As a retired Detroit cop (1966-1991) I carried a 2 1/2" model 19 in an upside down shoulder holster for a lot of years and it got me through a whole bunch of tough scrapes. I don't think they made them any better than that. Hearty congrats on the 3 million mark - one old timer to another.
What do you mean an upside down shoulder holster? Like literally an upside down gun under your arm or is upside down an old holster maker? If it is actually upside down, what is the benefit of that? I sometimes carry my Beretta 92 in a horizontal shoulder holster so I am a little bit familiar with that type of holster and I don't see the benefit of it being upside down.
I really need to stop watching you Hickock. It doesn't matter if you like or dislike a particular gun.. It makes me want to buy and shoot more! The wife said if I buy one more gun she is gone! I'm really going to miss her... She was a good one.
It could be worse... bought a 9m auto loader for “her”and she took my stainless, 3” barrel, 686 for her car carry. Will I never learn to keep my mouth shut.
I keep a 4 inch Model 66 ( no dash ) close at hand in my home for ready access that I bought in the mid 70s. I keep it loaded with Hornady 125 grain JHPs and a speedloader for ready access. Over the years I have also owned a 2 1/2 inch version and a 6 inch model as well. They are nice revolvers
Excellent video as always Hickok45. You're the reason why I am so interested in firearms. Thank you for representing the gun community as it should be - smart, wise, and responsible.
I have one of the originals that I carried off duty when I got into law enforcement. Extremely accurate. I worked the trigger over to make it ultra smooth and won several belly shoots with it. Great gun.
I'm so glad to know the Model 66 is back in production again, it was almost my first handgun a dozen or so years ago. If I get one I'm getting some wood grips to put on it.
My duty gun was a 66 2 1/2 barrel with the firing pin in the hammer until we transitioned to Glocks. While I am retired and keep a Glock close at hand, my favorite will always be my old Model 66; wish I had bought another.
Dear Hickok, even though you’ve topped 3Mil subscribers I want to let you know, I appreciate you and John working so hard to make these videos. Just keep it simple and remember why you started this. Education and fun. Probably not anything new to you but most of us are here just to get you’re take on firearms and a general refresher on grammar. No pressure from us, just keep going if you want to. We will be here to learn and laugh. Life is good.
My wife owns the new model 66 with 4.25" barrel and she loves it. She's 5 foot 3 and it fits her hands good enough to shoot it DA, unlike a lot of other revolvers. I have to admit, I like it too. Very accurate and easy to shoot well.
I bought the 4” 66-8 almost a year ago and it’s become my favorite range handgun. Affordable enough to shoot and fairly peppy with Sig Sauer .357 Magnum 125 FMJ.
Older mod 65.5 1991ish matt stainless, 3" (Heavy barrel )combat sights . Best daily carry I ever had .Still in fine condition. Take care of it it takes care of you .
This particular variant (model 66, 2.75”) is on the California approved list. It was just added, this past September. Buy it quick, before Gavin changes his mind.
I used to love my 4" 686, had a damascus finish, back in the '80s. Had target grips though, mainly for duty. This one looks nicer. Thanks for reviewing it.
In my opinion the Model 65 3" is the ultimate carry revolver. The perfect blend of key features. I wish they were easier to find, ive been searching for one for ages. The new Model 66 would do in a pinch though I suppose.
One of my favorite channels. I met a guy in Australia from Denmark. After hanging out for a bit he asked me "Your from Texas? Do you watch hickok45?" We then bonded over 20 episodes of your videos. Thanks for the quality content. @hickok45
Back in the dark ages, the Army used to have the Federal 158 grain semi-jacket soft point (identical to the American Eagle you have) in the PX for $9.90 a box of 50. We went through truckloads of this in M-19 and Security 6s. Makes a pretty good whitetail round, if you hold it to under 50 yards or so. Kicked like a mule in a snub nose . . .
I bought one, maybe the 5th gun I've bought based on your videos. I kept shooting way high with the rear sight bottomed so I sent it the factory where they installed a taller front sight. I trimmed a bit to bring the poi to match the poa with 357 ammo. I really like that the new model can shoot light bullets at high velocities without fear of cracking the forcing cone - 125 gr is a great bullet weight for 357 I think.
I’ve been shooting S&W revolvers since 1969! I really enjoy your videos, especially when you feature revolvers! My carry gun is a Model 66-1, always dependable! I also shoot a Model 17-3, a gun that I’ve owned since 1976. It’s had a little over 80,000 rounds put through it, never a problem of any kind! I’m a very happy and satisfied S&W owner!
Just got mine today, straight to range, put a 100 rounds of 38, and 100 rounds of 357 through it. Absolutely love this revolver. I have the 69(44 mag) also with 4.25 barrel. These are two of my favorite handguns of all time.
I have this exact revolver. It is a great firearm. I have semi-autos as well, but I am drawn to the wheel gun. It’s very accurate and fun to shoot! Awesome review.
When I turned 21 back in 1981 the model 66 with 6 inch barrel was my very first pistol,loved it my current revolver is a 629 classic 44 mag but would like to get another 66
I bought my dad a snub nose Mod 66 new around 1981 or so for Christmas, think I paid about $360 IIRC, which was a LOT of money for a gun back then. Just looked at it and it's a 66-2, and I remember the first thing I did after we shot it was buy him a set of the big Pachmayr grips for it. Shooting Federal 125 gr JHP's out of it it really beat up the hand pretty good with those stock little J-frame style wood grips, and the Pachmayrs helped a lot. It came back to me back around mid-2000 when he passed away, and I took it out and shot it recently. It still walks the walk, turning heads every time you touch one off. A .357 Magnum can be a very effective conversation starter, or ender, depending on the situation. 👍
Sure the MSRP is around $850.......BUT.........that handgun will be around 150 years OR MORE from now if taken half decent care of. And where will your $850 TV / Laptop / Recliner / set of mud tires be in 5 years????? Likely in a landfill! Firearms are a BARGAIN when looked at longevity of use!!!!!!!
