4" Model 65 or 3" Model 66

[Storm]

Today I went back to the shop where I picked up my 3" Model 64 to buy some ammo. Sitting in the case where my 64 had been was a 4" 65 in like new condition that had just come in. Above that was a Model 66 with a 3 inch barrel. The front sight looked to be Tritium with the white ring, although I could detect no glow. The Model 65 has the lock, and the 66 is pre-lock. The action on the 66 is okay, but maybe just a bit on the loose side, but still acceptable. Otherwise the 66 is in excellent shape. The action on the 65 is extremely tight, but the gun is barely fired. The trigger on the 66 is average for a Smith. The trigger on the 65 is the best that I have run across in a long time. The SA is as light and as crisp as I've felt, and the DA is actually extraordinarily smooth and light.

I know that the 3" 66's are rather rare, and I'm never happy about a lock especially when the other gun in the choice has no lock. I'm not so concerned about value down the road, and this will not be a carry gun but could see some home defense use. The 65 was priced at $439 and the 66 at $499. There wasn't a major difference in price so that isn't a concern. I ended up putting the 65 on layaway. The trigger really sold me, and since it won't be a carry gun I like the extra inch in barrel. I've always wanted an M19 or M66 2.5 inch, and this three inch isn't it, but the fact that the 3 inch is somewhat rare has me second guessing my decision. As I'm assuming that the front sight blade could be swapped on the 66 for a standard one I am conisdering taking my one swap on a layaway and swapping the 65 for the 66. I would need to do it quickly as that 66 isn't going to last.

All things considered, with buying both not an option, what would you do?

Thanks for any thoughts. I'm a bit conflicted on this one and need to act quick.

 

[35Rem]

I think you could make a profit on the 66, if you had to. What's not to like about Adj sights, and a 3" barrel?

 

[BikerRN]

If the choice is lock, or no lock, I'd always take the one without the lock.

BikerRN

 

[18DAI]

$499 for a pre lock 3" 66? RUN DON'T WALK AND BUY IT!!!!!!

BREAK OUT THE PLASTIC IF YOU HAVE TO!! You will be very glad you did.

 

[Storm]

Headed to the car....

Thanks.

 

[MCgunner]

Report necessary complete with pictures. It is required on this site. I have a 3" taurus 66 I carry some, great shooting gun, and got it cheap. Almost as easy to carry as my SP101 was, not a lot heavier or bigger except for the grip frame. I can't afford what they want for a 3" Smith down here, I mean, if you can find a decent one. You'll turn a good profit even if you don't like the gun.

Yeah, I'd break out the plastic on that one, I think.

 

[MrBorland]

I agree with Thaddeus Jones. The 65 is a nice gun, but, IMO, this one's a no-brainer.

 

[steveracer]

If I saw a 3" 66 for that price, YOU COULD HEAR MY HAND MOVE to the wallet.
A 3" 65 is still on my list of VERY desireable handguns.
Steve

 

[Storm]

Gentlemen, I thank you. I just drove the 44 mile round trip to and from the shop, and as luck would have it the gun was still there. First thing when I walked in the door I saw a guy handling it. I stood back, with breath held, and waited until it went back in the case and the guy moved on. I swapped the gun with the 65 on layaway and it will soon be mine, hopefully within a couple of weeks. I took a pic of it with my camera phone and if I can get it to to my computer I'll post it.

The second that I pulled away from the shop the first time I had a very strong feeling that I had made a mistake. Rather than turn back I decided to get to a computer and resolve the issue. That was a smart move.

It turns out the gun is a 3" 66-5 from 1999 which I would imagine makes it less desirable than a 66-4 or earlier. Oh well. No matter. I guess I care most about not having the hammer firing pin. The black front sight blade has the white plastic ring with the brass center dot. I may well keep this sight. The grips are identical to my 2.5" 686 Plus, Hogues that I really like the feel of. The trigger is almost to the level of the 65, maybe a bit more stiff with DA, but still quite good.

Thanks again for the advice. I'll update when the gun is in hand.

