The .357 revolver shootout results

[fortyshooter]

This was a shootout between my S&W M 66 and the new guy Evil Roy revolver for the best companion to my Henry .357 BB.
Now I have a video of the fun but due to extremely slow uploading to YouTube,if any, may be a good while before I can get it to load up.
Seems the more videos I load the slower it gets and will find a better program without a monthly fee when things settle down.

So shot various loads from both revolvers ranging from .38 Special, 125 gr. XTP Mag loads and the "golden" 180 gr. Pug MB Mag loads.
Both revolvers shot about same groups from a standing 10 yd. position.

The old Smitty 66 now 44 yrs. old is a tough old goat to beat with that fantastic trigger and I have a video showing the comparison of the two about the trigger action. The Smitty has about a 4 lb. pull in SA mode with no creep at all...just squeeze lightly and you hear a bing as it releases!
The Evil Roy has a lighter 2 lb range pull with just a tiny bit of trigger creep before it releases BUT the pull of the hammer is easier requiring less pull
about 1/2 the effort....the total action is really smooth!

The story goes that ol' Smitty spent some time in his life sharing a tool box with a crescent wrench in the trunk of an old Chevy!
A little rough looking when I rescued him in a package deal...I polished his SS finish up and added new S&W grips...replaced his missing red front sight insert and now a sweet shooter.
After target work I ran a good many of the Pug 180 loads thru Mr. Evil while running thru the steel plates and knock over targets just to
see if there would be any leading issues in the barrel. I had measured the cylinder throats and found them to be a bit large at a measured .364
for a .358 sized bullet which can spell leading issues with gases escaping past the bullet...have that [problem with my Ruger .454 Alaskan and lead bullets even when shooting Colt 45 loads.
Anyway happy to report after 60 rounds of coated Pug loads the Evil Roy bore was CLEAN !!!

So I have to say the WIN for the Henry sidekick position goes to Evil Roy and they do match well!

Note... check out this wood target shot taken by Evil Roy from 10 yds. Notice that slight oval hole in center? What do you think???

Also note in Evil Roy close up pic. that there is a gap showing at the grip frame. Glad I saw that in picture as there were loose screws after the shoot. Tightened everything up and good now.

[Mistered]

What dash # is your 66?

[fortyshooter]

What dash # is your 66?

It's a goodie....no dash built sometime in 1976 going by Serail# Pinned barrel and recessed cylinder.
A keeper!

[Mistered]

No dash eh?

Someone added the red front inset and swapped out the SS rear sight for a blue one along the way.

[CT_Shooter]

My Taylors/Uberti SmokeWagon .357 SA is prone to loose screws, too. I check them several times at the range and usually find a few to tighten. The ejector assembly screw once backed out completely, sending the whole thing flying about five feet away. Luckily, I found all the parts, but that really freaked me out. I've used locktite with marginal results since. Still have to check the screws.

[Mistered]

Notice that slight oval hole in center? What do you think???

Two shots.

[fortyshooter]

No dash eh?

Someone added the red front inset and swapped out the SS rear sight for a blue one along the way.

From what I read the earliest 66's had the plain front sight and stainless rear sight. Sometime in '76 they went to the red insert on front sight and the
black adjustable rear sight. I bought this one along with a hardly used 629-2E .44 Mag with 3 inch barrel in package deal from a neighbor several years ago. Price was too good to pass up!

Pictured as I bought them.

[North Country Gal]

Just curious, forty, how did the difference in sights between the two guns affect your shooting?

As mentioned by CT, keep an eye on the screws on a Colt clone for tightness while breaking in the gun. It's not just an issue with Uberti Colts, either. Do it with any Colt. I've actually lost a screw on my Pietta Colt, first trip to the range and had to get another one from the factory. I do the same as CT with any new Colt clone. Before shooting any of my new Colts, I now remove each screw, one at a time, then degrease and add a touch of blue loc-tite.

I've never had any leading issues with any of our Colt clones, either Uberti or Pietta. Unlike Ruger 45 Colt single actions, the Uberti 45 Colts are optimized for shooting lead bullets. This allows me to use lead 45 Colt loads in the Uberti Colts and just use jacketed 45s in the Ruger 45 Colt, instead of reaming out the cylinder throats and opening up the forcing cone for the sake of shooting lead.

[fortyshooter]

Just curious, forty, how did the difference in sights between the two guns affect your shooting?

As mentioned by CT, keep an eye on the screws on a Colt clone for tightness while breaking in the gun. It's not just an issue with Uberti Colts, either. Do it with any Colt. I've actually lost a screw on my Pietta Colt, first trip to the range and had to get another one from the factory. I do the same as CT with any new Colt clone. Before shooting any of my new Colts, I now remove each screw, one at a time, then degrease and add a touch of blue loc-tite.

I've never had any leading issues with any of our Colt clones, either Uberti or Pietta. Unlike Ruger 45 Colt single actions, the Uberti 45 Colts are optimized for shooting lead bullets. This allows me to use lead 45 Colt loads in the Uberti Colts and just use jacketed 45s in the Ruger 45 Colt, instead of reaming out the cylinder throats and opening up the forcing cone for the sake of shooting lead.

The only Ruger that gives me lead trouble is my Alaskan and I shoot plated or jacketed bullets thru it with my heavy .45 Colt loads.
I may try some .454 sized bullets thru it one day and see.
My 2005 New Vaquero .45 Colt shoots clean and my 1990's SBH .44 Mag and SBH Bisley .45 Colt also shoot clean.

The Evil Roy like you said has the 11 degree FC cut. Really nice revolver!

[BigAl52]

Nice shootin Forty and I think the Evil Roy belongs with the Henry myself also. Im betting 2 shots one hole. Id like to see a target shot shooting that load off some bags.

[Rifletom]

Oh yeah, that "Evil Roy" goes real well with the Henry. That pair looks good. No flies on the S&W, but, the Cimarron matches up better. All nice!
Dang! Forgot to mention shooting! I'll go out on a limb and say three.

[fortyshooter]

On that wooden critter target I loaded and fired 5 shots so it does look like 2 hit same hole. Got lucky I guess!

As far as the sights between both revolvers...I put a bit of yellow paint on the back of front sight on the ER to make it easier to pick up so
other than being not adjustable sighting was about the same for me on both. The 38 Special loads I have were really fun to plink with too!

[RanchRoper]

Good shootin' forty....

[Mistered]

From what I read the earliest 66's had the plain front sight and stainless rear sight.

This is correct and is the configuration on the 66 no dash.

The 66-1 change was to a red inset front and a blued rear but a lot of owners modded their 66's to the red inset and swapped the SS rear for a blue (as I did) but I will NOT mod the front as this will hurt the value - and I kept the original SS rear.

Actually a lot of Smith's over the years have had the front sight modified to the red inset regardless of the model or configuration and most don't even consider it when buying a used Smith as its so commonplace.