Quality all-metal firearms, you're dern tootin. I REALLY like very well-made, heirloom quality things (rare for a 33-year-old man who's never been more than moderately poor, I know). I have quite a lot of respect for whizbang stuff like all the plastic pistols and such, and they most assuredly have their place, it just isn't in my home or on my hip. The way I see it, if a product does just what you want it to do and does it well, and does it for the rest of your life, does it even really matter what it costs (within reason)? Don't buy 10 or 15 hanks o' schite for 100-200 bucks apiece when one very finely crafted piece will do a better job, for far longer than you'll live long enough to need it to, for a grand. Not to mention, keeping the 'old ways' alive is literally priceless. I have a couple pairs of boots (not for heavy work, those are consumables) that I know will last me the rest of my life, as long as there are, say, a dozen of me in my city, a shoe maker gets to keep his job, and will have to train his replacement. Beautiful, simple, well made, functional tools are as satisfying as single-malt whisky or a hard day's work well-done.
Jeffrey A Sorry? I've never shot anything but +P in any of my .357/.38 revolvers except when someone's handed me some cowboy loads at a rifle range, including my 66. They digest it just fine.
My first handgun was a 4 inch (NO F'ing DASH) Model 66. Traded it for a Glock 26. K & L frame Revolvers are great for any shooter at any level of experience for most self defense situations.
Congratulations on 3 millions subscribers! Great video! I have this same revolver “A Birthday present to myself, last year” The reason for the sleeved barrel and forcing cone redesign, is strength. Some older ones had forcing cones splitting, with magnum loads. Note if you buy one, not easy to find a holster. These have a thicker barrel. One place that will make one custom for you is Mernickle Holsters. Everyone should have a revolver 😄
I'm in the U.K in 1996 I had a beautiful S&W 586, with 4" barrel, then after a school massacre in Dunblane Scotland (the only school massacre EVER) the government banned all handguns including .22's, these had to be surrendered and destroyed or de-activated. Olympic and competitive target shooters then had to travel to Europe to practice and had to store their pistols abroad. We can now own black powder pistols without adaptation, although to purchase black powder we need an explosives licence, and "ordinary" handguns are heavily modified requiring a barrel length of at least 12" and a permanently attached "wrist stock / counterbalance" to make the pistol at least 21" in length. You are so lucky in America
Gun crime has gone up in the UK, there has been open gang related shootings in areas such as London, Manchester, Birmingham etc, these are areas of high immigrant populations namely muslims, somalian, polish and Eastern Europeans who are so called "refugees", there has also been a marked rise in the number of Eastern European makes of weapons entering the U.K
Thank you very much for your untiring passion to firearms, for all the informations, and talents in shooting you've shared to us Sir! Kudos and God Bless..!
I love the Model 66 with a 2.5” barrel, but I have a 686 now with a 3” barrel…the extra half inch fully ejects the full .357 mag rounds, whereas the 2.5” gun won’t…just a thing to me.
On my 21st birthday I went and bought a taurus 605 (snubnose, .357 magnum). Holy smokes did that thing kick with 158 grain reloads! I ended up selling it within a few months. It was a lot less practical than I thought it would be.
I had the chance to shoot an S & W, probably K frame like this one, with a four inch barrel many years ago. It was very accurate and a lot of fun to shoot.
I love revolvers for just plain shooting...I have a gp100 ruger...super accurate, stable, ultra reliable. ..I have a small 9mm for edc, but it's a chore at the range to get any kind of accuracy out of past 30 feet. ..thanks for the review and congrats on the 3m subscribers.
Please everyone go get a revolver!!! And thank you hickok45 for calling it for what it is. I can't stand it when people call a firearm this beautiful a "wheelgun". I have never seen a gun that has a wheel in it! Where are you guys from??? It has been a revolver for the last 200 years. Another great review... And my next gun!😁
I love my 66-8 2.75". Very easy shooting, even with 357 mag through it it's not bad! Stout but not uncontrollable. Due in no small part to how well constructed the 66-8 is and the weight behind it. I slapped an even softer/grippier rubber grip on it and it's even easier than before. Cannot recommend it enough.
My only S&W is a J frame 640... it feels like velvet in your hand; so smooth and compact, not a sharp edge anywhere. I used to carry it in an ankle holster back in the day. It's a beautiful revolver. My friend and precios mentor (a Korean War Vet) carried a chrome plated Combat Masterpiece in a " small of back" holster. We both felt very well protected, but he used to criticise me for carrying a little "5 shot", when I could be carrying six. I used to tell him: "if you could hit your target, you wouldn't need six"! Regardless of cyl capacity, when you carry a S&W, you know it's gonna go "boom" when it needs too. R.I.P. Ken. You were a patriot, wonderful friend, a mentor to many, and a great human being. I miss you Ken. Thanks for everything, I'll always love you, man.
Congrats on the 3 million subscribers! I have a comment regarding ammo for the K-frame snubby. For many years now I have been using Remington Golden Saber 125 grain .357 Magnum loads for carry in my 2.5 inch Model 66 and my ancient 4 inch Model 19. So what is the big deal about that? I think we all know there are more modern hollow points available these days. But what most people don't know is that the Golden Saber load is a reduced power load, for a Magnum at least. Years ago, Remington used to mark the box "Medium Velocity" but dropped that from the label. This factory load gives me 1,225 fps from my 4-inch gun, and does 1,150 out of my 2.5 inch Model 66. Sounds a lot like a 9mm +P, doesn't it? Feels the same too, which is right where most people should be in terms of control of a defense load. And it doesn't beat you up when you shoot it. By contrast, most .357 loads are 200 fps hotter, and many folks don't like that so they drop back to a .38 Special +P. Nothing wrong with that at all, but the Remington Golden Saber load gives you a nice bump in power over your .38 Special, without going to full Magnum power. I just thought some K-frame owners might like to know about this load. Cheers!
