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Author Topic: S&W 66  (Read 1215 times)

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Offline grumps

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S&W 66
« on: December 29, 2009, 12:09:23 PM »
Looked at a S&W 66 today.  It is 4" and has "KY FW 13" stamped on it.  I think thats Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.  It's in pretty good shape, and looks like the lands and grooves ought to leave a bunch of years of shooting left.  But I'd feel better about it if I could get it and put a new barrel on it.  It's a early one with all stainless including the front and rear sights.  Any way to put a value on it, I'd say it was about 85-90%.  Owner wants $300 for it but the book value is less.  Is it possible to put a new barrel on one.
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Offline Keith L

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2009, 12:11:57 PM »
Why would you think you need to?
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Offline grumps

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2009, 12:38:03 PM »
In reading about the 66 its been said that if they get a lot of shooting the barrel gets worn quickly.  This one still has pretty good lands and grooves visible but not as heavy as I'd like them to be.  Saw some barrels on another auction site for less than 100 and it was a thought but not something needed for a lot more shooting. 
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2009, 12:54:51 PM »
QUIT READING and go buy the darn thing. He's nearly giving it away. Iffen you hesitate too long someone who knows what the man has will snap it up ahead of you. Forget about replacing the barrel it will likely outlast you.
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2009, 12:55:27 PM »
If you are going to get it.  OK
Can't hurt to offer a little less and see if they take it.
but before you add to your spending with a new tube.  I would shoot it and see how it shoots.
Most Law Enforcement guns were mostly carried and not shot a whole lot.  Never understood why they would not take every chance to use it.  If I had something that I may need to save my life or others i would keep current with it.
What I heard about the 357's in the early 70's was that they leaded up easy you may pop a few jacket rounds through it and have a the deep lands and grooves you want.
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Offline Dee

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2009, 01:30:18 PM »
I've never met a parks and wildlife ranger (game warden) what ever they call them in your state that gave a flip for shooting handguns. Carried a bunch, shot a little is what I'm sayin. That's a steal and GB is right. Quit readin them damn gun rags and believe what you see instead.
I have put thousands of rounds thru the Model 19s and 66s and have never even gotten close to washin a barrel out. If you don't like the rear sight, order a black one. Their screw on. Get a smith to dove tail the front sight and put a red, green, or black insert it it, and be the proud owner of a gun I can't seem to locate for myself.
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Offline krod47nw

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2009, 02:09:20 PM »
$300 is a great deal.  You should run to where it is and buy it. You will love the 4" model 66.  It is the perfect size for a 357.  I sold a 6" that I bought brand new, and have been kicking myself ever since.   I seriously doubt that it needs a new barrel. 


Kevin
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Offline dbracin

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2010, 03:23:10 AM »
$300 for a 66 in good shape is a good price.
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Offline Jack Magnum

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2010, 05:25:12 PM »
I had a couple of model 19's -snubby and 4 '' and a model 66 basicly a Stainless counterpart. These guns are easy to carry and mine were accurate. I shot countless of rounds thru the 66 and didn't notice any decrease in accuracy. Go BUY it now!
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Offline Jack Magnum

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #9 on: January 02, 2010, 05:28:09 PM »
Quote from: Jack Magnum on January 02, 2010, 05:25:12 PM
I had a couple of model 19's -snubby and 4 '' and a model 66 basicly a Stainless counterpart. These guns are easy to carry and mine were accurate. I shot countless of rounds thru the 66 and didn't notice any decrease in accuracy. Go BUY it now!
I forgot to add, If it was a service gun probably has some holster wear but like new bore. My brother was a cop and I know the only time he shot his gun was when they made him re qualify. LOL
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Offline bilmac

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #10 on: January 02, 2010, 07:21:46 PM »
I agree that the 66 is a supurb gun that was probably sold because the KY fish cops thought they needed autoloaders, not because there was anything wrong with the gun. But as a former fish cop myself I beg to differ about how much it was shot. We probably shot at least 150 rounds every 6 months. Being a gun nut, I was constantly practicing with mine. Some of us shot lots some of us shot the minimum. But compared to the average handgun I suspect that 300 rounds a year is quite a bit more than normal.

The question is whether it was shot with magnums or 38s. If it was shot a lot with mags. it may be time to have the timing checked out if there are any good revolver smiths around. Magnums are a little hard on the clockwork of the K frames. The barrel should last forever.
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Offline Bigeasy

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #11 on: January 02, 2010, 10:01:13 PM »
You will wear out the action / lockwork of the gun before the barrel.  20 years ago, revolvers were cheap in price, as most all departments were switching to semi-auto's, and turn ins were flooding the market.  Now the smart shooters have snapped em all up, so prices are up.  Have you priced a new Smith??... :o

Larry
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Offline Gun Runner

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #12 on: January 02, 2010, 11:18:50 PM »
When the S.O. in the county I live in switched  from the 66's to the Sigs every deputy bought back their 66's for their own home use.

Gun Runner
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Offline bilmac

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2010, 05:29:34 AM »
One way to judge how much a 6 shooter has been used is to look at the underside of the top strap right above the barrel cylinder gap. If there have been a lot of 357s through it there will be some pitting, flame cutting, there. A lot of LE guns were hardly ever used with 357s, 38s were shot almost exclusively. They showed us Model 15s which were not built as tough as the 357 K frames that had fired hundreds of thousands of rounds as training guns. The guns even looked like new, and functioned perfectly.
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Offline grumps

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #14 on: January 10, 2010, 05:52:23 PM »
It's mine now.   What is this timing thing someone mentioned.  I'm not that big on revolvers even though in years past I've had a bunch of em.  Then got rid of them and now wishing I had them all back.  Explain what I need to look at to see about the timing and to make sure it's ok.  Theres no pitting or excessive wear on the top strap and it shoots ok.  I loaded it and fired it about a box full yesterday in the snow and cold.  It all lines up and shoots a full load.  If timing needed attention would it shave bullets or just be a bit sloppy.  It's none of that.  Thanks
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Offline bilmac

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #15 on: January 11, 2010, 06:04:05 AM »
If it shoots good you probably don't have a problem, you're right lead shaving is a sign of it, but there are other timing problems that I don't know much about because my 6 shooters just never break down. Just make sure to keep it clean, especially under the extraction star and it will be a most excellent shooter. Shooting 125gr Federal hollow points gives about 97% stops if you hit the torso of any attacker.
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Offline S.B.

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Re: S&W 66
« Reply #16 on: January 12, 2010, 10:55:08 AM »
Quote from: Grumps on December 29, 2009, 12:38:03 PM
In reading about the 66 its been said that if they get a lot of shooting the barrel gets worn quickly.  This one still has pretty good lands and grooves visible but not as heavy as I'd like them to be.  Saw some barrels on another auction site for less than 100 and it was a thought but not something needed for a lot more shooting. 

As far as I know this is an old wives tale, started by some Ruger fan?
Steve
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