WHEN IS A REVOLVER TOO PRETTY/VALUABLE TO SHOOT?

[lshel]

I purchased a used S&W 66-2 4" with target grips, target trigger, target hammer, white outlined rear sight and red ramp front sight with box/papers that dates to around 1985. The gun looks as being fired little or not at all. The SS finish had been polished. The previous owner had bought gun used, had it polished, put in safe and never shot it. I hate to shoot the gun due to its like-new condition and/or reduction of value.

What do you think, keep as collectable and not shoot or shoot and enjoy?.

 

[URL=http://s1029.photobucket.com/user/lshel63/media/20150227_200858%201.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1029.photobucket.com/user/lshel63/media/20150227_200828%201.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1029.photobucket.com/user/lshel63/media/5.jpg.html][/URL]

[nightrunner]

Me personally I would shoot and enjoy it. But I would also shoot a $4,000 mint condition Colt Combat Python.

Firearms are meant to be shot and/or carried.

[gun sane]

What would you do with a new wife? 

[tnhawk]

If I'm not going to shoot it, I don't need to pay for it. A good picture is as useful as an unfired gun.

[john455]

Ditto, a gun is useless if not being fired and enjoyed, but I don't buy guns as investments I buy them for protection and/or the enjoyment of shooting, if it's an investment put it in the safe until you get ready to sell it, if it is a tool for protection or enjoyment then shoot the bad boy and smile when you do.

[bersaguy]

At one time I would buy a gun because it was a little rare and in good shape and put it n my safe. Pretty soon I realized I had money tied up in firearms that had been in my safe for years and never fired. I thought long and hard about it and soon the safe inventory began getting smaller and my bank book began getting bigger. I don't regret selling any of the safe queens. Now I am at a level that I am safe when I go out of the house and I am safe when I am very safe and would be able to defend myself when I am in my home.  If your a collector buy them and make them safe queens. If your looking to defend yourself you purchase guns for that quest..............jmho...................... :up:  :up:  :up: 

[DaveTN]

It’s been shot (all S&W’s have), 30 years isn’t really old for an S&W revolver, and it’s been polished; shoot it and enjoy it.

Properly cared for you could shoot hundreds of rounds and it wouldn’t look any different. Stainless guns can be returned to near new condition unless there is physical damage.

[RED333]

Bring it to my house, I have ammo and will shoot it for ya.

[TNWNGR]

Take it out and shoot it, with proper care and sensible loads your be passing it along to a worth heir some years on down the road.

[Garufa]

Shoot it.  As Dave mentioned it's been polished so it's not exactly what a true collector would want anyway.

[swim615]

Unless it is NIB I would shoot and enjoy it. Even though the polishing looks better to a collector it is worth less. Plus its SS you could drag it behind your truck for a couple miles and polish it right up to like new. I love SS.

 

Beautiful revolver by the way.

Edited March 7, 2015 by swim615

[Tuffus]

I have a 66 no dash which I love to shoot. It's polished as well because I like it better and don't plan to sell it. It's my favorite revolver that I own. I say shoot it, clean it, oil it and shoot it some more. In other words, enjoy it.

[hipower]

Shoot it!!!!

I have 2 like it, and they both get taken out often.

[Grand Torino]

I have a 66 no dash which I love to shoot. It's polished as well because I like it better and don't plan to sell it. It's my favorite revolver that I own. I say shoot it, clean it, oil it and shoot it some more. In other words, enjoy it.

Nailed it. :up:

[gregintenn]

What would you do with a new wife? 

LOL! Not exactly what I'd do with a revolver. :ugh:

[jh225]

A) It's been polished, like you said. S&W stainless is a duller finish.

 

B) A 66-2 is NOT collectable, not by a long shot

 

C) Shoot it and enjoy it.

 

The ONLY S&W I own that I won't shoot (and I own many) is a late 1956- early 1957 Pre-28 that is unfired except by the factory. In late 1957, they started putting the model number on them.

[seax]

My father collected Colt Commemoratives when I was growing up. Most of them are either lower or equal to what the same std model would be worth today. None of them have been fired at this time. I like factory engraved pistols and shoot every one of them. A gun is to be shot or it is just another sculpture. I am going to put them up for sale shortly. Just fancy limited edition shooters  for someone new.

[raildog]

What would you do with a new wife?

That's how fell to

[Garufa]

That's how fell to

 

Did your ol' lady just walk in?

Edited March 8, 2015 by Garufa

[hipower]

LOL! Not exactly what I'd do with a revolver. :ugh:

 

I don't know about that. I've seen some of us get pretty worked up over a new firearm.

[Parrothead]

I have one gun that is unfired--it was my grandfathers Winchester 30-30. It is a 1958 build that is new in box. If he owned it for 50+ years without shooting it, i will leave to my kid(s) unfired.

 

But, i fire his Dan Wesson revolver and other guns on a regular. Other than the exception listed above, i fire all my guns when time and ammo allows...

[Caster]

A gun you can't shoot is worthless.

[jhc77]

If I get range time, which is few and far between, I always take my 1982 S&W 686 6" no dash with me. 357mag is fun to shoot. If still locks up tight fire away.

[A.J. Holst]

If you bought it to sell to the collector?

I have a 3" Gemini Customs SP which which sure is pretty and has a high emotional value (to me)

Shoot and enjoy!

[lshel]

Thanks for everyone's input. I bought the 66-2 to shoot and that's what I going to do. I've had several Model 66's in the past, since I started shooting handguns in the 60's. I've always liked the balance/feel of the K frame over the L-frame. If it doesn't live up to my shooting expectations then I'll sale or trade it.

 

I usually shoot hand-loaded 357 mag with Unique or Accurate #2 to get velocities 1100 to 1200 fps for a 125g Hornady XTP bullet. Recoil is not as bad as the regular 125g HP 357 factory loads and I assume the forcing cone will be subject to less pressure. Accuracy in my GP100 4" with these loads is very good.