In my opinion the best genre was made in 2000. I got one in July 2000, and shot 6,000 rds in that year. Mostly reloaded 38's. It was just as tight when I hit rd 6,000 than when I received it. Wonderful gun. Carried it until i retired. Just love it...
Aside from the fact that a 3” gets a better aiming, the biggest advantage of the 3” is the reloading. The 2 1/2 rod doesn’t eject the empty cartridges while the 3” does in a one push unless you place the 2 12 upside down while the 3” will eject them no matter of it is up down or sideways. I know it because I own both and love them. My choice of personal protection and also plinking. The best firearms I ever owned.
If you'd like to see our first video with an original Model 66 click here: ruclips.net/video/S-UF6CpThdk/видео.html Also, remember to check out the Hickok45 Store: www.hickok45.com/store/
My wife owns one, the hammerless alloy model with fixed front and in-the-frame rear notch. That is a fine revolver. At general handgun defensive ranges, you can shoot the buttons off an attackers shirt with almost no aiming effort. Its a shooter, for sure. I love the one in this vid, but my EDC is a 13-21 round 9mm XDm. That XDm is uncannily accurate, never jams or misfires, and can shoot the buttons of many more shirts :) 300+ percent more and for hundreds of dollars less money. I can never figure out why a CNC machined assembly of a few parts costs so much money.
Those 2 piece barrels are NOT as bad as one may think. Because as an Engineering Dynamic System this is a Tensioned Barrel System, basically the same as what the Dan Wesson revolvers featured back in the days when they dominated Silhouette Competitions. Basically when you have a barrel restrained at one end the mode of vibration due to the bullet transiting the barrel places the maximum deviation at the end opposite the mounting point, as in the Muzzle End. This is why the bullet weight and powder charge can become very critial for accuracy. Because you need to tune the bullets moment of exit to coincide with the moment in time when that muzzle is at the centerline of the barrel at rest. With a Tensioned barrel the barrel tube is restrained at EACH END. So the maximum deflection due to vibration occurs at the halfway between the frame and with the correct material selection that maximum deviation will typically be about 1/2 the deviation of a single point mounted barrel. End result is better fundamental accuracy. Yeah, I know this doesnt mean tiddlywinks if you are shooting offhand because your own movement will mask any improvement in velocity. However I have a S&W model 620 which can best be described as Tensioned Barrel 4 inch 686 Plus with a semi lug barrel profile. I initially purchased because Dan Wessons can be very difficult to find and I prefer semi lug barrel profiles much more than full lug barrels. Out of curiosity one winter I decided I was going to see just what my 620 could do at a 50 yard indoor range. BTW, Michigan winters have me going indoors for my shooting. So, I mounted a 2X Nikon handgun scope on the 620 and spent the next 6 weeks practicing shooting of off a sandbag at 50 yards. At the end of that 6 weeks I was able to shoot some 7/8 inch groups with my 620 and expect a better handgun shooter than myself could have broken under 1/2 inch at that distance. Basically IMO my model 620 with it's "2 Piece" barrel is actually a 1 MOA capable handgun. PS: with handguns I agree with your view on Accuracy 100%, that 6 weeks of practicing was distinctly BORING and I haven't ever tried duplicating that effort. While I still try my hand at 50 yards with a handgun I do it with an NRA 25 yard slow fire target and I am quite pleased if on that day I can keep the groups under 10 inches shooting offhand. BTW, you should get yourself a 2 1/2 inch model 19 to explore shooting your gong with. Because that short barrel results in a front sight fill in the rear notch so tight that I find it easier to shoot my model 19 at 50 yards than any other handgun I own.
My favorite handgun...just so much history attached to it plus it looks and feels amazing in hand. Call me silly but I actually like the look of the two piece barrel...I really don’t know why.
I'm waiting on my Model 65 to arrive. It was a 65-8 in 4" but now it's a 2.5" model. Sent it off to Gemini Customs he sent me photos of the finished product. Gonna be great to carry and shoot. Should arrive Tuesday.
The other thing that is really great about the "black trim" on these new k-frames is that it makes the key lock not look as bad. I know it shouldn't be there but the new styling makes it less of an eye sore. Same with the new blued guns. I definitely want one of these.
@@adamcuneo7189 The late Richard Marcinko wrote about using them in his book “Rouge Warrior”. I don’t believe they were widely used in the teams however.
I wish there was more DA shooting and talk of the trigger. I guess I will be finding out for myself soon. The attraction for me is the black accoutrements on satin finish. More importantly, I'm interested in how the new ball detent lock up handles as well as the two piece barrel. I know it's a different look on the muzzle, but if it has a good crown, it may work for the accuracy. The forcing cone is supposed to be beefed up as well to handle the hot .357 loads without cracking, something the older K frames are alleged to have done. A full three inches of barrel would be nice. Although that might make it more difficult to choose between that and the full 4". Does that 1/4 inch matter? Tough call. And how much do you lose over the 4"? From what I've seen in revolvers, the loss isn't as bad as with the compact semi-autos.
