Smith Brings back the Model 66!!!

stantheman86 said:
Already have a 4" 66-7, excellent gun and a very sweet shooter.

I could care less about the IL but hate the CA compliant firing pin.....nothing an Apex pin and spring won't fix.
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Good news, sir. I believe that S&W has returned to making normal length firing pins.

The several spare S&W firing pins I recently purchased from Midway are the same length as the Apex pins, also purchased from Midway.

Life is good! :)
 
sometimes i wouldnt even recognize this forum if it wasnt for the blue background. pretty sad.
i for one, find this to be great news , i will be ordering the l frame and maybe the 66 as well .good timing because i just bought a 6" 66 to have cut down to 4 1/4.
maybe ill just sell it to fuel the purchase of a new 66.
HOORAY FOR SMITH & WESSON!!!
i have a 629 4 1/4" its my favorite piece ,a friend has a 686 in 4 1/4"
i dont give a rats bottom if some of you dont like it , dont buy it then.:mad:
 
shawn mccarver said:
You are correct. I went back a re-read. The 2-piece barrel is mentioned on the S&W web site.

I now also notice, in addition to the Canada barrel length, it has a ball-detent lock-up.

I am thinking out loud here, but wonder if that and the 2-piece barrel allows a thicker barrel shank in the 6 o'clock position so that Magnum ammo is not as punishing? Otherwise, why go to the trouble of the ball-detent lock-up?

And for those of you looking, the L frame Model 69 and the K frame Model 66 are both in the N frame section under revolvers on S&W's web site.
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My 67-6 -photo posted previously in this thread- has the modern CNC machined K frame and two piece barrel. The barrel is fully round at the forcing cone/frame end unlike my older K frames. The new K frame is ever so slightly larger allowing the full thickness, round barrel with no flat cut for cylinder clearance at 6'oclock. I'm certain the new 66 will be done the same, eliminating the Achilles heel of the K frame magnum.

I hope somebody trades in a vintage six inch 66 or 66-1 on a new four and a quarter inch 66 at my LGS so I can replace the one I traded away twenty plus years ago!
 
On a positive note it is nice to see S&W listening to what people want and trying to reintroduce the K frame magnums. Also it would be nice to see the older K frames come down in price. That being said I will not buy a new one unless they get rid of the lock, or at least offer it without a lock.

Does anyone know why the profile of the K frame was so drastically changed? I understand there is a lock and frame mounted firing pin, but S&W managed to get a lock in their J frames without changing the magnum J frame profile much. Also S&W had 22lr guns in both J and K frame for years which have frame mounted firing pins without changing the profile.
 
jd70 said:
Very happy it's back. Even though I own 3 k frame 357 s I will probably save up and buy the new 66. It's the only one I don't have and I can take out the lock. K frame point and shoot better than about every other gun I've ever shot. Going to get a cc license this year and I would rather have one of these than one of my old ones as evidence if I ever had to use one. Really wish it was a 3 inch though.
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Lurker here....but I seriously doubt that someone {Talo} will miss the need for a 3 inch 66 and a 3 inch 69...I'm sure these will be available in a little time;)
 
All other things aside, the fuss over the FMFP or frame mounted firing pin is about as silly as it gets. Witness Colts Python which has had it's firing pin, frame mounted, since it's inception circa 1953 approximately Sixty years ago.
Jeesh the things people get upset about!
 
kamloops67 said:
sometimes i wouldnt even recognize this forum if it wasnt for the blue background. pretty sad.
i for one, find this to be great news , i will be ordering the l frame and maybe the 66 as well .good timing because i just bought a 6" 66 to have cut down to 4 1/4.
maybe ill just sell it to fuel the purchase of a new 66.
HOORAY FOR SMITH & WESSON!!!
i have a 629 4 1/4" its my favorite piece ,a friend has a 686 in 4 1/4"
i dont give a rats bottom if some of you dont like it , dont buy it then.:mad:
Click to expand...

You're not alone in being happy to see the gun's return, if in a slightly altered form. Because I have 12-6 on my licence, I have a 4" 66 and a 2 and a half incher. I like them both. I haven't picked up a new revolver since the whole Firearms Act mess was enacted; I have been buying other prohibs on the used market as I prefer the aesthetics of shorter barrel lengths.

I think some of the dislike for the new gun may be analogous to a steady diet of steak...our Southern friends can have their pick of steak, when they want it and how they want it. On the other hand, we have had virtually no steak at all for the last 20 years, and so are glad to have a chance at the cut being offered.

In the end though, I see it as a good idea and one that I think will do very well on our side of the border.
 
Hopefully the internal lock parts are MIM'd... Right?? ;)

Guys, enjoy the fact that S&W is giving you a new revolver option. That is much better than cutting their product line by one or two.