 

[18DAI]

Congrats!! (we will keep it between us that you almost passed on a 3" 66 for a wind up revolver ) I'm glad you were able to get there in time. That 3" model 66-5 would easily fetch $650 or more locally.

The 3" 66-5 you describe is a very fine revolver. I've yet to hear of a problem with ignition concerning 66-5 frame mounted pins. If you encounter any trouble, contact Apex Tactical, and they can replace the firing pin with one of theirs. Or of course you can simply sell it to me.

Your 3" 66-5 was also sold overseas by Walther as the R99.

I have the 3" 66-4. It is the last revolver I would part with. Simply the "perfect" do everything revolver, for me. Congrats again! TJ

 

[Storm]

Thanks TJ. When I realized the stupid blunder that I made I felt like a real maroon Besides the desirability of the 3" 66, I also broke a rule that I had set for myself and that is that if it is a question between a lock and pre-lock go with the pre-lock. I think that trigger on the 65 had me a bit blinded, but when I went back and compared the the 65 and 66 the differences were miniscule, with, as I said, the 66 maybe being a bit more stiff. Besides, now I can start the search for that perfect pre-lock 3" 65.

One other thing is that I know how much I like the balance of my 2.5" 686 Plus I should have figured that a 3" 66 would be a great gun, and all of that after extolling the vitrues of the 3" 64:banghead:

This is one example of why I have never been timid to ask questions here, even either/or question like this one. This is one heck of a group.

 

[MrBorland]

One caveat...

I just thought of this, and I'll have to open this up to others with more experience with S&W revolvers, but a relatively recent post on the THR classifieds got me thinkin'.

The seller below was advertising a "S&W Model 66-5 3" H-Vis sight" for $500. As you scroll down the page, though, the photo of the gun's box clearly shows that this is also a 66-5, but with a 3.25" barrel. Cross referencing the product code with Supica & Nahas shows that 66-5s with 3.25" barrels and Hiviz sights were made. It's not clear to me, then, whether this gun is really what we're calling a 3" gun. Were "3" guns" officially called 3.25"? Are 3" and 3.25" guns different? Are 3.25" guns as rare as 3"

Bottom line, I guess, is if there's a difference, be sure the gun you're interested in really is a 3". Maybe it's priced accordingly.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=421758&highlight=66

 

[18DAI]

No, there were 3" model 66's ,and there was one run of 3.25" 66's.

The 3.25" 66-5 hi-vis was produced prior to the inclusion of the lock in the 66-6 model. They appear more frequently than the true 3" 66's, on the auction sites, and bring less money. I would call them scarce......not rare.

The true 3" 66's were produced in the 66-2, 66-3, 66-4 and 66-5 batches. They are rare........because their owners don't let them go!

One easy visual cue is that the ramp for the front blade runs all the way back to where the barrel joins the frame.

Always check the auction boards, I've seen more than one model 66 3" described as a 2.5" and priced accordingly. There are still some bargains to be had on VERY desireable revolvers.....as Storm proved today! TJ

 

[xring]

The HiViz was technically 3.2" I had one but traded it off. I still have a custom made IWB holster for it if interested. Interestingly, I had it made for a 3.25". Easy mistake to make.

 

[Checkman]

Don't forget to post photos.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

Grab the 66, and go, although it is a little high, you don't see a lot of them around with the 3" barrel.

 

[S&Wfan]

Great snag . . . and a '99 manufacture year STILL makes it desirable in the long run!

IMHO, the K-frame S&W wheelguns with the 3" tubes are the nicest looking and they shoot amazingly well . . . right up there with their more common 4" brethren.

Here's a '84-made 3" Model 65-3. I'll never sell it and it shoots soooo well! Your M66 will too!

The 3" guns point, and swing from target-to-target, faster than a 4" and I've won quite a few pin matches (bowling pins shot off a table @ 10 yards at speed) with this great shooting revolver.

My fastest time in a match to clear a 6-pin table was 3.82 seconds from the low-ready reaction to the buzzer, and I shot it faster and more naturally than my 5" Model 27 AND my 4" Model 686 (both now traded off).