II was actually issued one of these as my back up off duty concealed carry weapon. All it lacked was the Caissons to roll it along with me! It was heavy as a howitzer and almost impossible to conceal on those hot, humid summer days of the late 1980’s in Wisconsin. Thank god I was able to leave that cannon off for one of the larger guys and I switched to a stainless, hammerless 5 shot chief’s special designed for 38+P ammunition! . I am now retired, duty disabled, and I still have my concealed carry 5 shot chiefs special loaded with 5 38+P SJHP ammunition which is very capable of bringing down just about any threat you might encounter as a retired old Sheriff’s Investigator. And it’s WAY better to conceal than that model 66 howitzer. The Model 66 maybe just fine for those big guys out there who carry in a holster & under a jacket or a sweater but for the mid sized and smaller cops the hammerless chiefs special is perfect for concealment and can be carried in your pocket and delivers close range effective gunfire without fear of snagging the hammer and capable of hitting a target with +P SJHP accurately. Everyone has their own favorite gun and for me the 2” Chief’s special allows me to carry in my pocket and to hit with very effective 38+P ammunition to defend myself and my family with. The 66 is a fine gun if you have a big enough bone structure to handle the recoil, but my experience has been when shooting magnums my scores went down by about 15% and my way of thinking was better to get 5 hits with lighter rounds than to miss 3 or 4 out of five rounds with hotter rounds. However, if I do happen to end up going where angels fear to tread I usually have my FN PS-90 PDW carbine in the cab with us as well as my FN-57 pistol, both of which are chambered in 5.7 x 28mm. I like to buy weapons that are supportive of each other. The PS-90 has a 50 rd top loading magazine and the pistol has a 20 rd magazine. That is a LOT of fire power if the Shiite actual did hit the fan when I was far from home. I also have a Kriss PDW which uses .45 cal ACP ammunition and uses Glock .45 ACP magazines and has a unique anti-climb and anti-recoil system that actually works and I carry my FN .45 cal pistol with it, again self supporting weapons. I guess some might say I am a gun nut but we live way out from any cities or towns and our closest neighbor is about 3 & a half miles away so we have to basically be self sufficient in every way we can. LOVE your show with your straight up demonstrations of just about every gun out here. Even our 15 year old loves to watch your videos about all the variations of firearms being actually demonstrated. Thanks and sorry about my verbosity. I am too used to writing reports to cover every possible angle of some event.
I love revolvers, my Dad got me info shooting and started me with a single action 357 mag. Course he only put 38 specials in it so i could handle the gun properly and not get scared of it. Now i own four revolvers, one being a single action, but you just can't like revolvers they go bang ever time. Also i would love to add that S&W 66 to my collection. Another great review Hickok45
Thing about the K frame is you don't want to continuously pound heavy 357 through it, but like you said it is the perfect size I like the 686 better though
I've had mine since 1977 and it is a great shooter. I reload using cast semi wad cutters and Herculese Unique and for jacketed I use 2400. I have shot 10" paper plates at 50 yards and done pretty good of coarse that was 30 years ago.😮😊
I'm glad you said what you said towards the end of the video. I love revolvers. One of my mottos is always been...... If you can't hit what you're aiming at with six shots....... 17 isn't going to help you.
As a retired Detroit cop (1966-1991) I carried a 2 1/2" model 19 in an upside down shoulder holster for a lot of years and it got me through a whole bunch of tough scrapes. I don't think they made them any better than that. Hearty congrats on the 3 million mark - one old timer to another.
Thanks for your service in the city I called home.
What do you mean an upside down shoulder holster? Like literally an upside down gun under your arm or is upside down an old holster maker? If it is actually upside down, what is the benefit of that? I sometimes carry my Beretta 92 in a horizontal shoulder holster so I am a little bit familiar with that type of holster and I don't see the benefit of it being upside down.
Congratulation sir. You made it. I got my first permit from the 16th precinct. 1969/70.
I have a 66-2 with an upside down Bianchi holster, how did you secure your 19 from falling out?
The 19/66 snub is a gun fighters revolver through and through.
I really need to stop watching you Hickock. It doesn't matter if you like or dislike a particular gun.. It makes me want to buy and shoot more!
The wife said if I buy one more gun she is gone! I'm really going to miss her... She was a good one.
Edda boy
Good one John.
Did she take half your guns?
They are so funny sometimes aren’t they? Lol
It could be worse... bought a 9m auto loader for “her”and she took my stainless, 3” barrel, 686 for her car carry. Will I never learn to keep my mouth shut.
I keep a 4 inch Model 66 ( no dash ) close at hand in my home for ready access that I bought in the mid 70s. I keep it loaded with Hornady 125 grain JHPs and a speedloader for ready access. Over the years I have also owned a 2 1/2 inch version and a 6 inch model as well. They are nice revolvers
8
Excellent video as always Hickok45. You're the reason why I am so interested in firearms. Thank you for representing the gun community as it should be - smart, wise, and responsible.
I have one of the originals that I carried off duty when I got into law enforcement. Extremely accurate. I worked the trigger over to make it ultra smooth and won several belly shoots with it. Great gun.
Congratulations Hickok and John on reaching 3 million subscribers !
Yeah ! congratulations guys
Congrats! That fact has to infuriate the libtards at RUclips.
One year later 4.3mil subs
Over 5 million may2020.
I love how when he seems done shooting he takes a break, talks a bit, then gets back at it. Always makes me smile.
Rhythm is so important in a presentation.
I'm so glad to know the Model 66 is back in production again, it was almost my first handgun a dozen or so years ago. If I get one I'm getting some wood grips to put on it.
My duty gun was a 66 2 1/2 barrel with the firing pin in the hammer until we transitioned to Glocks. While I am retired and keep a Glock close at hand, my favorite will always be my old Model 66; wish I had bought another.
Dear Hickok, even though you’ve topped 3Mil subscribers I want to let you know, I appreciate you and John working so hard to make these videos. Just keep it simple and remember why you started this. Education and fun. Probably not anything new to you but most of us are here just to get you’re take on firearms and a general refresher on grammar. No pressure from us, just keep going if you want to. We will be here to learn and laugh. Life is good.
Thanks. No plans to change.
The S&W model 66 was the best defensive/duty revolver ever made. I carried one for many years.
What’s its price?
Ralph Lauren $854
Neil, I believe you mean is the best defensive revolver
The 66 and a Walther PPK/S were my dad’s 2 favorite carry guns. I have the Walther now and my nephew has the 66.
My wife owns the new model 66 with 4.25" barrel and she loves it. She's 5 foot 3 and it fits her hands good enough to shoot it DA, unlike a lot of other revolvers. I have to admit, I like it too. Very accurate and easy to shoot well.