When I think about the cost of manufacturing a revolver as compared to a plastic M&P auto, I'm amazed that S&W is still making revolvers. Additionally, I imagine the market demand for a full sized revolver is much lower than that polymer auto, yet S&W is still giving us wheel gun options. Bravo S&W!!

If the lock or the MIM parts are so revolting go find a "classic" 66 and enjoy. You will likely be happier with it anyway. I just "rescued" a 1982 model 19-5 and couldn't be more pleased, but I would be equally happy with a new 586 or this new 66.

Life is too short to be upset when a manufacturer gives you additional product options. IMHO, we should have a "glass half full" response.

Edmo
 
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robin990 said:
$850.00......for a $400.00 gun.......insane prices.....
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Been grocery shopping in the last month?
$4.39 LB for 80% ground beef. Thomas' English Muffins are now regular price @ $5.59 for six. Decent coffee is $8.99 to $9.99 LB. Navel oranges are about $1 each. The dollar isn't worth the 100% cotton rag Crane & Company stock on which it's printed!

Be GLAD S&W is introducing any new revolvers instead of just $1500 plus 1911's and plastic M&P pistols.
 
KLYDE said:
Why should the U.S. consumer be forced to buy a 4.25" barrel in order to accommodate foreign countries. Seems like the flavor of the day here in the U.S. This is strickly a cost cutting production move and if the U.S. buyer doesn't like it than too bad. Well I'm not giving my money to a company with this attitude.
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Is the extra 1/4" really that big of a deal?

Frankly I'm happy that S&W is still making any revolvers that aren't plastic J frames.
 
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I'm sorry to be so negative in my posts about current production Smith & Wesson revolvers but the ONLY way to motivate any company to change its product is to let them know the current item is not well-liked.

I can see you younger guys not being turned off by guns like this new "Model 66" but many of us who know the older versions are. Smith & Wesson is a smart company and they know that all buyer demographics are important. They also know which demographic has the leisure time during which they can use their revolvers and the finances to buy more. Look at the number of S&Ws in some their owners' photos on this site. Us olde pharts are either pretty stupid or fiercely loyal.

Ed
 
AveragEd said:
I'm sorry to be so negative in my posts about current production Smith & Wesson revolvers but the ONLY way to motivate any company to change its product is to let them know the current item is not well-liked.
Click to expand...
And if it sells profitably in spite of some dislike that's an opposite message and motivates continued manufacture, eh? :rolleyes:
 
FWIW-
It appears the Mod 66 and Mod 69 have now been moved to the K/L frame section- Product: Model 66
It also appears to me that they MAY have simply altered some old, existing copy for another page instead of starting from scratch, and that is why it says "Two Piece Barrel". I do not believe it has a two piece barrel. It also says "• Full Top Strap and Barrel Serration ", and I believe that is also leftover from the old copy about another gun. If you watch the video, at 0.29-0.31 the top of the gun is clearly visible, and it is NOT serrated.
It DOES have the ball detent, or at least it is obvious the forward locking bolt is not in the shroud.

The above is my observations and opinion.
___________________________________

Below are the Facts of Life-

Boge said:
Man, the haters are out in full force here!! Can't these people get over something that happened almost 15 yrs. ago? Why do they keep posting their venom in threads like these? If you don't like S&W's new models fine, but don't stop & piss in every thread like some drunken brother in law at Christmas! This BS was old TEN YEARS ago. Get over it & move on. This is why S&W is making money & Colt has had the wolf at the door since '86. Technology changes and people do as well or they get left behind.
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Eloquence, sheer eloquence. :D
Really- well said.

I invite you all to read this sticky, particularly Post #66:Sticky: LOCK- ..can't get past "the hole".
Some of you should read it two or three times.

If you want to coo and cuddle about vintage revolvers made the old way, there are three forums above this one for that purpose. Go to one and have at it. Enjoy yourself. Meanwhile, let people who buy/shoot/own/collect the current production products enjoy themselves.

All the bitching and moaning accomplishes nothing, and actually lowers the usefulness of this board.
Think about that- a newbie to guns has heard that he/she should start with a revolver, and hears S&W recommended. The newb comes here to find out what new gun to buy, since he/she knows NOTHING about them. They get pummeled with rants that new guns are junk, and they should buy an old gun. Now, remember, this person knows little or nothing about guns and needs advice to sort out the new guns as far as size, caliber, and style, and finds the subject almost overwhelming, and you just said "Go buy a used gun". Do you really think you helped them? :rolleyes:

So, here is how it will work-
If you'd like to enjoy/love on/cuddle/read about/post pics of/whatever the older guns, go to the three vintage forums and have a good time.

