Smith Wesson 66-2

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GunsRosesSmith

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Hi guys, been slobbering on all your pistol pictures for the past few months and finally got to get one of my own. I traded for a stainless smith-wesson 66-2 357. What do you guys recommend for some factory ammo? I bought some of the Winchester white box at wal-mart...but from what I've read; you shouldn't shoot that light stuff. I'm a complete pistol newbie so any advice and information on my gun would really be appreciated.

Also, what kind of reloading components and tools would be suggested...I reload for my rifles already and want to get into loading for this too.

P.S. What is the value on these guns? It don't really matter, cause I'm happy...but still curious. Thanks guys!
 
Now THAT'S a great first post!!!!!!
Welcome to the High Road.
I prefer to shoot 158 grain rounds if shooting .357. But I'll also shoot lighter stuff when shooting .38's.
If you are a complete pistol newb, lemme tell ya, you have THE PERFECT first pistol. You can shoot lightly loaded rounds for targets, quality HP's for self-defense, and even heavy stuff if you need to hunt with it. Solid stuff. You couldn't have made a better choice.

I've seen guns like yours selling between $300 and $350 locally.
 
$300-350 is pretty cheap for a nice 66-2. I'd buy all I could at that price, and turn them on the auction sites for a quick $100 profit.
 
Very nice gun. Flashchromed trigger and hammer, too. Sorry they stopped doing that.

Couldn't help notice your case. "NEVER place a loaded gun into this box." Oh, please, who writes these things, Sarah Brady? I'd call that 800-number and tell them you accidentally placed a loaded gun in your box and ask them what to do now. Ask them if it'll go off if you try to remove it, and sound hysterical as possible. That would serve them right.

Getting back to the 66, I'd love to have one with counterbored chambers.
 
Thats a keeper you have there take care of her and you will have good service from her for a lifetime.:D

For general shooting I usually go with a 158 grain lead hollow point semi wadcutter in a +P load or a .357 125 grain or 158 grain hollow point those three loads cover most of anyones shooting needs some even will shoot standard velocity .38 special loads and not worry about the +Ps.

Get a couple good HKS or Safariland Comp II speedloaders and if the grips don't fit try some Pachmayr's or Houge's(sp) fit and trigger control and sight picture are what makes up allot of revovler shooting that and practice.

For dry firing practice and reloading practice you may want to invest in some snap caps and dry fire it to fully master double action shooting.

Welcome to THR, hope you find it again and again a nice place to be.
 
The model 66-2 is a fine revolver. Consider yourself fortunate to have one.

The "word" about the light ammo like 110 grain 357s was that the gas flame would cut into the frame above the cylinder and forcing cone. You would have to shoot a lot, I mean a lot, of rounds to have any problem. That is an old story that came out when stainless guns first came out. Never seen any problem myself.

Try a variety of loads to see what the revolver likes best. I find 158 Remingtons group best in one revolver, Federals in another.

Shoot good quality ammo and life with the 66-2 will be great.
 
thanks a lot guys!! i appreciate all the info!

LOL on the case...I shoulda took that sticker off before takin a pic lol.
 
What kinda accuracy should I expect at 10 yards? I was expectin 1-1 1/2 inches for 6 shots....but I got a rude awakening. It's bad when I'm shootin my bow better at 40 yards then I can my pistol at 10.

This is my first pistol...not counting a contender that I only shot off of a rest. I aint shootin it worth a damn, but I'm havin a blast. lol
 
What kinda accuracy should I expect at 10 yards?

At 10 yds the rounds should almost be on top of one another. Don't be dismayed. The best thing you can do is get those snap caps someone mentioned and dry fire. You can work on your DA and SA. Remember on DA it's a pull not a jerk, do it slow a few hundred times and you'll get the feel of it, a few thousand and you'll be on your way to mastering that trigger pull. Don't practice with magnums, at least not now. Standard 38s will work well to develope your marksmanship skills and not be bothered by heavy recoil also easier on the gun.
 
Accuracy at 10 yards... My 4" 66-2 makes one ragged hole, but I have plenty of trigger time to facilitate that. I have a 6" Python that seems jealous at the level of my 66's performance. :)

I recommend you stick with 148gr Wadcutters or 158gr SWC's for target. Keep an eye on the chambers and bore for lead buildup. A vigorous scrubbing with Hoppes #9 will put things right again after a day at the range.

Self defense rounds abound on the market, I prefer the 125gr JHP's. Face it, just about any premium .357 ammo is going to ruin someones day, when caught in the act of a crime.
 
I have a 6" 19-4 that will put six shots inside a sheet of typing paper at 100 yards off the bench.

My 4" 66-1 probably would too, if I could still see the sights as well as I used too.

1224.jpg
rcmodel
 
I have a 66 as well Pretty much the same beast as yours. And I must congratulate you on making an excellent choice.

I've read that you should not shoot 125 gr. or lighter. I can't remember if it applies to just the model 19 or both the 19 and 66. Do some research and I'm sure you'll come up with something.
 
whats with the numbers after the 66?...and ive heard of some with no numbers?
Click to expand...
The S&W model numbering system uses the guns actual model, in this case 19 or 66, and dash 1, dash 2, etc. to reflect design changes.

The model 66 was the first one, introduced in 1970.

The 66-1 (1977-82) were the last ones to have the pinned barrel & recessed chambers.

Your 66-2 was made from 1982 to 1986, when further changes brought us the 66-3, 66-4, 66-5, and finally the last ones made, the 66-6.

S&W Model 66-1
100_4035.jpg

1224.jpg
rcmodel
 
Congratulations! That is a very nice example of a fine, general purpose revolver.

I use a .38 Special +P recipe of 5.2 grains of Unique under a 158 hard-cast SWC, fired by any small pistol primer for practice/plinking. Hornady 140 XTPs over 12.0 grains of AA-7 and a Winchester primer works well in a magnum case for making serious social statements.

Ditto the snap-cap suggestion. Dry fire the poor thing to death! --double-action!! You'll figure out how to hold it steady and your trigger finger will develop a memory for a smooth, steady pull. Do not "stage" your pull!!

You might decide, eventually, to swap the OEM main and trigger rebound springs for lower-tension parts but learn more about all that before messing with what you have. Send a PM my way if your local folks aren't familiar with such as that.
 
GRS,

Shooting a pistol is tougher than it looks in the movies!

First thing to do is check your grip. Make sure that when you pick up the pistol that the way you hold it in your hand (a natural grasp) results in the front & rear sights being aligned. In other words, pick it up & raise your arm so that you're looking through the rear sights. The front site should be in line with them.

Watch the position of your thumb! Don't press hard with that thumb.

Google "Bullseye pistol shooting". In it is an example target that allows you to diagnose what you're doing wrong. Read some instructions on how to hold the pistol with both hands.

Start out single action .38s. Dry fire it (not with the .38s!) Don't worry about snap caps for now, practice with the pistol. Get some caps later if you want. Where you place your trigger finger on the trigger is important. If it's in the right spot, the front sight won't move when the trigger breaks.

DA is harder but the principle is the same.
 
You are gonna love that 66-2. Don't shoot a lot of 125-grain magnums in it (it is a K-frame after all), but 158-grain should be fine.

Also, a little Mother's Mag polish and a rag can really make that 66-2 shine:
177717589-L.jpg
 
Thanks everyone for posting this thread. After shooting rifles and shotguns for years, I just purchased my first handgun last week, a 65-2 (pretty much same gun, but with counterbore cylinder and fixed sights) and had the same question. It was good to hear that you feel this is a good handgun to get started on and offered alot of good information to get started. SJshooter.. that polish job looks sweet!
 
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