Couple of older sheriff's deputies, constables, still carry a S&W 66 in our area.
Personally, I don't think there's a better all purpose round than the
.357 magnum. I have my dad's border patrol model 66 from the early 70's.
A model 66 was my carry gun when I was a deputy. Loved it.
What year was you a deputy ?
I bought the 4” 66-8 almost a year ago and it’s become my favorite range handgun. Affordable enough to shoot and fairly peppy with Sig Sauer .357 Magnum 125 FMJ.
Older mod 65.5 1991ish matt stainless, 3" (Heavy barrel )combat sights . Best daily carry I ever had .Still in fine condition. Take care of it it takes care of you .
This and the 3" 686 plus 7 shot and the S&W M&P tactical 8 shot 357 revolver are my absolute favorite revolvers
I have a 686 +...seven shots. Magnaported and an action job
..
I have 66/4 w/4" barrel, practice with it and it's never ever misfired. I notice the older i get the magnum flips more, 38+p is more accurate for me.
Congrats on 3 million, Hickok! I was your 20,000th or so.... Glad to be here for the big 3M. Thanks for all of your content!
This particular variant (model 66, 2.75”) is on the California approved list. It was just added, this past September. Buy it quick, before Gavin changes his mind.
Great point. If I lived in CA, I'd be carrying a .357 revolver. If I can't carry a 15 round semi, I'll take a hand cannon.
I'm looking at one for sale right now (here in California), except no ammo available.
I carried a 2.75” m66 years ago. They had J frame grips so they packed well! Richard Marcinko, had Seal team 6 carry this gun!
I believe it was the model 60 he had them use,I could be mistaken though.
How would you fit j frame grips to a k frame ?
My first gun was a K frame Model 19 in 1982 followed by an L Frame Model 586 in 1984. Great guns and hard to get here in Australia at the time.
I used to love my 4" 686, had a damascus finish, back in the '80s. Had target grips though, mainly for duty. This one looks nicer. Thanks for reviewing it.
In my opinion the Model 65 3" is the ultimate carry revolver. The perfect blend of key features. I wish they were easier to find, ive been searching for one for ages. The new Model 66 would do in a pinch though I suppose.
My first gun is an HKVP9. Just bought a S&W 686 Plus 3-5-7 Magnum. Absolutely love it! Now I understand where your coming from.
One of my favorite channels. I met a guy in Australia from Denmark. After hanging out for a bit he asked me "Your from Texas? Do you watch hickok45?" We then bonded over 20 episodes of your videos. Thanks for the quality content. @hickok45
I love how you chuckle after you shoot, I wish everyone loved it that much! Congrats on reaching 3 mill subs!
Back in the dark ages, the Army used to have the Federal 158 grain semi-jacket soft point (identical to the American Eagle you have) in the PX for $9.90 a box of 50. We went through truckloads of this in M-19 and Security 6s. Makes a pretty good whitetail round, if you hold it to under 50 yards or so. Kicked like a mule in a snub nose . . .
Thank you so much for your service, were you military police?
I bought one, maybe the 5th gun I've bought based on your videos. I kept shooting way high with the rear sight bottomed so I sent it the factory where they installed a taller front sight. I trimmed a bit to bring the poi to match the poa with 357 ammo. I really like that the new model can shoot light bullets at high velocities without fear of cracking the forcing cone - 125 gr is a great bullet weight for 357 I think.
As a 50+ year old and 20+ year LE Officer I love my mod 66 2 3/4" revolver carry it all the time
I’ve been shooting S&W revolvers since 1969! I really enjoy your videos, especially when you feature revolvers! My carry gun is a Model 66-1, always dependable! I also shoot a Model 17-3, a gun that I’ve owned since 1976. It’s had a little over 80,000 rounds put through it, never a problem of any kind! I’m a very happy and satisfied S&W owner!
Just got mine today, straight to range, put a 100 rounds of 38, and 100 rounds of 357 through it. Absolutely love this revolver. I have the 69(44 mag) also with 4.25 barrel. These are two of my favorite handguns of all time.
I have this exact revolver. It is a great firearm. I have semi-autos as well, but I am drawn to the wheel gun. It’s very accurate and fun to shoot! Awesome review.
I bought a Model 19 (same gun but not stainless steel) about 35 years ago. Great gun! Congrats on 3 Mil subs. You are my favorite gun channel.
When I turned 21 back in 1981 the model 66 with 6 inch barrel was my very first pistol,loved it my current revolver is a 629 classic 44 mag but would like to get another 66
I bought my dad a snub nose Mod 66 new around 1981 or so for Christmas, think I paid about $360 IIRC, which was a LOT of money for a gun back then. Just looked at it and it's a 66-2, and I remember the first thing I did after we shot it was buy him a set of the big Pachmayr grips for it. Shooting Federal 125 gr JHP's out of it it really beat up the hand pretty good with those stock little J-frame style wood grips, and the Pachmayrs helped a lot. It came back to me back around mid-2000 when he passed away, and I took it out and shot it recently. It still walks the walk, turning heads every time you touch one off. A .357 Magnum can be a very effective conversation starter, or ender, depending on the situation. 👍
Back in my military days I had one of the old combat magnums, I loved it, heavy and bulky but it was nice to have something to rely on as a backup.
Congratulations on 3 million subscribers brother!
6 months later and another half million more sub's!
Is it gonna be a million more for every year?
I will wait here and see👍
He used to talk about the firearm, now all he does half the time is mention his sponsors...Buds, Federal ammo etc...etc...
@@susanspencer4282 not a fair statement, he mentions the sponsors and moves on. It is a moment on a 30 minute video.
Thanks Brother! Hulk-a-mania running wild!
that's 300 thousand not million
Sure the MSRP is around $850.......BUT.........that handgun will be around 150 years OR MORE from now if taken half decent care of. And where will your $850 TV / Laptop / Recliner / set of mud tires be in 5 years????? Likely in a landfill! Firearms are a BARGAIN when looked at longevity of use!!!!!!!
