quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:
Years ago I happened to come upon this Model 66-3 with a 3" factory barrel. I love the balance that the extra 1/2" gives, but also the fact that this barrel length provides owners with full length extraction. I own a set of cocobolo stocks made by Deacon Deason, but felt that these high grade French walnut alternatives by Craig Spegal were the right way to go.

I like! That 3” barrel is just right. And full length extraction.

This thread isn’t about how “practical” the revolver is, but as it’s been brought up for some reason, a couple of observations.

One is that if by practical we’re referring to its value as a self-defense weapon against human threats, then that’s true of all revolvers as compared with the many excellent autoloading pistols available today. At one time, however, revolvers, including models with even shorter extractor rods than the 2.5" 66’s, were the defensive weapons of choice for countless individuals for many decades, both professionals and non-….

During 20+ years of my Army career my primary issued weapons were revolvers having ~2 inch barrels and chambered for 38 S&W Special: a Colt Detective Special when I was a counterintelligence agent, and an S&W model 10 as a CID agent. With my curiosity piqued about all this, I just made a couple of measurements.

The extractor rod of the model 10 I own that is identical to my CID duty weapon pushes the cartridge cases out 14 millimeters (~0.55 inch) when fully depressed. The model 66’s rod pushes them out 19mm (~0.75"), or a difference of about 0.2 inch. The overall length of a 38 S&W Special case is given as 1.155" and the 357 S&W Magnum case as 1.290", or a difference of 0.135". Therefore not only does the 66 push the cases out farther than the model 10 does, the different is greater than the difference in length of the two cartridge cases. I.e., the model 66 does a better job of ejecting 357 Magnum cases than the model 10 does of ejecting 38 Special cases.

So what’s this all about? It’s about how we eject fired cases from a swing-open cylinder revolver, and as all the YouTubers like to say, if you’re using your thumb to just push on the ejector rod, you’re doing it wrong.

Although we Army CI and CID agents would normally be considered to be more low speed, high drag operators than the opposite, we did have to qualify with our 2" barrel revolvers, and sometimes under more or less time limits. That led me to experiment and develop a better way of ejecting fired cases from the cylinder than the unsatisfactory method of just pushing on the extractor rod with my thumb.

My method is to grasp the cylinder with my left hand while pushing on the cylinder release (the “thumbpiece”). When the cylinder is released, I push it out under control of my left hand (don’t let it just flop open) and rotate the gun so the barrel is pointed straight up. I then use my right hand to smack down as vigorously as possible on the exposed extractor rod that’s also pointed straight up. Between gravity and the vigorous force on the extractor, the cases are almost always fully ejected.

So, if you’re still relying on a swing-out cylinder revolver for serious purposes and your extractor rod is too short to fully eject the cases by pushing on the rod with your thumb, you might find my method to be more reliable.

But yes, we can agree that longer extractor rods can push cases out farther than shorter ones do; sometimes length does matter.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
And full length extraction.

Since they are no longer used by law enforcement, people don't get real revolver training any more. Gravity is your friend, point the barrel up and hit ejection rod with left (if right handed) thumb, and you will never have an ejection issue with a 2.5" M19 or 66. It's the proper way to do it, even with a 3 or 4".

^ Yep. And by pointing the barrel straight up, not only does gravity help the cases fall out but it also encourages all the carbon flakes and unburned powder to fall out as well instead of getting stuck under the extractor star and jamming up the gun.

Got one also, 66-1 circa 1979. Not my favorite revolver but it’s not going anywhere either.

quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:
Years ago I happened to come upon this Model 66-3 with a 3" factory barrel. I love the balance that the extra 1/2" gives, but also the fact that this barrel length provides owners with full length extraction. I own a set of cocobolo stocks made by Deacon Deason, but felt that these high grade French walnut alternatives by Craig Spegal were the right way to go.

My goodness that is one sexy firearm. It's revolver perfection. I know the autoloaders are more efficient and practical, but a gun like this would make my short list in the "If you could only have one gun" threads.

The 66/19 snubbies have an all business profile. I like them a lot.

quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:
Years ago I happened to come upon this Model 66-3 with a 3" factory barrel. I love the balance that the extra 1/2" gives, but also the fact that this barrel length provides owners with full length extraction. I own a set of cocobolo stocks made by Deacon Deason, but felt that these high grade French walnut alternatives by Craig Spegal were the right way to go.

I’ve long thought that the Walther P5 Compact was the best looking semi auto pistol ever made. Elegant, yet all business in appearance.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/w...2820931674426%29.jpg

And I think pulicords’ S&W is the revolver equivalent. Such perfect proportions.

That's a nice picture, but it doesn't need to be included in a quote multiple times.

Over the years I’ve collected (2) 2.5 inch 66. And 1 3 inch lady smith 65 full under lug and a standard 3 inch 65 with no underlug. Sold a 3 inch 13 in fit of stupidity.


That 3 inch is really nice.

They have been my favorite S&W revolver since 1980.

My most carried CCW since 1980...



Important enough to have two...

My 66-2 has always been one of my favorites, along with its sister 19-5...

I traded a used 2.5" model 66 for a brand new 3" version back in 1989 or thereabouts. My co-worker felt that the extra 1/2" of barrel was too much to conceal.

Mine is identical to pulicords, except it sports Pachmayr rubber grips. It's far and away my favorite EDC wheelgun.

quote:

Originally posted by 10X-Shooter:
I have a similar Model 66-no dash

Those are some bada%% grips!!!

quote:

Originally posted by BigJoe:

quote:

Originally posted by 10X-Shooter:
I have a similar Model 66-no dash

Those are some bada%% grips!!!

Thank you. I wasn’t sure about these but they do add some sharp grippy surface to hold. VZ grips made these.

In the summer months I carry snub nose revolvers. I find they conceal best under just a T-shirt. A 19-2,a 10-8,3" and a 686+ 2.5" are in the rotation.