The 69 and 66-8 2.75s are finally here!!

[TDC]

Got my 69 2.75 day before yesterday and a 66-8 2.75 will
be here tomorrow. I'm showing the 69 with its 4" brother....

Most of us have been waiting 6 to 8 months to see an appearance. It was worth the wait in my opinion.

They appear to be showing up at all the major distributors in both configurations.

Now all I'm wishing for is a .41 Mag to be offered in both L frame barrel lengths and I'll be a happy man.....

 

[Bill In Texas]

Congratulations! I'm jealous!

 

[Gripgrabber]

Congrats, now I really want one! I like the two tone.
How about a range report?
SEMPER PARATUS

 

[MCorps0311]

Congrats,I want one now,maybe before the year is out.

 

[Hopper]

I ordered my NM66 2.75" first thing yesterday morning after getting an overnight notification that they were FINALLY in stock. Now I'm patiently awaiting a tracking number. I've got a Wilson Combat spring kit on the bench, ready for surgery, and Altamont Altai super rosewood grips on the way. FiNaLLy!! WOOT!!

 

[Jupiter01]

Like with the SW22 Victory I picked up last week...$260 otd, I will wait till the "New manufacture bugs" get worked out of the 66 2 3/4 ", THEN I will buy one...if I can't find a 3" somewhere...somehow...that appeals.

 

[Sol-Invictus]

I got the email from gallery of guns at 1:52p CST, Didn't see it until a little after 2p, clicked the link and there were 8 left, hit order. Going to sign the ATF form at my LGS after work.

 

[TDC]

These two new guns seem to really be in the distribution system right now.

As a long time collector and shooter I believe they are both going to be among the most popular revolvers ever issued, especially with this barrel length. If you can swing the price on either you may want to give them some serious thought for purchase right now.

Some of the distributors who received several of each were completely sold out within an hour of receiving them.... Just sayin'......

Terry

 

[Macinaw]

After I heard they were showing up. I was on the hunt for one. My LGS received only two. I snagged one.

 

[walkcubs]

Just picked up a 69 2.75" barrel today. My LGS got it in yesterday. I helped him unpack his new arrivals and put my name on it. Born on date 4/19/2017, not even a month old. I found a great set of new style Pacmeyers that fit it perfectly. Much better fit in my hands. Taking to the range tomorrow.
Word of caution. When I took this gun out of it's box, it would not cock into single action. The cylinder would not rotate. The cylinder feed pawl was jammed inside the frame. I carefully coaxed it out and there seems to be no side effects. The snap caps I used to test the firing action show no ill effects of the factory lapse in quality.
Otherwise this seems to be an excellent new addition to my collection. Action is smooth for a new smith. You have to check out the new ball bearing locking mechanism. Different from the 4 inch model.

 

[Sol-Invictus]

4 left on gallery of guns I was notified by email and ordered mine.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I found a great set of new style Pacmeyers that fit it perfectly. Much better fit in my hands.

I've become a fan of Pachmayr's Diamond Pro grip too. They've been great on all the guns I've tried them on.

Let us know how it shoots at the range.

.

.

.

 

[Dave Lively]

I got a chance to handle a 2.75 inch 69 at the NRA show yesterday and it felt really good in my hands. Since I already own a 4 inch 69 I will probably not get another but the S&W rep's suggestion that there is nothing wrong with owning both has some merit. A 2.75 with the sights set for specials and low powered magnums and the 4.25 I already own with the sights set for full powered loads would be nice.

The same rep said a lot more of the 2.75 inch models should be available in the next couple of weeks.

I sure hope this gets posted when I hit the reply button instead of getting redirected to some malware site.

 

[Hopper]

My patience has FINALLY paid off! Just picked this up tonight. I promise I'm not saying this with "new gun stars" in my eyes, but fit and finish on this is the best of any recent Smith I've picked up over the last few years. Not a mark on it, and the barrel is in *perfect* alignment with the top strap. New Altamont Altai grips, and as good as the stock trigger was (better than the factory setup on my NM 66 4.25"), I did have an extra unused Wilson Combat spring kit I installed, with the 13# trigger return spring. I also like the new ball detent system over what I have in the 4.25" NM 66.

I am SO digging this, cannot wait to give it a workout.

 

[TDC]

Here's the whole family!

S&W really has a winner with these new revolvers.

I hope the trend continues and new calibers, especially the .41 Mag, will be offered in the L frame soon.

 

[66snub]

I handled one at my LGS (M66 2.75") and I can say that the trigger was nothing short of amazing. I'm not exactly a fan of the newer models with the firing pin off the hammer and mim parts, but this gun has changed my mind. It was magic. The single action pull is better than my M19-5. I will end up with one. No doubt about it.

 

[Shark Bait]

I handled one at my LGS (M66 2.75") and I can say that the trigger was nothing short of amazing. I'm not exactly a fan of the newer models with the firing pin off the hammer and mim parts, but this gun has changed my mind. It was magic. The single action pull is better than my M19-5. I will end up with one. No doubt about it.

Like you, I prefer the older Smiths. But I am really liking my new 69. Fit and finish are very nice, great trigger, and it carries very well. It has become my new EDC revolver with Buffalo Bore heavy 44 Special loads. Just need to get some more trigger time with it.

 

[Paul105]

Posted this yesterday on Shark Bait's M69 thread. Seems to be more activity here, so I'll post it again.

Mine 2.75" M69 came in today.

Cylinder throats approx .4295. Measured with pin/plug gauges (minus verity) -- .429 go, .430 no go in all five throats.

Took it to the range for limited workout (time constrained).

Ended up putting the X Frame 500 Hogues on the gun. After that all was good. Holsters for my 396 fit the M69 2.75" perfectly.

Paul

All groups shot at 25 yds rested. The lead loads were just some ammo I had around for testing other guns -- I'm sure that a load could be (will be) developed for this particular gun.

The .44 special equivalent loads were easy shooting. The .44 mag equivalent (H110) loads were not at all unpleasant with the Hogue 500s.

I didn't chrono anything today, but for reference velocities form one of my 4 1/4" M69s at 5 long paces and 50 deg _+ were

260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,224 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,230 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,220 fps
240gr Zero JSP with 8.5gr Univ avg 910 fps
250gr Keith (Lyman 429421) with 21.1gr A2400 avg 1,250 fps

I'm very happy with the two groups with H110 considering old eyes, iron sights and short sight radius.

This gun was very comfortable to shoot with the Hogue 500 X Frame grips -- not so much (for me) with factory grips.

 

[Invictus357]

Great pics guys.

I find it very interesting that S&W is stamping the logo again on select models.

The 66 2.75" now gets stamped.

I wish Smith would return to doing all the models like that.

Much better looking and you don't have to worry about polishing it off.

 

[Desertrat44]

So I just picked up my 2.75" model 69 yesterday. I'm super happy with it. Fit and finish is awesome. I am hoping to make it to the range this weekend. So I'm not trying to be ignorant but will this hold up to shooting some heavier loads? For example a 300 gr hard cast lead at about 1250 fps? Not a steady diet of them but just occasional use. What do you guys think?