YOU forgot the apple newest iphone about $850 that only last for 2 years because everyone want to buy the newest version of iphone ,lol ,
Quality all-metal firearms, you're dern tootin. I REALLY like very well-made, heirloom quality things (rare for a 33-year-old man who's never been more than moderately poor, I know). I have quite a lot of respect for whizbang stuff like all the plastic pistols and such, and they most assuredly have their place, it just isn't in my home or on my hip. The way I see it, if a product does just what you want it to do and does it well, and does it for the rest of your life, does it even really matter what it costs (within reason)? Don't buy 10 or 15 hanks o' schite for 100-200 bucks apiece when one very finely crafted piece will do a better job, for far longer than you'll live long enough to need it to, for a grand. Not to mention, keeping the 'old ways' alive is literally priceless. I have a couple pairs of boots (not for heavy work, those are consumables) that I know will last me the rest of my life, as long as there are, say, a dozen of me in my city, a shoe maker gets to keep his job, and will have to train his replacement. Beautiful, simple, well made, functional tools are as satisfying as single-malt whisky or a hard day's work well-done.
Until you shoot +p in this
Jeffrey A Sorry? I've never shot anything but +P in any of my .357/.38 revolvers except when someone's handed me some cowboy loads at a rifle range, including my 66. They digest it just fine.
The sinner Jim Whitney sorry I’ve seen too many s&w’s explode
I absolutely love the 66. Would be the 4th gun I've bought from Bud's, the next time I'm able...WILL be, the 66! Thank you for showcasing this model.
My first handgun was a 4 inch (NO F'ing DASH) Model 66. Traded it for a Glock 26. K & L frame Revolvers are great for any shooter at any level of experience for most self defense situations.
Congratulations on 3 millions subscribers!
Great video! I have this same revolver “A Birthday present to myself, last year”
The reason for the sleeved barrel and forcing cone redesign, is strength. Some older ones had forcing cones splitting, with magnum loads.
Note if you buy one, not easy to find a holster. These have a thicker barrel. One place that will make one custom for you is Mernickle Holsters.
Everyone should have a revolver 😄
I think a 3" bbl K-Frame is just about the perfect all around handgun.
Subscription will only go UP. Hickok and John have a great recipe for gun videos. I both learn and laugh a lot with these videos.
I use 125 grain jacketed hollow point. Smooth and accurate.
I am lucky to have a early model 19. Beautiful gun. Wood grips, pinned barrel. My favorite pistol of all the ones I own.
Used to carry a 67.....
COMBAT MASTERPEICE
What a great gun ...
I have a k 22 masterpiece... 70 yo.. at least...
I'm in the U.K in 1996 I had a beautiful S&W 586, with 4" barrel, then after a school massacre in Dunblane Scotland (the only school massacre EVER) the government banned all handguns including .22's, these had to be surrendered and destroyed or de-activated. Olympic and competitive target shooters then had to travel to Europe to practice and had to store their pistols abroad. We can now own black powder pistols without adaptation, although to purchase black powder we need an explosives licence, and "ordinary" handguns are heavily modified requiring a barrel length of at least 12" and a permanently attached "wrist stock / counterbalance" to make the pistol at least 21" in length. You are so lucky in America
Gun crime has gone up in the UK, there has been open gang related shootings in areas such as London, Manchester, Birmingham etc, these are areas of high immigrant populations namely muslims, somalian, polish and Eastern Europeans who are so called "refugees", there has also been a marked rise in the number of Eastern European makes of weapons entering the U.K
I carry a 65-7 daily, one of my favorite guns to shoot! The trigger is absolutely perfect.
Thank you very much for your untiring passion to firearms, for all the informations, and talents in shooting you've shared to us Sir! Kudos and God Bless..!
I love the Model 66 with a 2.5” barrel, but I have a 686 now with a 3” barrel…the extra half inch fully ejects the full .357 mag rounds, whereas the 2.5” gun won’t…just a thing to me.
mod 66 4inch just perfection !! , balance, accuracy, trigger pull, design . miss mine uk.
Congrat on the 3mil sub Hickok, keep up what you're doing
I have a Taurus Model 66 in a 6" barrel. Probably my favorite gun in my collection. I am too broke for a S&W. lol
On my 21st birthday I went and bought a taurus 605 (snubnose, .357 magnum). Holy smokes did that thing kick with 158 grain reloads! I ended up selling it within a few months. It was a lot less practical than I thought it would be.
"I got interrupted by myself"!!!!! There is no pretense with Mr. Hickok!!! Great stuff and, hopefully, some younger folk get introduced to him.
I have about a dozen revolvers. May need to add one of those new combat magnums. Possibly my favorite design ever
I just purchased one to shoot in IDPA, with speed loaders. I love it.
i own a 66-4, 2 1/2 in. for over 20 years, great gun
The 19/66 snubbys are the cream of the snubby crop.
I had the chance to shoot an S & W, probably K frame like this one, with a four inch barrel many years ago. It was very accurate and a lot of fun to shoot.
I love revolvers for just plain shooting...I have a gp100 ruger...super accurate, stable, ultra reliable. ..I have a small 9mm for edc, but it's a chore at the range to get any kind of accuracy out of past 30 feet. ..thanks for the review and congrats on the 3m subscribers.
Please everyone go get a revolver!!! And thank you hickok45 for calling it for what it is. I can't stand it when people call a firearm this beautiful a "wheelgun". I have never seen a gun that has a wheel in it! Where are you guys from??? It has been a revolver for the last 200 years. Another great review... And my next gun!😁
I love my 66-8 2.75". Very easy shooting, even with 357 mag through it it's not bad! Stout but not uncontrollable. Due in no small part to how well constructed the 66-8 is and the weight behind it. I slapped an even softer/grippier rubber grip on it and it's even easier than before.
Cannot recommend it enough.
