Am I nuts?

J

JumboJVT

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Joined
Dec 28, 2019
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301
A few years ago I picked up a 2.5" 66-2. Saw it and just had to, had to, have it. Its in nice shape and shoots fine (had to correct a very minor barrel clocking issue), but I'm just not in love. But the other day I was at my LGS and they had a takeoff 4" 66-2 barrel. Forcing cone looks like new, bore is shiny.$40 and home it came. So I guess I'm going to send it off to have the barrel properly installed (with the atendant full length e-rod, or course). But if I'm gonna do that, why not bob it to 3-3.25" and a new front sight...and a little slab side treatment to correct the off-center lettering...and a ruggedized rear sight (Bowen adjustable or D&L fixed?)...and some action work...and....you know $800 of work on an $800 gun. Call it $1600 an inch.

Oh, never mind. After writing it up and reading it back to myself, I've answered my own question: absolutely nuts. Still want to do it anyway.
 
JumboJVT said:
A few years ago I picked up a 2.5" 66-2. Saw it and just had to, had to, have it. Its in nice shape and shoots fine (had to correct a very minor barrel clocking issue), but I'm just not in love. But the other day I was at my LGS and they had a takeoff 4" 66-2 barrel. Forcing cone looks like new, bore is shiny.$40 and home it came. So I guess I'm going to send it off to have the barrel properly installed (with the atendant full length e-rod, or course). But if I'm gonna do that, why not bob it to 3-3.25" and a new front sight...and a little slab side treatment to correct the off-center lettering...and a ruggedized rear sight (Bowen adjustable or D&L fixed?)...and some action work...and....you know $800 of work on an $800 gun. Call it $1600 an inch.

Oh, never mind. After writing it up and reading it back to myself, I've answered my own question: absolutely nuts. Still want to do it anyway.
Click to expand...
i’ve done worse
 
My wife isn't as understanding as you guys, even though she should be used to it since I've been doing the same thing with snowmobiles for 35 years. As she tells her friends "The d#$@#d fool just can't leave it alone!"
 
I wouldn't.

A 2.5" M66 is worth considerably more than a 4".

I'd sell it, buy a 4" and have money left over to put towards customization if necessary.

Pre-lock 3" are super rare and valuable, but S&W does list a new production 3" M66 if that's what you really want. Starting with that as the basis for custom work might save even more money.
 
I admit, I was speaking from a spontaneous source with ignorance to the value of the smith. But I could relate to the indecisiveness of modifying something I already own when it makes no financial sense to do so.
 
JumboJVT said:
A few years ago I picked up a 2.5" 66-2. Saw it and just had to, had to, have it. Its in nice shape and shoots fine (had to correct a very minor barrel clocking issue), but I'm just not in love. But the other day I was at my LGS and they had a takeoff 4" 66-2 barrel. Forcing cone looks like new, bore is shiny.$40 and home it came. So I guess I'm going to send it off to have the barrel properly installed (with the atendant full length e-rod, or course). But if I'm gonna do that, why not bob it to 3-3.25" and a new front sight...and a little slab side treatment to correct the off-center lettering...and a ruggedized rear sight (Bowen adjustable or D&L fixed?)...and some action work...and....you know $800 of work on an $800 gun. Call it $1600 an inch.

Oh, never mind. After writing it up and reading it back to myself, I've answered my own question: absolutely nuts. Still want to do it anyway.
Click to expand...
Don't do it
 
JumboJVT said:
bob it to 3-3.25" and a new front sight...and....you know $800 of work on an $800 gun
Click to expand...

For that kind on coin, you might as well keep an eye out for a bona fide 3" M66. Unlike anything custom, it would have collector and/or resale value...and you'd still have an intact 2.5"-er, which, since you don't love it, you could sell to offset some of the cost of the 3"-er. Heck, if you're willing to put a fixed rear sight on the custom gun, why not just buy a 3" M65 for a whole lot less than that 3" M66?
 
I was reading the post and before I got to the end was thinking to myself "if that was me I'd convert that 4" barrel to a 3". I finally got to the end and saw you were thinking the same thing!

Not sure I'd do that to a pristine gun though, maybe one instead that's a litte rough around the edges and needs refinished anyway.
 
bassjam said:
I was reading the post and before I got to the end was thinking to myself "if that was me I'd convert that 4" barrel to a 3". I finally got to the end and saw you were thinking the same thing!

Not sure I'd do that to a pristine gun though, maybe one instead that's a litte rough around the edges and needs refinished anyway.
Click to expand...
All this talk about altering prelock Smiths are giving me anxiety.😟
 
Nuts? I don't know but it is certainly out in left field in my thinking. All that trouble and expence just to get a 1/2-3/4 inch longer barrel makes no sense to me. However I have never really liked snubbies so that probably colors my opinion somewhat.

It's your gun and money so do what you want. That is what I would do and most likely would not have asked anyone what they thought.
 
Back before they were Utterly Kewl, I replaced the 2.5" barrel on a M19 round butt with a 4". An action job by a Centerfold Gunsmith - only took two trips to get it to where it would shoot - and I had a very nice revolver. But I thought the balance was off. I did not replace it after it was stolen.
 
Like I said, I know. Nuts. But to all you guys that want to approach this from a rational, analytic angle: what does any of that have to do with firearms? You guys are funny:)
 
JumboJVT said:
But to all you guys that want to approach this from a rational, analytic angle: what does any of that have to do with firearms? You guys are funny:)
Click to expand...


I believe I said something like, "Your money, your gun, do what you want" and only that I was biased in my thinking having no interest in snubbies.

I am somewhat irrational sometimes in what I do to firearms that interest me. You should see what I did to a 10/22 if you want something out in left field or and old Marlin 22 that was just junk when I bought it. I would post pictures but have none.
 
I sold a 3” 66-3 for $1600 in the box with all the original papers with no firing marks. Just saying.

But, to directly answer your question, probably.
 
Sell it and buy what you want.
I'd hate to see what many people consider a grail gun to be bubba'd.
 
I kinda like the 3” K frame .357 Mag idea. My Model 13-3 is a pretty good shooter. :thumbup:

IMG_0617.jpeg

Stay safe.
 
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