[Kingcreek]

I have an early S&W mod 66 that I bought used about 25 years ago. I should say I bought it WELL USED. It was owned by a LEO who was a well known PPC shooter. He had a documented 4 hours of S&W factory labor on the action and trigger before using it to send gazillions of rounds down range. It was slicked out and smooth and showing some fatigue then. It is now old and tired. It wouldn't score well on the excellent "revolver checkout" floating thread.
Question: Do I just retire it and give it a place of honor on the wall of the reloading room? and replace it with a newer or tighter wheelgun?
or should I get it professionally tuned up and continue shooting this early 66? How much should I expect to pay and who would you recommend for this? I would be inclined to send it back to S&W unless somebody has a convincing argument. Any help would be appreciated.
I have a real fondness for this particular revolver. It is the first handgun I ever bought and after all the rounds fired, I shoot it pretty well. Once drilled a running coyote thru the shoulder with it at 35 yards. as close to instinctive shooting as any handgun I own.
Thanks!

[Airboss]

If it were mine and I liked it/shot it as much as you seem to like and shoot this revolver I would look into haveing Smith make it like new.I will cost less than a new gun and you still have your old friend.

[Majic]

Send it back to S&W for a tune up. You can request the PC shop to do the work and it will be better than new when it returns. No need in parting with an old friend if it's just tired and not really hurt.

[stans]

If it works well in your hands and you like to shoot it, send it back to be overhauled!

[surfinUSA]

The 66 is a great gun. Definately one of my favorites. My guns are either used or sold, nothing gets retired. Don't make the mistake I did with mine, I sold it when I stopped using it (a 19 the blued version of the 66).


Send it back to S&W they do great work at a reasonable price and a pretty good turn around time.

[Kingcreek]

Thanks! You guys make a pretty good case for going back to the S&W shop. I'll try to contact them this week.

[Ala Dan]

Another vote for the over haul. The Smith '66 is tired
and needs a rest; and when it returns, it will be better
than a new one. :uhoh: :D

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[JNewell]

The price of a "tune & tighten" at S&W is around $125 including return shipping, I believe. They will take care of most of what probably ails your 66 for that price. The one thing they won't do, they told me, is fix a worn/elongated hole in the recoil shield where the cylinder pin fits. C&S will do that for about $100 (drill and fit a bushing). If the work included in the $125 S&W service package is all it needs, fixing it is a no-brainer IMO. If it needs more, the question could be different.

[Kingcreek]

This is great news! $125 sounds like a bargain.
Thanks again!

[JNewell]

Here's the dope (http://swperformancecenter.vista.com/pages/gunsmithing).

Performance Enhancement Package $125
-Check and Adjust Timing, Barrel and Cylinder Gap, Forcing Cone, Hammer and Trigger Studs, Hammer Nose or Firing Pin, and Hammer Nose Bushing
-Weigh Mainspring
-Check for End Shake
-Clean Lockwork
-Test Fire for Function
(Add $100 for Refinishing or if Stud Replacement Required)

I think they also do work a la carte. I also think there was another package that included fixing end shake but didn't include some of the other stuff. A call to Customer Service is the thing to do. Good luck

[Jim March]

I agree with all of the above, except that a warped or stretched frame may put into the "impossible to set right" category.

Check to see if the frame window area is longer up where the barrel is versus down low...borrow the proper inside-diameter gauge. Basically, make sure the frame window is still a proper rectangle - if the topstrap is stretched, the barrel won't be perfectly in-line with the cylinder and that ain't good for accuracy.

[Kingcreek]

Thanks Jim and everybody,
it appears there might be about .003 difference when I measure the frame window. I'll ask S&W about this before I send it off.

[JNewell]

Don't hold me to this, but I think it was something like an additional $75 to fix moderate endshake. The thing S&W wouldn't do is bush the CP hole in the recoil shield. :(

[cxm]

First, since it is a stainless revolver, ask if your repairs are covered by warranty... it might qualify for "lifetime warranty." Never hurts to ask.

S&W offers a "Tune Up" package for $55 as I recall. I have used it several times and been delighted.

Last time I had one done they fixed end shake and re-cut a forcing cone for that price...

You might ask for that first... if it will not do the job they will tell you and you can go to a step up package.

Also ask them to provide a FEDEX label... will be charged for it, BUT they can get it a lot cheaper than you can buy FEDEX shipping.

I have always had wonderful service from S&W... I sure would not get rid of an old M66... it is hardly broken well...of course I just finished having one of my old triple lock S&Ws refurbished.... it may be a matter of perspective.

FWIW

Chuck

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

I went to the range last week with my old 60 and 66 and at age 69 the sights on my 60 were really tough to see but I could still hit the whole foot diameter target at 25 yards. now with my 66 it was a different story. the sights are considerably bigger and the red insert front sight really helped and I was informed my first six shots massacred the top of the wood target frame. I borrowed a screwdriver than killed the black every time.

We love both of them and they reside in bed with with my leo/nurse wife and I.

[Kingcreek]

We love both of them and they reside in bed with with my leo/nurse wife and I.
Fitz,
is that two revolvers and 2, 3, or 4 people in one bed?
;)
I haven't done any real accuracy testing with this old thing in quite awhile but I don't think it has deteriorated much. should be worth the rebuild. It currently wears an old pair of pachmeyer grippers. If I get it tuned up I might even dress it up with a nice pair of wood grips!

[JNewell]

My vote (ymmv! -- and with apologies to Paul) -- put a set of round butt S&W grips on it with a Tyler T-grip adapter. Kinda retro...still works great!

[Kingcreek]

its a square butt frame.
I just remembered I have an old pair of wood grips (maybe bearpaw?) that fill that space much like the tyler. I could refinish them.

[JWM]

We are always hearing on this board about the "durability" of the S&W K-frame .357 magnums. I vote that you get a few cases of Federal 125-grain .357 magnum JHP, and shoot this gun until it won't shoot anymore. It would be interesting to find out how much of that load it could digest before giving up the ghost. Then you can post your results here.

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Have really fancy Olympic grips for round butt but that 66 is a workhorse and does not need any fancy stuff.

I got a new camera and am going to have some really pretty iron wood presentation grips to show off from 1975 if I can figure the camera out. My old brain is tired.