Love mine too, but it will rust if you look at it hard, even the black parts!!!
My only S&W is a J frame 640... it feels like velvet in your hand; so smooth and compact, not a sharp edge anywhere. I used to carry it in an ankle holster back in the day. It's a beautiful revolver. My friend and precios mentor (a Korean War Vet) carried a chrome plated Combat Masterpiece in a " small of back" holster. We both felt very well protected, but he used to criticise me for carrying a little "5 shot", when I could be carrying six. I used to tell him: "if you could hit your target, you wouldn't need six"! Regardless of cyl capacity, when you carry a S&W, you know it's gonna go "boom" when it needs too.
R.I.P. Ken. You were a patriot, wonderful friend, a mentor to many, and a great human being. I miss you Ken. Thanks for everything, I'll always love you, man.
This is my first time seeing a model 66 and I like it.
Congrats on the 3 million subscribers! I have a comment regarding ammo for the K-frame snubby. For many years now I have been using Remington Golden Saber 125 grain .357 Magnum loads for carry in my 2.5 inch Model 66 and my ancient 4 inch Model 19. So what is the big deal about that? I think we all know there are more modern hollow points available these days.
But what most people don't know is that the Golden Saber load is a reduced power load, for a Magnum at least. Years ago, Remington used to mark the box "Medium Velocity" but dropped that from the label. This factory load gives me 1,225 fps from my 4-inch gun, and does 1,150 out of my 2.5 inch Model 66. Sounds a lot like a 9mm +P, doesn't it? Feels the same too, which is right where most people should be in terms of control of a defense load. And it doesn't beat you up when you shoot it. By contrast, most .357 loads are 200 fps hotter, and many folks don't like that so they drop back to a .38 Special +P. Nothing wrong with that at all, but the Remington Golden Saber load gives you a nice bump in power over your .38 Special, without going to full Magnum power. I just thought some K-frame owners might like to know about this load. Cheers!
In my opinion the best genre was made in 2000. I got one in July 2000, and shot 6,000 rds in that year. Mostly reloaded 38's. It was just as tight when I hit rd 6,000 than when I received it. Wonderful gun. Carried it until i retired. Just love it...
Former military, new subscriber.. love your guys videos from here in Michigan! You guys are the best!!
Aside from the fact that a 3” gets a better aiming, the biggest advantage of the 3” is the reloading. The 2 1/2 rod doesn’t eject the empty cartridges while the 3” does in a one push unless you place the 2 12 upside down while the 3” will eject them no matter of it is up down or sideways. I know it because I own both and love them. My choice of personal protection and also plinking. The best firearms I ever owned.
If you'd like to see our first video with an original Model 66 click here: ruclips.net/video/S-UF6CpThdk/видео.html Also, remember to check out the Hickok45 Store: www.hickok45.com/store/
My wife owns one, the hammerless alloy model with fixed front and in-the-frame rear notch. That is a fine revolver. At general handgun defensive ranges, you can shoot the buttons off an attackers shirt with almost no aiming effort. Its a shooter, for sure. I love the one in this vid, but my EDC is a 13-21 round 9mm XDm. That XDm is uncannily accurate, never jams or misfires, and can shoot the buttons of many more shirts :) 300+ percent more and for hundreds of dollars less money. I can never figure out why a CNC machined assembly of a few parts costs so much money.
I have a 66-4 3", one of my favorite revolvers.
I have to agree with Mr Hickck here, nothing feels as good as a K -frame.
deckert618 Except a L frame haha
Congratulations on reaching 3M. Love the reloader instinct of keeping the empty cartridges separate!! LOL Good luck to both you and John
You are exactly right about a revolver! They are a requirement for the collection!
I like the 66, but went with the 60 for my road trips. Little smaller, like I was told before. These are made to be carried often, and seldom shot.
Those 2 piece barrels are NOT as bad as one may think. Because as an Engineering Dynamic System this is a Tensioned Barrel System, basically the same as what the Dan Wesson revolvers featured back in the days when they dominated Silhouette Competitions.
Basically when you have a barrel restrained at one end the mode of vibration due to the bullet transiting the barrel places the maximum deviation at the end opposite the mounting point, as in the Muzzle End. This is why the bullet weight and powder charge can become very critial for accuracy. Because you need to tune the bullets moment of exit to coincide with the moment in time when that muzzle is at the centerline of the barrel at rest.
With a Tensioned barrel the barrel tube is restrained at EACH END. So the maximum deflection due to vibration occurs at the halfway between the frame and with the correct material selection that maximum deviation will typically be about 1/2 the deviation of a single point mounted barrel. End result is better fundamental accuracy.
Yeah, I know this doesnt mean tiddlywinks if you are shooting offhand because your own movement will mask any improvement in velocity. However I have a S&W model 620 which can best be described as Tensioned Barrel 4 inch 686 Plus with a semi lug barrel profile. I initially purchased because Dan Wessons can be very difficult to find and I prefer semi lug barrel profiles much more than full lug barrels. Out of curiosity one winter I decided I was going to see just what my 620 could do at a 50 yard indoor range. BTW, Michigan winters have me going indoors for my shooting. So, I mounted a 2X Nikon handgun scope on the 620 and spent the next 6 weeks practicing shooting of off a sandbag at 50 yards. At the end of that 6 weeks I was able to shoot some 7/8 inch groups with my 620 and expect a better handgun shooter than myself could have broken under 1/2 inch at that distance. Basically IMO my model 620 with it's "2 Piece" barrel is actually a 1 MOA capable handgun.
PS: with handguns I agree with your view on Accuracy 100%, that 6 weeks of practicing was distinctly BORING and I haven't ever tried duplicating that effort. While I still try my hand at 50 yards with a handgun I do it with an NRA 25 yard slow fire target and I am quite pleased if on that day I can keep the groups under 10 inches shooting offhand. BTW, you should get yourself a 2 1/2 inch model 19 to explore shooting your gong with. Because that short barrel results in a front sight fill in the rear notch so tight that I find it easier to shoot my model 19 at 50 yards than any other handgun I own.
