WHICH VERSION OF MODEL 66 2.5 INCH?

[haifabuddy]

Assuming the price and condition were close enough not to be factors, would you rather buy/have a 66-1, 66-2, or 66-3. The 66-1 is P&R. Gun will be a carry/shooter.

 

[WFR]

I'd have to say the P&R gun just for the cool factor!

 

[bravastar1]

I agree. Go with the -1 P&R.

 

[haifabuddy]

If you already had a -1, and were getting another 2.5 incher, would you go with a -2 or -3, or another -1?

 

[tlr16]

I have a -1 one that I havent shot yet but the -2 that im selling shoots great. Whatever one you decide to buy will be a good choice.

 

[FrenchyF16]

I can't directly compare, but my 66-3 shoots great.

 

[kennyb]

i carry a 66-1 about half or more of the time...has the fingergroove combat stocks on it.....it's a tackdriver

 

[18DAI]

For collecting the 66-1.

For carry and competition, I prefer the 66-2's due to the non recessed cylinder. Easier to load with speedloaders, for me.

I'd say any 2.5" 66 up until the 66-6. You can't go wrong with a pre lock 66 snubby. Regards 18DAI.

 

[fyimo]

For collecting the 66-1.

For carry and competition, I prefer the 66-2's due to the non recessed cylinder. Easier to load with speedloaders, for me.

I'd say any 2.5" 66 up until the 66-6. You can't go wrong with a pre lock 66 snubby. Regards 18DAI.

+1 on these comments

 

[PALADIN85020]

66-1 is P&R, as noted. It also has a grooved trigger, which is not optimum for double action work. It's probably more of a collector's item now, although entirely functional. The 66-2, in addition to the non-recessed cylinder, has a smooth trigger, which is better for DA use. I have both, but prefer the 66-2 for actual carry and practice. Get a good action job done on either one for serious social work.

 

[tbury]

All the comments above are valid. I have a 4" 66-1 that is a great gun; but if I was in your shoes I would buy the best condition gun for the best price. You can't go wrong with a 66- any in my opinion. So I would go with best bang for the buck.

 

[StingrayG4]

Excuse my ignorance, but what does "P&R" stand for in this context?

-S

 

[st regis]

Pinned and Recessed. Pinned barrel, where iti meets the frame; cylinder charge holes are recessed to cover the rims of the rounds.

 

[pogo2]

Maybe it doesn't matter...

I don't own a 66-1, but have the -2, -3 and -4 in short barrel lengths. I shoot all three of mine and don't see much difference in feel or accuracy. I suspect that individual variations from gun to gun may be more important than model dash number variations.

 

[WFR]

pogo, I was perfectly happy with rubber grips on my 66-4 until you posted that!
Nice grips!
Ahrends right?

 

[ladder13]

The snubbie 66's ooze cool, one of the best looking Smiths ever, imho.

 

[StingrayG4]

Pinned and Recessed. Pinned barrel, where iti meets the frame; cylinder charge holes are recessed to cover the rims of the rounds.

Thank you for clearing that up for me. The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know.

To answer the original question, I'd be thrilled to own any nice 66, regardless of what comes after the dash.

-S

 

[sdg380]

I recently acquired a 2 1/2" M66, and made a point of going with the -5, since it was pre-lock, but had the beefier frame and barrel, and actually weighs in a little heavier than the previous models. Shoots very nicely, and could hardly feel any better in hand.

 

[pogo2]

Ahrends

pogo, I was perfectly happy with rubber grips on my 66-4 until you posted that!
Nice grips!
Ahrends right?

Yes, they are Ahrends finger groove round butt grips. The woods are (left to right) bubinga, cordia and cocobolo.