New to me S&W model 60 357mag

4

4D5

New member
I’ve been looking for an easy to pack revolver for ATV riding for a while now.
Cleaning the 1911 and magazines after ATVing and getting all the grit out is a pain.
I was at the LGS recently and there was a model 60 three inch barrel.

I gave it a thorough check out and everything looked good.

Price might have been a little on the high side at $650, none the less, it now lives in the safe with its new family.

After a good cleaning I took it out for a little range trip and was pleased with the accuracy.


S&W model 60-10
Caliber 357
SN CDA18xx
No box or papers
DOB – not sure, couldn’t figure it out in the Standard Catalog
3” bbl

Here’s a picture and target

SampW-60-103in_zpsdd3ea0cb.jpg
 
The model 60 Smith and Wesson is an awesome firearm. Accurate par non. This firearm for me has been the most accurate pistol I have ever owned. Pleasant to shoot, very comfortable to carry. I would recommend this pistol to anyone that wants a reliable and well built firearm.
Clean the model 60 as you would any other firearm, no problems. get it and enjoy it.
 
Well, mine wound up being my EDC...

It is the 2" version - and it's a 357 magnum. I like the flexibility that gives me. The stainless steel J frame is about the best compromise between size and available power. IMHO.

This picture shows the factory Good Year grips and they work well for 357 loads. Not quite so much for concealability

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These rosewood panels are much easier to carry, but a challenge to shoot the 357 mag rounds from. So most of the time I use the Gold Dot short barrel load (the 38 Special version) or the 158gr HPLSWC "FBI" load from Buffalo Bore.

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Those hardcore guys shooting full house 357 mag loads in their air weight J frames are much tougher than I am. (but I usually score higher on the qualification shoots).

I don't have any problems keeping it clean. I check it out every night when I take it off. Wipe it down, blow it out with a can of air if needed. If I think it needs a thorough cleaning I blast the insides with Gun Scrubber and then follow it up with a shot of Amzoil - MP - easy peasy. I don't think I've had the side plate off but once. That when I was removing the Hillary lock. (the pictures were taken before that). It isn't any harder than any other Smith.
 
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S&W 60-10

I have had my 60-10 since they were introduced. I looked at the 38 version and loved it, but decided to wait for the 357. I bought this particular gun as a small convenient field gun, kind of like a kit gun as they used to call them back in the day. It rides in a DeSantis thumb break or fanny pack when in the field, and it's been a perfect companion. If I ride my bike in a rural environment the 60-10 rides with me in the fanny pack.

As far as keeping clean, it has not been an issue. I have even taken it under water while fly fishing in the Devils River in South Texas when I stepped in a deep hole and went under. when I got home I removed the side plate, dried everything off with a hair drier, blew it out with a compressor, and re-oiled everything real well. It's been great every since. I have never carried this gun for SD, other than in the field, but wouldn't hesitate if needed. I'm not going to tell you what I paid for the gun when I bought it new because it would break your heart. I will tell you this gun has appreciated more than any gun I own, and I'm not really sure why.

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The model 60 3"- 357, is my EDC. The best firearm I ever fired, accurate, and easy to shoot. Enjoy, and don't ever sell it, trade, or give away. It is truly a firearm treasure.
 
When I got my Model 60, they had a two inch, and a three inch in stock.
Now I wish I had bought the three inch.
Oh well... now I have to buy another one!:)
 
When I got my Model 60, they had a two inch, and a three inch in stock.
Now I wish I had bought the three inch.
Oh well... now I have to buy another one!
Click to expand...

When I bought my three inch Model 60 I wish I had also purchased a two incher to go with this one. I would have carried that one for sure as my EDC back then.
 
I have a 30+ year-old Model 60 .38 Special. It is an excellent revolver. However, shooting it with +P ammo is not enjoyable. I could not imagine shooting a .357 Mag out of a Model 60.

BTW, a 1911A1 is an easy gun to clean. I think a 1911A1 is easier to clean than a revolver. For me, a 1911A1 is a very easy gun to carry.

9 230 grain rounds of .45 ACP +P is pretty darn formidable.
 
I could not imagine shooting a .357 Mag out of a Model 60.
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Reloading capability adds so much flexibility. In my model 60 Pro (3") I use a load comparable to 38 Special +p+ but in .357 cases. It fires like you would expect as the middle ground between full up 357 Magnum and .38 Special +p.

For SD carry I use Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 gr JHP.
 
jglsprings & Real Gun
Click to expand...

I did shoot one cylinder full of 357 mag just to see how the recoil was.
That confirmed it for me; no 357 mag out of this little blaster.

I reload so it's going to be shooting 38 spl equivalent loads.
Those were very manageable and pleasant to shoot.
 
With all due respect, I found that there is a skill set required to step up to Magnum shooting, especially in the "little blasters", as you so aptly name them. I have been working up to shooting more high powered stuff and certainly find I can handle it better and have less of a love/hate relationship with my smaller .357 Magnums.

Recently I have gotten more involved in .41 Magnum. I have, however, turned down two offers to shoot a .454 Casull. Maybe someday, since occasionally I already shoot full power .44 Magnum but in a bigger gun (SW629 5").

I like to reload to work around these issues of whether a caliber or a gun is a good personal fit. But as a personal issue, I stick to shooting the caliber or at least case size stamped on the barrel.
 
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I have the 60 3" .357 in the Pro Series.
It's not tough to handle magnum factory ammo at all, but I'm very experienced shooting handguns.
My 60 is far more accurate than many would believe from a J frame.
( so is yours! )
I benched mine once with 125 grn. .357 mag Remington h.p. ammo and got 1.5" for 5 shots.
Other magnum ammo didn't do as well. All copper 125 grainers gave me a lousy 2". (kidding...2" is stellar)
Short bbl'd pistols & revolvers are far more accurate than many might expect.
I've benched many at 25 & if I'm up to snuff on a good day all of mine will cut 2.5", usually better. This includes a G-27 & my Shield .40.
I shot a friends G-27 with his loads using 800X power, 180 grain bullets & got 1.5" from it.
Larger weapons are far easier to shoot offhand tho.
In my not so humble & experienced opinon smaller weapons need more practice to become proficient with.
 
Hello 4D5,,,

Nice buy my friend,,,
$650.00 might be a bit high,,,
But hey, the heart wants what the heart wants.

I think you are really going to like the 3" barrel version,,,
I loved my 1 7/8 Model 36 until I found one in 3",,,
That extra sight radius makes a big difference.

Aarond

P.S. It took a moment to register but you have a cool username.

.
 
Hard to pass up a good used stainless S&W J frame when you see one. I have never had one with the 3" barrel and adjustable sights.
 
I'm a fan of the S&W model 60. I have two chambered in .38 with the 1 7/8" barrel.

I also have one in .38 with a 3" bbl. and rear adj. sight.

All are still NIB. :D
 
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