Congratulations on the 3 million subs
Congratulations on 5 million subs :*
My favorite handgun...just so much history attached to it plus it looks and feels amazing in hand. Call me silly but I actually like the look of the two piece barrel...I really don’t know why.
I'm waiting on my Model 65 to arrive. It was a 65-8 in 4" but now it's a 2.5" model. Sent it off to Gemini Customs he sent me photos of the finished product. Gonna be great to carry and shoot. Should arrive Tuesday.
The other thing that is really great about the "black trim" on these new k-frames is that it makes the key lock not look as bad. I know it shouldn't be there but the new styling makes it less of an eye sore. Same with the new blued guns. I definitely want one of these.
The Navy Seals used a M66, back in the day with a 4” barrel.
Really? That's interesting, I didn't know that, where did you hear that?
@@adamcuneo7189 The late Richard Marcinko wrote about using them in his book “Rouge Warrior”. I don’t believe they were widely used in the teams however.
@@scottvanornum9252 Thank you so much, I'll be sure to give that book a look up :)
I wish there was more DA shooting and talk of the trigger. I guess I will be finding out for myself soon. The attraction for me is the black accoutrements on satin finish. More importantly, I'm interested in how the new ball detent lock up handles as well as the two piece barrel. I know it's a different look on the muzzle, but if it has a good crown, it may work for the accuracy. The forcing cone is supposed to be beefed up as well to handle the hot .357 loads without cracking, something the older K frames are alleged to have done. A full three inches of barrel would be nice. Although that might make it more difficult to choose between that and the full 4". Does that 1/4 inch matter? Tough call. And how much do you lose over the 4"? From what I've seen in revolvers, the loss isn't as bad as with the compact semi-autos.
II was actually issued one of these as my back up off duty concealed carry weapon. All it lacked was the Caissons to roll it along with me! It was heavy as a howitzer and almost impossible to conceal on those hot, humid summer days of the late 1980’s in Wisconsin. Thank god I was able to leave that cannon off for one of the larger guys and I switched to a stainless, hammerless 5 shot chief’s special designed for 38+P ammunition! . I am now retired, duty disabled, and I still have my concealed carry 5 shot chiefs special loaded with 5 38+P SJHP ammunition which is very capable of bringing down just about any threat you might encounter as a retired old Sheriff’s Investigator. And it’s WAY better to conceal than that model 66 howitzer. The Model 66 maybe just fine for those big guys out there who carry in a holster & under a jacket or a sweater but for the mid sized and smaller cops the hammerless chiefs special is perfect for concealment and can be carried in your pocket and delivers close range effective gunfire without fear of snagging the hammer and capable of hitting a target with +P SJHP accurately. Everyone has their own favorite gun and for me the 2” Chief’s special allows me to carry in my pocket and to hit with very effective 38+P ammunition to defend myself and my family with.
The 66 is a fine gun if you have a big enough bone structure to handle the recoil, but my experience has been when shooting magnums my scores went down by about 15% and my way of thinking was better to get 5 hits with lighter rounds than to miss 3 or 4 out of five rounds with hotter rounds.
However, if I do happen to end up going where angels fear to tread I usually have my FN PS-90 PDW carbine in the cab with us as well as my FN-57 pistol, both of which are chambered in 5.7 x 28mm. I like to buy weapons that are supportive of each other. The PS-90 has a 50 rd top loading magazine and the pistol has a 20 rd magazine. That is a LOT of fire power if the Shiite actual did hit the fan when I was far from home. I also have a Kriss PDW which uses .45 cal ACP ammunition and uses Glock .45 ACP magazines and has a unique anti-climb and anti-recoil system that actually works and I carry my FN .45 cal pistol with it, again self supporting weapons. I guess some might say I am a gun nut but we live way out from any cities or towns and our closest neighbor is about 3 & a half miles away so we have to basically be self sufficient in every way we can.
LOVE your show with your straight up demonstrations of just about every gun out here. Even our 15 year old loves to watch your videos about all the variations of firearms being actually demonstrated. Thanks and sorry about my verbosity. I am too used to writing reports to cover every possible angle of some event.
My first gun was the S&W 66 model k. To this day it’s still my favorite revolver
I love revolvers, my Dad got me info shooting and started me with a single action 357 mag. Course he only put 38 specials in it so i could handle the gun properly and not get scared of it. Now i own four revolvers, one being a single action, but you just can't like revolvers they go bang ever time. Also i would love to add that S&W 66 to my collection. Another great review Hickok45
Thank You for being such a good representative to the gun community!
Double like for another revolver vid!
Wheels id love to see a review of the 586 L comp Smith and WESSON
Thing about the K frame is you don't want to continuously pound heavy 357 through it, but like you said it is the perfect size I like the 686 better though
Almost 1%of the population..your having an impact on gun rights..thanks
Congrats on the 3 million subscriber mark. I've been watching you for a good many years, still one of my favorite channels 👍🔫
Hickok is and has always been on my zombie survival team!
The combination to the safe is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, designed to keep out everybody in KY
Hickok45, like a few others have said here, PLEASE do a 66 Vs 686 3" video! Would be a GREAT video I'm sure!
That's just what i'm trying to review.
I have a Model 66-8 for two years and I made it my carry weapon. It just feels solid .
I've had mine since 1977 and it is a great shooter. I reload using cast semi wad cutters and Herculese Unique and for jacketed I use 2400. I have shot 10" paper plates at 50 yards and done pretty good of coarse that was 30 years ago.😮😊
I'm glad you said what you said towards the end of the video. I love revolvers. One of my mottos is always been...... If you can't hit what you're aiming at with six shots....... 17 isn't going to help you.
Maybe it’s just my new readers but the video quality is great John! Enjoyed the video as usual. Keep up the good work!