideal but 4" will carry just as well and be just a bit easy to shoot with the longer sight radius.
this is mine and it is kept loaded with CCI 158gr.JHP .357mag rounds.

 

[rz625-8]

I have both S&W M65s. One in 3 in bead blast and a 4 inch also bead blast both made 30 years ago this past March and I shoot 158 rain .357 semi jacketed softpoints for defense and target practice without a crack sofar on the forcing cone. rz625-8

 

[Just a Good Old Boy]

Model 65-3

I've owned both 65-3 and 66-6. I was a better shot with the 65-3 with what I called fixed sites than with the 66-6 adjustable sites. Shooting 357mag with both. Sold the 66-6. Concealed carry? I did put it in my pants one night when there was something going on outside. Almost took my pant down to my ankles.

 

[KSDeputy]

I wish I had one in mint condition. I owned a 4" model 65 and sold it. Wish I had it back. The 3" barrel would be preferable, but a 4" barrel would do. I do not like adjustable sights, we carried a model 19 before we transitioned to a model 645, and later a 4506.

 

[jringo8769]

Well i love Sig and own them myself and would not trade for that even but everyone needs a Smith as well
I would keep the Sig and find a Smith as well
God Bless,John

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

 

[jringo8769]

I see u state j or k frame too it all depends on how u plan to carry it
I own a j frame and a lew horton 24-3 round butt
any way u go with a Smith u will be very happy with
Smith is like Sig with excellent quality and reliability


Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

 

[paragain]

A mint 4" M-65 is worth about $425, with a three inch barrel about 75 bucks more.

Exactly what I paid for my 3"!

 

[bananaman]

I recently bought a 10-5 2-inch snub. I like it so much better than any J frame that I ever had or shot. just a personal thing I guess . I also shoot it much better. I need all the help I can get Bob

 

[Comrad]

That was my first S&W revolver and still my all time favorite. Feels good in the hand, pleasing to the eye and fun to shoot, mostly .38 but it's nice to have the option for something with a bigger bang.

 

[gutterman]

The value of 400-500 for a mint 65 is a little shortsighted depending on where you are. I've seen them go for 600+ for the 3" model. I don't know where these guys are finding these "mint" 65's for $400, but I'd be all over them for that price!

 

[gutterman]

"Mint" is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[lhump1961]

My recent poking around has shown the 65-3 with the 3" barrel to be quite a bit more than the 4". If I saw a nice 65-3 3" for less than $600 I would have to say so long to the Benjamin's!

 

[Warren Sear]

"Mint" is in the eye of the beholder.

How about "cherry", then?

 

[Warren Sear]

The value of 400-500 for a mint 65 is a little shortsighted depending on where you are. I've seen them go for 600+ for the 3" model. I don't know where these guys are finding these "mint" 65's for $400, but I'd be all over them for that price!

This is a resurrected zombie thread. Prices have indeed gone up since then.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Look nice - even for a zombie.

 

[jtcarm]

S&W Model 65-3 Opinions?

Solid as a rock. Very durable. Quite a few available currently as Police trade in's. In the $300 to $400 range, depending on condition, good buys.

Good luck finding those $300-400. The LEO revolver trade in well is a dry hole except for occasional 64s & 10s. The 3" K-frames are uncommon and highly sought after, so they command higher prices and disappear fast.

You gun is a gem!

 

[C Islander]

The prices mentioned like this thread are seven years old.

 

[chief38]

While not a "sexy" as the 2.5" RB M66, the M65 3" is the BEST sort of snub nose Magnum Smith ever made. The 3" barrel is better at delivering closer to Magnum velocities than the 2.5" is and it has fixed sights that I personally prefer in a CCW gun (won't catch clothing or or accidentally move).

I use my M65 as a hiking gun against 4 legged animals and it gets stoked with Buffalo Bore 180 grain 357 Magnum SWC hard cast lead moving out of the 3" barrel at over 1300 fps. Now that's quite a bit for a 180 grain projectile and the hard cast bullet insures maximum penetration.

For home defense or street defense BB 158 grain .38 Special +P LSWCHP-GC will move out at about 1150 fps from the 3" tube and is not hard to control at all. The 3" M65 is one of Smiths BEST!

 

[Warren Sear]

3" Model 65-4 gits er done for me...

 

[Texas Star]

3" Model 65-4 gits er done for me...

Bianchi Model 111 Cyclone holster?

Ahrends stocks?

Nice setup. Can even be a pretty goods woods gun.

 

[Warren Sear]

^^^ Yes, yes, and yes.

 

[Checkman]

My father passed three days ago at the age of 72. Very fast and unexpected. What he wanted actually. No long illness for dad. He was a retired police officer, Vietnam veteran and gun collector. Not to mention husband, father and grandfather. Among his many guns that I have just inherited (I'm an only child and mom isn't a gun person) is his old State Police Model 65 w/4" barrel. Terrific revolver. It's one of the ones that I'll never let go of.