Re-barreling a S&W 66

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hapidogbreath

hapidogbreath

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I jut picked up a nice Model 66 and it is going to need to be re-barreled in the future. Has anyone had any experience with the new sleeved barrels from S&W. Thanks
 
Does your M-66 already have a 2-piece barrel?

The factory won't install a current barrel on an gun that originally came with a 1-piece barrel...and they don't have anymore of the old barrels.

But to answer you're question; the current barrels are excellent for accuracy...plus they are easy to change
 
Habidogbreath, why do you think that your 66 will need to be rebarreled in the future? You didn’t say if it was the current model with the sleeved barrel or the original 66 style.
 
hapidogbreath

If it's an older one piece barrel you might try looking through the online gun parts listings and auction websites. Found a used one for a Model 66-1 on gunpartscorp.com for $93.20.
 
9mmepiphany said:
Does your M-66 already have a 2-piece barrel?

The factory won't install a current barrel on an gun that originally came with a 1-piece barrel...and they don't have anymore of the old barrels.

But to answer you're question; the current barrels are excellent for accuracy...plus they are easy to change
Click to expand...


It has the older single piece barrel.... Smith said low under 200 for the barrel (don't recall the exact amount) installed and 4 months but with the sleeve
 
Early K framed Model 66, had issues with the barrel cracking due to a relief cut and hot .357 loads. Is this the issue your having?
Last I read and looked, K frame .357 barrels are as scarce as hens teeth due to the cracking issue.
I'd consider having a good PPC revolver smith install a custom aftermarket barrel.
 
Hap,
It'd be helpful if you could explain why your "nice" 66 will have to be re-barreled.
If you were told by S&W that they'll somehow convert your one-piece gun to a two-piece barrel system, that's the first I've heard of anybody doing that & I'm not sure how they could.

There are frame differences & barrels are not interchangeable between older & current.
Denis
 
Looks like I need to do more research. Thank-you for all the information. My head is full now.....
 
Again, it'd be helpful if you could explain why your 66 will have to be re-barreled.
Denis
 
Have you cleaned it out with a good stiff brush wrapped with copper chore boy pieces. Might be worth a try. Sometimes heavy leading can give the impression of what you described as seeing. I would be surprised if the rifling is really “worn out.”
 
I'd be surprised too.
Unless there's been a rebuild before you acquired it, other things would more likely go out long before the rifling does.

Who told you S&W would re-barrel it with a two-piece barrel for $200?
Denis
 
I really don't think you need a barrel. I don't think you'll find a new one at S&W because the newer 66 is a different gun then what you have.

You can search the internet for a barrel and I bet you find one.
 
I've never seen a "modern" (newer than say the 1950's) S&W revolver with a worn out barrel. Especially not the stainless guns. I've seen them so leaded up you couldn't see the rifling. I've seen them rusted and pitted. But never worn out. It would take a remarkable amount of firing with jacketed ammunition to do that.
 
I can be almost certain it is not shot out. The rest of the gun would rattle like a Sherwin Williams paint can with gravel in it by that point.

Get a Lewis lead remover. Clean it. Shoot it off a bench.
 
Hap,
Nobody's trying to give you a hard time, we're just trying to reconcile your post.
The statements of "nice 66" and "going to need to be re-barreled in the future" don't match, nor does the idea of re-barreling a one-piece barrel with a two-piece barrel.
Neither does the "barrel starting to look a little smooth". :)

It's possible somebody chucked a stainless brush in a drill & over-cleaned the rifling, but otherwise if a barrel's shot out on a 66 the rest of the gun isn't going to be "nice".

And I'd still like to know who told you S&W would modify your older gun into a newer barrel system. :)
Denis
 
DPris said:
Hap,
Nobody's trying to give you a hard time, we're just trying to reconcile your post.
The statements of "nice 66" and "going to need to be re-barreled in the future" don't match, nor does the idea of re-barreling a one-piece barrel with a two-piece barrel.
Neither does the "barrel starting to look a little smooth". :)

It's possible somebody chucked a stainless brush in a drill & over-cleaned the rifling, but otherwise if a barrel's shot out on a 66 the rest of the gun isn't going to be "nice".

And I'd still like to know who told you S&W would modify your older gun into a newer barrel system. :)
Denis
Click to expand...
Some one at Smith& Wesson. Gave them a call and asked about a new Barrel.
 
Hap,
Did you tell them it was the out-of-production older style 66?
Denis
 
If you didn't tell 'em it was the older style, then they were quoting you an estimate on a newer style re-barrel, and they won't do yours.
Denis
 
Give it a good cleaning, and I will bet the rifling will reappear. Some folks shoot loads that leave copious amounts of lead in the bore, either don't clean it or clean it poorly, then go shoot lead bullets all over again. Naturally the accuracy goes clean out the window because the barrel gets worse and worse as it clogs up. Then they sell it as 'shot out' or "needs repair-as is', etc.

There are lots of good threads on THR about removing lead from the bore, clean it well using the advice in the threads and let us know what happens (pics help, too!).

Stay safe!
 
Riomouse911 said:
Give it a good cleaning, and I will bet the rifling will reappear. Some folks shoot loads that leave copious amounts of lead in the bore, either don't clean it or clean it poorly, then go shoot lead bullets all over again. Naturally the accuracy goes clean out the window because the barrel gets worse and worse as it clogs up. Then they sell it as 'shot out' or "needs repair-as is', etc.

There are lots of good threads on THR about removing lead from the bore, clean it well using the advice in the threads and let us know what happens (pics help, too!).

Stay safe!
Click to expand...
I started to give it a good cleaning and as you and others have said the lands and grooves are starting to come out .... Thankyou All!!!
 
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