Why choose a model 67 over a 66?

[Triggernosis]

^^^ Better for self/home defense? What, pray tell, would that be?

 

[silversnake]

To me they handle the same, comes down to personal preference. I own both because I found them at good prices.

 

[BAM-BAM]

IMO today the 67 is targeted to Police and Security that specify .38 spl. only...... you can't force or mistakenly load .357s.

IMHO the 19/66 with the option of .38 and .357 is more versatile for general purpose use if you are not limited to one round...... for a carry gun.... shotshells and wadcutters to 158gr .357magnums...... with SWCHP, +P and +P+ in between!

For a steady diet of .357 I go straight to the L-frame

 

[Warren Sear]

To me there is not more beautiful K Frame than a Model 19 (or 66), with either a 4" or 6" barrel.

 

[squidsix]

I have both 19s and 15s and if I am doing an ICORE competition a 15-3 comes with me every time.
If I am out in the boonies, a 19-2 or 19-3 comes along. Same holsters, same speedloaders. The 15 is lighter at the end and therefore points faster, for me, than the 19. But I LOVE having a .357 Magnum load on board if it might get personal.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

Don't neglect the 13 and 65! I am a blued man myself, though.

 

[jtcarm]

The 67 is a .38 with an unshrouded ejector rod, the 66 is a .357 mag that has a shrouded ejector rod. Choose based on your preferences.

The 66 has a much heavier barrel to boot.

 

[Triggernosis]

If I start looking for a used one, is there any difference in price between the 15 and the 67?

 

[kaaskop49]

Probably out of nostalgia and those who still want just
a full sized .38; also for agencies in the U.S. or around
the world which still might specify .38 only.

The downside of the post 1982 15/67s in my mind is that
Smith went to the bullish Model 14 barrel which destroys
the elegance of the gun when it had the tapered barrel.

I bought my 67 in 1973 because the 66 was almost unavailable at that time. (So was the Model 60, another gun everybody craved.) I was amused to read the glorification of the gun in the Dillon catalog article, as for me, the 67 was just a gun that was not the 66 I wanted. I've never really liked it, still don't, but it's the gun I've fired the most over the decades, the one that brought me a trophy in a police match, and the one I use for CCW qualification.

While it has held up well over 1000s of rounds, requiring no gunsmithing or repair, it's still not a 66. But I won't sell it...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[CajunBass]

If I start looking for a used one, is there any difference in price between the 15 and the 67?

The 67 will probably be a little higher, but not a lot. Stainless seems to carry a slight premium, but like everything else, it's condition, condition, condition. I prefer blue myself, but wouldn't turn my nose up at a nice 67.

 

[Triathloncoach]

Kinda like picking between Maryann and Maryann. Jackpot!

 

[Triggernosis]

Kinda like picking between Maryann and Maryann. Jackpot!

Well, I'm pretty sure that Ginger would have been the "magnum" version of those two.

 

[typetwelve]

I bought my 67 in 1973 because the 66 was almost unavailable at that time. (So was the Model 60, another gun everybody craved.) I was amused to read the glorification of the gun in the Dillon catalog article, as for me, the 67 was just a gun that was not the 66 I wanted. I've never really liked it, still don't, but it's the gun I've fired the most over the decades, the one that brought me a trophy in a police match, and the one I use for CCW qualification.

While it has held up well over 1000s of rounds, requiring no gunsmithing or repair, it's still not a 66. But I won't sell it...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

God only knows how many rounds have gone down the barrel of my 67, like I said, it was a police pistol. The thing locks up solid, the hammer hits hard as nails, there's no slop in anything, the rifling is clean and pronounced. Heck, even the dreaded end shake is next to nothing on it.

With any luck, my kid's, kid will be shooting the thing (and my daughter is 9, LOL)...

 

[chiefdave]

Both the 66 and the 67 are still made, but if someone wants one of the older ones, buying a M67 would have the advantage of knowing that a lot of full power, light weight, 357 MGN rounds had not been fired, perhaps damaging the barrel. This is especially important, if, like me, it is necessary to purchase from internet photos. Very few sellers have well lighted, high quality photos of the forcing cone area. The gun must be very clean and well photographed to show damage like cracks. The typical cell phone shots of a dirty gun don't cut it!

Best,
Rick

I couldn't agree more. Buying a used 19/66 is chancy at best, too many shooters like to load .357's to the max and shoot a lot of them. I think N frames are better suited for the more powerful round but that is just my opinion.

 

[Walkingwolf]

So why do you think S&W still makes the 67, then?

Because there is a market for the 67. I wish I had never sold my 67 in the early 80's for a nickle 19. The 67 was clearly more accurate, so much so that at 10 yards shooting shotgun shell casings was easy.

 

[typetwelve]

^^^ Better for self/home defense? What, pray tell, would that be?

Nope, nope, nope...not going down that road. That's why I threw this comment in:

"that's subjective, so take it for what its worth"

If you feel a .38 spcl is perfect for home defense, I'll gladly respect your opinion.

 

[Triggernosis]

Nope, nope, nope...not going down that road. That's why I threw this comment in:

"that's subjective, so take it for what its worth"

If you feel a .38 spcl is perfect for home defense, I'll gladly respect your opinion.

No harm - I was just curious what you would say. I'm always looking for options.

 

[automan71]

When I want to shoot 38spl, I want it to be out of a 38spl...lol. I do love the 19/66 and have owned many. The last few years, I've been shooting 38spl and I have a finish-challenged 15-4 that will out shoot every handgun I own! My dad has a 67 no dash, too, but I don't have much trigger time with it. When I put that 15 in my hand it just feels right, and the targets prove the same. The price on the 15/67 also seem to be less inflated than the magnums. Everyone seems to want a magnum and that's fine with me...I'll take the 38's. Like others mentioned, if I want to shoot 357 magnum, I will reach for the model 28 or the 686. I have a like new in box 67 and 15 with all the trimmings, saved for my two grandsons. I will let them argue between the blue and stainless...Lol

 

[Telecaster]

...If you feel a .38 spcl is perfect for home defense, I'll gladly respect your opinion.

I don't think anyone said it was perfect, but between .38 and .357 there's the penetration through walls aspect to consider. Even a snub nose shooting .357 puts out around 500 ft/lbs of muzzle energy, compared to roughly 200 ft/lbs for non +P .38 special.

Ballistics by the Inch doesn't have figures for .38+P.

 

[vipermd]

I agree. The 38 cylinder will be easier to clean than the 357 cylinder and it has a slight mechanical chance of being more accurate with 38 loads than the same load would be in a 357.

Why would the 38 cylinder be easier to clean than a 357 cylinder??? I do not understand why that would be. Be Safe,