THE 3" K-FRAMES ARE WINNERS!!!

Congratulations on a GREAT purchase at a fine price!

T.

 

[Storm]

When I went back to get the gun I was aware of the 3.2" version so I carefully measured the barrel length while in the shop. From the front of the forcing cone (at the cylinder) to the muzzle it is exactly 3 inches. When I look at the photo of the 3.2" linked to here is see that the ejector shroud doesn't go all the way to the muzzle stopping well short of it. After looking at the photo on my phone I see that the shroud on mine goes all the way to the muzzle. I'm as certain as I can be that mine is a true 3 inch. What I originally thought was a HIVIZ sight turned out to be white ring with brass dot.

Also, last night I was looking at my "new" 64 3 inch and that gun is a real piece of work. Between the 64 and 66 I'm going to be one happy camper, that is if I can ever get to the range and shoot them. So many shooters lately....

 

[Storm]

I'm now a little confused. If you look at the photo of the photo on my phone shown below you will see my gun. If you look at the 3.25" barrel shown in the link above in post #12 you will see that the ejector shroud doesn't come out all the way to the end of the muzzle, but on my gun it does. And, when I very carefully measured the barrel on my gun, including the forcing cone, it was 3 inches right on the money, not a hair over. But, as you can see, my ramp doesn't go all the way to the frame, but again, the barrel is not a the 3.25", or so it seems.

The Standard Catalog lists the 3.25" gun shown in the link in post #12 above as product code 102720 but doesn't have another 3.25" (other than blued cylinder) until 2004 with the HI-VIZ sights. My gun is a 1999. I guess my only hope to figure this out will be if the factory sticker is on the box with the barrel length and product code. Maybe I'll call the shop later and see waht the box says.

 

[Oro]

From your photo, it is clear you have a 3" model that someone had a Call bead front sight added to. Very nice. You did well.

The extra length in the other photo is just the longer barrel of the 3.25" variant sticking out. On 3" and up K frames, the ejectors and shrouds are all the same length, regardless of barrel length. The extra length in the auction photo is just the extra barrel length of that gun, not a proportionally different ejector rod or shroud. 2.5" and shorter K frames have a shorter rod and shroud.

You did very well.

the gun is a 3" 66-5 from 1999 which I would imagine makes it less desirable than a 66-4 or earlier.

Technically, yes, but it's the lock that gets most people's dander up. I like the pre-97 guns without the frame lug on the left and the MIM hammer and frame fp, but this is one I WOULD NOT have passed up.

Probably the production code is 102719 - the 3" 66. That says it came with faux-ivory non-medallion grips. The front sight was probably a factory special order, or it was done later by a very exacting owner and good gunsmith. What grips are on it? And you have the factory box with it, too? What a great deal.

 

[texas bulldog]

i would always take a no-lock over a lock (which i won't buy at all). and the 3" barrel is highly sought after. i think this is a no-brainer...

 

[Storm]

Oro, thanks for the evaluation. The grips are hogues, the same ones that I have on my 2.5" 686 Plus, with the scooped out bottom exposing the bottom of the frame. I find them to be extremely comfortable. No faux ivory for me!

I did call the shop and they checked the outside of the factory box for me The info strip was missing. Figures

Now I just have to pay for the gun. I love having a gun on layaway to think about, but I'm never comfortable until the gun is mine.

 

[pogo2]

Great gun...

I lucked into a 3 inch model 66-4 in 98% condition a year ago for $500, buying it from the original owner. I have other 66 and 19 snubbies in the 2.5 inch variety, and I like the 3 inch better. It shoots very well indeed. If I saw another one like you describe at that price, I would buy it on the spot. Dealers on the web try to sell these for $700 or so.

 

[msrtex]

66 pre-lock all the way!

 

[sumoj275]

Great find. I have been looking for a 66 for sometime and I came into a Performance Center 66 F Comp without the lock. I love the way the 3" brls balance. I just need to find a nice set of wood, Ahrends or Spegel, grips and a holster and I will be all set.
Thanks for sharing.