Just looking at my year old M66

[Lavan]

I am amazed at how Smith improved their act from the '70's. The cylinder lockup is as tight as a Colt with the trigger back. The trigger is smooooooooth and very easy to control in DA mode. And it is accurate.

Some say the K frame is weak, but until I see the M29 called too small for .44 mag, I won't worry. Won't worry anyhow as I usually shoot .38 WC.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I own several S&W revolvers all bought before their treachery! I have a 2.5" bbl M19 and a 6.5" M66 as well as some N frames in .357 mag and other calibers. To me, the K frame just plain feels best. Like yours, my M66, bought a few months ago, has a smooth action and timing is perfect. I know the bugaboo about shooting "too many magnums" in them, but have never had any real problems as I only put about a thousand per year through mine, the rest being "hot" handloaded .38s. Best and enjoy your revolver.

 

[Laz]

The first handgun I ever purchased was a Smith and Wesson. I have been loyal. Currently I am very distressed by them and am not sure whether I even want one in the house, but enough about that. Recently I traded a Model 65LS on a Glock 30, partly because of my feelings about Smith; partly because I don't want to go broke buying toys; partly because I want my collection to remain at a manageable number. I do and will kinda miss that 65 because it was just as you described: the tightest revolver I have ever purchased with a very smooth and light trigger. Nevertheless, I did not shoot it any better, probably not as well, as my 3 inch Ruger GP-100 which, while not as tightly put together as the Smith, seems to work just fine and also has a fine trigger. I hope someone who appreciates that Smith buys it because it is a sweet revolver. Still fighting a bit of "seller's remorse" but gotta say the Glock 30 is outstanding. The Smith was nice but I'll get over it and may yet get over owning any of them. BTW, while my Smiths are "pre-betrayal", if I trade them and other folks buy very nice, well maintained used Smiths because I traded them off it will mean just that many fewer new Smiths are sold to line the pockets of those who sold out for thirty pieces of silver. I ain't saying what anyone else should do and am not sure what I'm going to do, but were it not for Smith's actions I would certainly still own that very, very nice Model 65LS.

------------------
Lazarus

 

[Mike Irwin]

The change in manufacturing has a LOT to do with the adoption of CNC machinery in the 1980s and 1990s. This machinery makes an INCREDIBLE difference in the manufacture of just about every product.

And, I hate to tell you this, but the N-frame .44 Mag. is too much for the N-frame in much the same way that the .357 Mag. is too much for the K-frame.

By that I mean that a steady diet of full tilt & boogie rounds are going to loosen the gun up before the same thing happens either to either a Colt Anaconda or a Ruger. The Anaconda and Ruger series guns simply have more metal where the stress is, so they can take more pounding.