Smith & Wesson is doing something strange. It's a Model 60 with a 5 1/2 inch barrel.

B

Blue Heeler

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Smith & Wesson is doing something strange. It's a Model 60 with a 5 inch barrel.

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The Model 60 is about to be sold over here (Australia) as a 'centerfire' gun. That means 25yd targets. It has an orange front sight. Most people use the standard black patridge. I don't understand why they are doing this at all. I'd prefer the standard 6in barrel myself. Does anyone have any idea what they are trying to do?
 

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Possible answers

1. They are trying to make money.

2. They are trying to get public interst in shooting competition so political infuence can be garnered to change Australia's gun laws.

3. They think people will buy the 5'' guns thinking they can cut or replace the barrel in order to have a small snubbie.

4. I have no fricking idea how anyone could think a 5" J-frame is a good idea unless their reasoning is flawed.


"In a world devoid of semiautomatics, a properly set-up Webley is the ultimate full-size self-defense handgun."
 
According to S&W market research, "we" asked for it. This is to be S&Ws new version of the kit revolver. 5 shot, 5" barrel, RB, decent sights and oddly, wood grips. Fishing, hiking, camping and small game hunting are the intended market. If they were chambered for 32 H&R Magnum, I would consider one. A grand concept.
 
There are a lot of small-handed folks who just can't get their mitts properly around a K/L-frame, but would still like an adjustable-sighted magnum revolver for hunting/target work.
 
To read about a strange man shooting this strange gun, go to GunBlast.com .... :eek:

(Actually Jeff Quinn is quite sane & knowledgable about guns, and he really likes this one. The article is a good read.... :D )
 
Tamara hit the nail on the head.

S&W is marketing the 5" J-frame to people with smaller hands who can't properly grip the K/L frame revolvers but would like to target shoot.

Having handled one, I can tell you that it feels awkward to me with the wood grips. But then, I can hold a K-frame just fine too.
 
Thanks for that reference seeker two. Maybe there's a place for it in the World after all. I still don't see it as a target match gun - but as a 'kit gun' it's possible. I'll need to shoot one when they come out here.
 
Hm..

I actually like the idea, and as stated in .32 mag it would be pretty tight.

If it didn't have the infernal lock, I'd go for it
 
One possibility is armed security guards. They are sometimes limited to 9MM and 38 Special. I could see one with bigger Pachmayrs for large hands and smaller grips for those who need them. I think they should be chambered in 22 lr, 22 Magnum, 32 H&R Magnum/32 S&W Long, 38 Special ONLY and 357 Magnum. I would buy a 22 Magnum, 32 H&R Magnum and a 38 Special ONLY myself. They definitely are a step in the right direction for S&W.
 
Many hard core revolver folks consider the 5" half-lug barrel to offer the ideal balance. Having gone to the S&W site in Springfield and gone through the inventory at their range, I'd have to agree :D

6" full lug - ok, little too much barrel
4" full lug - ok, a little too light barrel
5" half lug - ahhhhhhhhh :)
 
"4. I have no fricking idea how anyone could think a 5" J-frame is a good idea unless their reasoning is flawed."

I dunno, just because it's there. It's cute, too. My dad and I have a variety of Model 17s, Pythons, J-frames, Rugers, whatever. It's not an organized collection that we planned out. Heck, the last revolver we bought was a Model 647 - yeah, the 8 3/8" .17HMR and we put an UltraDotMatchDot on it. Go figure, there's no accounting for taste once you get a few basic guns. :)

I can often be found at the range shooting high-dollar wadcutters through a 442 at 25 and 50 yards.

John
 
Blue Heeler,

Shooting .357 factory from a small wooden grip round butt? That would have to be fun.
Click to expand...

Another hint at the target market: Aren't those wood grips pretty? (Like the wood grips on LadySmith magnum-J's, they'll probably get replaced by rubber after the first range session, but they did their job by helping to sell the gun... ;) )

SirWilliam,
I think they should be chambered in 22 lr, 22 Magnum, 32 H&R Magnum/32 S&W Long, 38 Special ONLY and 357 Magnum. I would buy a 22 Magnum, 32 H&R Magnum and a 38 Special ONLY myself.
Click to expand...

There are 4" 631's and 651's out there. Someday I'll have one of each. :)
 
OK - Don't laugh. I'm thinking of buying one. Just because it's different, and I am an incurable gun buyer. BUT - over here they are asking US$700. How does that compare with what they are charging there - I know there's freight and duty etc. I don't mind being stung occasionally but I hate being harpooned.
 
Stateside MSRP is $671, which probably means a true street price in the mid/high $500 range. I'll check at work today.
 
I kinda like it. Better than a lot of S&W ideas these days. Like others have said, a wheelgun for small hands that you can do some real shooting with.

Speaking of Australia, I assume the gun's design is also a sop to unfortunate nations with minimum-barrel-length restrictions on civilian handguns.

But 5" is still an unusual choice. Wouldn't a 4" barrel have sufficed to make it street-legal in all the major export markets? That would fall much closer to the "sweet spot" for a kit gun, balancing accuracy and velocity with handiness. If it were a 4" in .32 Mag, I'd buy one.
 
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