If you'd like to enjoy the post 1980 and current production guns, this is the place!

If you'd like to rant/rave/bitch/moan/whine/cry in every thread started in this section and discourage new gun owners and shooters, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. I mean that. If the inability to rant/rave/bitch/moan/whine/cry incessantly makes this board unusable for you, find someplace you like better. You ain't wearing chains.
We might all be better for it. ;)

I hope that is clear.



AveragEd said:
I'm sorry to be so negative in my posts about current production Smith & Wesson revolvers but the ONLY way to motivate any company to change its product is to let them know the current item is not well-liked.
Click to expand...
You do know that S&W does not own this board, nor have any affiliation with it whatsoever, don't you?
You do know that we don't make the guns here, don't you?
I would suggest communicating your opinions and desires directly to S&W. All their contact data can be found on their website at Smith & Wesson
 
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I wonder if it will actually be a true 4.25" or if like before you will get odd lengths. In S&W world a 2" = 1 7/8" on the snub J frame. I measured the 6" barrel on my 629-6 and it's only 5 3/4".
 
New Model 66

Wow, didn't know i would create such a firestorm. All i can say is I live in the present and can only buy from Smith today, what they are making. Do i always keep my eyes open fro vintage stuff-sure but the new revolvers you can shoot the **** out of and they will replace anything that goes wrong. Thats what i am planning to do with one of these new 66's.
The more nay sayers, the more new revolvers for me!!
 
handejector said:
You do know that S&W does not own this board, nor have any affiliation with it whatsoever, don't you? You do know that we don't make the guns here, don't you?
Click to expand...

Yes to both questions but most companies have someone who drops in on discussion forums that involve their products occasionally.

I am the sprint car technical inspector for Williams Grove Speedway, a well-known, highly-regarded and historic track that has been in action continuously since 1939. We have a website and part of that site is a message board plus there are two independent boards that cater to central Pennsylvania sprint car racing. Dirt track races and beer go hand in hand and many of our board's posters get a little obnoxious, both at the track and their keyboards. Most of their drivel is ignorable but we have a guy in the office who reads those boards once or so each week. When a complaint about something we did or didn't do is aired by several of those CUSTOMERS, we at least look into it.

But I heard what you said and will behave myself in the future.

Ed
 
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I've got a 66-7 and love it:)

I just finished deactivating the lock on a used 10-14 I use as a range gun, took 10 minutes and a dollar store file. The gun shoots like a dream.

I wish more people were turned off by the IL so I could pick up a lightly used 2.5" 686+ for $450:)
 
bronco45 said:
My first Smith&Wesson was a Model 19 4" in 1970, a Bangor Punta abortion. Tried to carry it as a duty weapon but 5 rounds of W-W 357s and the gun would bind as one side of the cylinder was .005 wider than the other. Forcing cone was undersized and the hot lead and powder particles and lock up was soon to occur.

Gun was screwed up like Hogan's goat. Took a professional gunsmith and a lot of machine work to get it tuned and operating reliably, also a years time. That year included a trip to the Mothership who advised that I was shooting too hot of ammo in it. That was their fix.

When I started looking for alternative Smiths to carry, it was basically a sellers market. You could buy 6" Model 10s all day from Smith but the idea of a Model 66 wasn't reality then.

I've been shooting Smiths predominately for 48 years, it's nice to see them bring back the 66 such a nice carrying weapon in a very adequate caliber. Thanks S&W for jumping back into K frames, magnum style.
Click to expand...

...funny...I bought the same gun along with a Model 18 the same year and both mine were perfect. Shot 10K rounds of .357 Magnum through it, had it tuned up, nickeled and a yellow ramp put in at the factory and fired it another 10K before selling it in 1980. A total of SIX rounds of .38 Special made it through the cylinder.

As to the current 66, it is too bad that since S&W seems to be letting quite a few of the J-frames out of the factory without the IL why can't they do the same with the larger frame guns? Especially in their Classic Series like the 57, 58, 21, etc. they would have sold a lot more guns without the IL than with....

I also wonder about the two piece barrel...what is wrong with the never fails one piece barrel?

...and finally wonder if that new L-frame .44 Magnum will one day come in .41 Magnum....the gun that the .41 should have been in the first place...

Bob
 
FWIW the 2 piece barrel does not have the flat spot on the forcing cone.

So, the newest 66's are stronger than the "older" 66's. the new blue S&W's still use a one piece barrel.

Dan Wesson used a 2 piece barrel, although it was interchangeable unlike S&W it resulted in excellent accuracy due to tensioning.

S&W went to 2 piece barrels to save money but in the process produced a barrel capable of excellent accuracy, although 99.9% of us aren't good enough shots to notice much difference:)
 
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