Planning on buying a revolver this weekend. Leaning twords a K frame .357 snubnose. I love a python but would have to get lucky to squeeze one into the budget.  I have handeld a couple of the new model 66s, and except for the damn key lock they seem awfully nice. I have seen a few with a 3 inch barrel witch seems to ballance just right for me but I bet a good fitting holster would be alot easier to find in a 2.5 inch. Any body have one of the newer smiths? How do they preform?

          ...tj3006

Tj,

I've got a

Model 17 with a 6 inch barrel,

Model 19 with a 4 inch barrel,

Model 657 in 6 inch and

aModel 442 38 in 1 1/2 inch.

All work flawlessly, the 657 sights were a disapointment to me, basically the same as on the k-22.  I wrote them and they said send it back, which I did.  They re-did both sights to be the same a the 629..no charge two week turn around.

After 41 years my Smith model 38 (al frame 9mm with walnut grips) started to double and triple fire.  sort of went into full auto mode, once it emptied a full clip without stopping.  I sent it back, they rebuilt the innards, no charge.  This m39 was actually purchased 3 owners of S&W earlier, and they honored the warranty.

I like S&W.

The 422 light weight is my standard carry piece.  It is hammerless and can easily be fired thru a coat or jacket.  It is very difficult to shoot due to its weight and it is DA only.  It took me about 700 rounds to master it so I can hit paper plates at 50 yds.  But this is really a short range pistol for 3 yd work.

BEAR 

TJ;

Newer Smiths, nope, don't have any.  Not because of any particular reason, except maybe that I'm always looking for a better deal than over-the-counter-new. 

However, unless I were buying a revolver for a carry gun, I'd rather have a 686 than a 66.  Of course, then the question comes up of why would you want something other than a semi-auto for a carry gun? 

I can unreservedly recommend Jim's Custom Gun Works in Butte Montana as a Smith tuner.  Just be willing to discuss what you want.  That's discuss as in back-and-forth.  Issueing orders to most good pistolsmith's is not usually a good thing to do.   Doesn't keep some people from doing it of course.

Python's are really nice guns.  But.  The lockworks of the Colt tend to get outta whack easier than the S&W's do.  And they are generally regarded as being harder to get back into whack too.  In fact, I'd practice on getting a good relationship going with a pistolsmith with a S&W before buying a Python. 

Of course the danger there is that if you get along with a really good S&W smith, you may become seduced away from the Python.  However, there is a certain mystique to the snake, that's undeniable.  Then again, pistolsmith's tend to specialize.  Very few are recognized as being equally competent on more than one brand or type of pistol. 

As a matter of fact, I'm still trying to save enough money to be able to do exhaustive testing on some of these questions.  Good luck.

 900F

Thanks for the input guy's.

    I probably should have given some more info, but i am looking for a carry gun and I already have a very fine custom commander and a stock belgian highpower. The reason i want a revolver is just the versatility, I will want to take it with me when I go into rattle snake country ,with CCI shot shells, and just for your info. I have owned lots of fine handguns in the past, pythons diamondbacks 686s 19s and once a very nice model 625 four inch(love to have that one back) I put a Millet rear site and a set of nice safariland grips on it. The new model66 2.5 inhers go for 435.00 more or less, so i will probably look for a older model 19 2.5 with the pined barrel and resesed chambers. I like the four inch barrel revolvers best but the round but fits my hand.And If I want a round but four inch I would have to get a new one or a fixed site model.   I saw a clean four inch ruger security 6 for 250.00 at a hawk shop and i bet I could get it for 225.00.             I  prefer the smith or the colts but I became a gun nut when i shot a frends 6 inch ruger and hit a pop can at abiut 100 yards, first time shooting.( I think it was 1979) I did'nt know what a lucky shot it was then, but i do now

 ...tj3006