Smith & Wesson Model 66 Combat Magnum

About the Smith & Wesson Model 66 Combat Magnum

The Smith & Wesson Model 66 Combat Magnum is a six-shot, double-action/single-action revolver chambered for .357 Magnum, built on Smith & Wesson's medium K-frame. First introduced in 1970 as the stainless steel counterpart to the legendary Model 19 Combat Magnum, the Model 66 was designed to provide law enforcement officers and civilians with a corrosion-resistant .357 Magnum service revolver that required minimal maintenance. The current production model (reintroduced in 2014 as the 66-8 after a nine-year hiatus) features a 4.25-inch two-piece barrel with a keyed shroud, a glass-bead stainless finish with matte-black accents on the trigger, hammer, and internal components, an adjustable white-outline rear sight paired with a ramped front sight with orange plastic insert, and full top-strap and barrel serrations to reduce glare. The rubber finger-groove grips extend below the trigger guard for improved control. The K-frame provides a balance of portability and shootability, weighing 36.6 ounces (1046 grams) empty with an overall length of 9.69 inches (246mm). The double-action trigger pull is approximately 11.5 pounds (51 N), while the single-action pull is approximately 4.75 pounds (21 N). The cylinder chambers accept both .357 Magnum and .38 Special cartridges interchangeably. A ball-detent cylinder lockup system provides enhanced structural rigidity. The barrel features right-hand twist rifling at 1:18.75 inches (476mm) with 5 grooves.

The Combat Magnum concept originated with legendary U.S. Border Patrol agent and competitive shooter Bill Jordan, who in the early 1950s asked Smith & Wesson to build a .357 Magnum on the lighter, more carriable K-frame rather than the heavy N-frame. The resulting Model 19 became one of the most influential law enforcement revolvers in history, and the stainless Model 66 that followed made the Combat Magnum concept accessible to officers and agencies who needed a low-maintenance duty weapon that could withstand the elements. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Model 66 was one of the most widely carried law enforcement revolvers in America. Its 2014 reintroduction was met with enthusiasm from revolver shooters who valued the K-frame's combination of handling qualities and magnum power that the larger L-frame 686 could not quite replicate.

Smith & Wesson Model 66 Combat Magnum specifications

The Model 66 was introduced in 1970 (some sources say 1971) as the stainless version of Bill Jordan's Model 19 Combat Magnum, which had been introduced in 1955. The original Model 66 went through seven engineering changes before being discontinued in 2005, alongside the Model 19. Both were discontinued partly because the K-frame was known to develop forcing cone cracks under sustained heavy .357 Magnum use, a problem that led S&W to develop the larger L-frame for the Model 686. Smith & Wesson reintroduced the Model 66 in 2014 as the 66-8, incorporating modern improvements including a two-piece barrel design, ball-detent cylinder lockup, and a glass-bead stainless finish. The reintroduced model is available in 2.75-inch and 4.25-inch barrel configurations. The modern Model 66 addresses the historical forcing cone cracking issue through improved metallurgy and heat treatment, though many shooters still recommend using primarily .38 Special loads for extended practice sessions and reserving .357 Magnum for carry and field use. The narrow trigger and checkered hammer spur facilitate precise single-action shooting. The 4.25-inch barrel generates typical .357 Magnum velocities of approximately 1200 fps (366 m/s) with 125-grain JHP loads. The loaded weight estimate includes six .357 Magnum cartridges at approximately 12.6g each. MSRP is approximately $849-1039.