THE SMITH AND WESSON COMBAT MAGNUM MODEL 66 SNUBNOSE

I finally saw my friend Max's Model 66 snubbie yesterday, and what an inspiring sight it was. In all it's stainless glory. I marveled at it's wonder. It's a cool gun if you like revolvers and snubnoses.

It's a big gun. Like the well known handgun shooting instructor Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch says: "It's a big gun when you put it on and it's a big gun when you pull it out." He doesn't actually say that about the Model 66, but he's referring to the just a bit larger signature model that Smith and Wesson makes for him. But the same sentiment applies.

It's a big gun.

The only thing I would change if I had one would be the rear sight. I'd put some sort of low profile fixed and tapered combat rear sight on there, because the stock rear sight is a snagger and a body poker unless worn with the right type of holster. Cylinder and Slide makes a rear combat sight for several S&W custom shop revolvers, so that's what I'd probably want on mine, along with a set of Pachmayrs.

The pictures above show two different guns with two different aftermarket Pachmayr grips. The top grip is the full sized Pachmayr with finger grooves and I don't know the model name. The bottom grip is the Pachmayr Compact grip, one of my favorites on other snubbies for nearly thirty years.

I want one of these real bad. I'm also partial to the .357 Model 65 Ladysmith with a 3" barrel and shrouded ejector rod, a lightweight stainless version of the venerable Model 13 . It's been so many years since I've seen a nice Model 66 that it was a sight for sore eyes. I've seen some beat Model 19 snubbies with lots of scars, but Max's gun was of course immaculate.

Hogue also make a dandy line of rubberized grips. I don't own any but I've been meaning to get a pair to try out for my Model 67 square butt that I've been carrying occasionally. It is a big gun too, just not as damn great looking as the Model 66 with the 2 1/2" barrel and a nice set of black pachmayrs.