S&W Model 19/66?

[mnrivrat]

I've owned several of both 19's and 66's and they are very nice handlingand shooting guns. I like the 3 inch barrel versions but they are not easy to find. The 3" Model 19 is a grail gun and easily bring on the + side of $1,000 .

I rescued a 4 inch 66 that spent wet time from Katrina . I cut that 4 inch barrel down to 3 and managed to clean up the gun pretty well with some file work and bead blasting.

I would never pass up the K-frame guns when you find them for a decent price.

 

[CajunBass]

I've owned a couple of 19's over the years. Traded or sold them off for something else.

Today I've just got an old Model 66 (no dash).

 

[grainfed]

My 66-2 with Ahrends..............

 

[bikemutt]

I spotted a very clean 6" model 14 K38 Masterpiece yesterday at a pawnshop, no box, no papers, no cleaning tool etc, just the revolver. I had to call for a cleanup on aisle 3 when I saw the asking price; $999.95.

I don't know when he believes he will move that one out the door.

 

[fatelk]

Mine is an early 4" 66 just like the middle one in the top photo of post 20. I read somewhere they only put stainless rear sights on the first couple years production in the early '70s.

I love the way this gun balances. It just seems proportioned perfectly, and shoots great. I bought it used at the local gun shop a couple years ago for $350. It and the 629 are my favorite revolvers.

Another gun I really liked was a S&W model 60 in .357 mag with a 3" barrel. A friend bought it used (like new) at a show for $300. I could have bought it but didn't. It handled great for a small frame gun.

 

[Gladius]

A Model 19 was the very first centerfire firearm I ever shot.... it was an early model (may even had been a "pre") -- blued, 4 inch, p&r, special-order wide target trigger and hammer, red ramp front, white outline rear, with the skinny "service"-type grips with a Pachmayr insert.
Dad later traded it off for a 66. I still have that 66, and still shoot it once in a while. It's a great gun, but I miss that old 19... would love to find another one just like it....

 

[Saddlebag Preacher]

Man I feel Old! My first duty gun was a Model 19, blued and dump pouch shell holders. The went to 66 when KSP carried them with speed loaders. 686 was my last duty revolver before we switched to S&W 659. My last was a Glock 19.

Now they are collector's items///:banghead:

By the way, that 19 was bought new for a little over $150.00. I bought a new model 10 light barrel in 1982 for $125.00 plus tax.

 

[Fishslayer]

Many consider the 19/66 the finest .357 revolvers S&W ever made. It's surely "one of." My 4" M66 sleeps by the bed with a load of +P in it.
Most range sessions it gets a diet of +P level handloads in magnum cases but I always run a dozen or so 158gr Big Dogs through it as well. Good fun.

For shooting a lot of full house magnums I really prefer the L frame 686 though.

This is my early no dash.

 

[Radagast]

You know you are a gun nut when:
Reason 101: You look at gun pics on the web and go Awwhh! The way other people do about cat videos or puppy pics.
Reason 102: You explain at the start of a thread why you have just sold a particular model of gun. Then you come back to the thread and start thinking I need one of those....

 

[tahoe2]

Model 19-7 / 6"

I love it ! Shoots great, handles great, awesome trigger! I thought the long barrel would be cumbersome but it wasn't. I have a model 57 N frame mtn gun in 41 Mag w/a 4" tapered barrel, so I thought the 6" would not be to my liking, but as it turns out, it is just fine the way it is. I was shopping for a 4" barrel when I found this one, it was just too good a deal to pass up. This is my only K/frame, but grew up shooting a Combat Masterpiece in 22lr and a K38 in 38 spl, so I knew I would like it.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Can;'t beat a good snub .357!

S&W or Ruger.

Deaf

 

[vanagon40]

One of my favorites: 19-3

 

[bearman49709]

No pics but in K frame I have a 617 ND 6", a 66 ND 2 1/2", and a 66 ND 4". Notice all of mine are stainless steel including my 629-1 8 3/8" and my security six 4".

 

[EMS_92]

I REALLY like those Ahrend grips

 

[mope540]

Love the 66s for all of the reasons already given. This 4" has the best factory trigger of all the S&Ws i've owned.

 

[TwoEyedJack]

This 66 is one of my favorites to shoot. I had Milt Sparks make a cross draw holster for it that fits like a glove.

 

[CH47gunner]

I'll chime in here also -

Model 19-6 2 1/2"


Model 66-4 4"


Model 19-3 4"