Thoughts on S&W Mod 60

gravertom

gravertom

Joined
Jun 4, 2004
Messages
1,163
Hi guys,

getting ready to apply for my NY pistol permit.

Should have plenty of time to save money!

I have shot the 3" Mod 60 before. I liked it a lot. I always thought that the same gun with a 6" barrel would be great, sort of the modern "Navy Colt", a nice, trim, 36 cal revolver.

Lo and behold, Smith now makes it in 5"! (I know, its been around a while!)

A little long for CC, but no bulkier than any other snub. Should shoot like a tack driver, and the 5" would make a nice compact hunting revolver.

Or should I go 3"? That still has adj sights, which I would want in case I did hunt with it, and the fixed sights on the shorter bbl don't do it for me.

Having shot this type, I know it fits my second criterion after reliability. It fits my hand like a glove, which is seldom true for any gun other than a single action revovler, in the handgun dept.

Also, the wife shoots this type of gun well.

probably have answered my own question, but I value your insights, and I just want to talk about handguns, since I haven't owned one in almost two years!

One plus is that the shop could order me one, and I can shoot it out back until my permit comes in.

Other candidates=

Ruger convertible in 45/45acp or 9mm/357
a bit bulky for CC

1911 45acp
not sure about hunting with one

First handgun needs to have some versatility, but CC is number one.

sadly, Taurus doesn't seem to make their 5 shot 45colt DA anymore.

(I'll let Munk say something about the various 41mags before mentioning it myself! :D )

Take care,

Tom

PS I sure would like to get another of my favorite handgun, the 5 1/2 blued Super Blackhawk 44 mag. I could really shoot that one, and I would feel well armed with the 44 special for regular use, and 44 for the great outdoors. That would look mighty fine in a carbona blue finish! I guess if I put a steel grip frame on a 5 1/2 45/45 acp convertible, I would about have the same thing...

I just like guns too much! Champagne taste on a muddy water budget...:rolleyes:
 
I have a model 60 love it very solid reliable, however I have a couple of the airweight 5 shot hammerless cost less weighs less perfect carry gun and will shoot 38+P. If you want to count it on it you can't go wrong.

You won't carry the 1911 that often, more stop power but larger and more weight, at close range both do the job so it's a matter of taste
 
Gotta love the model 60! easily one of the top revolvers ever created IMHO.

I'm not a fan of the long barrels on 'em though, especially for concealed carry. I'd call 3" tops myself though. Searching for a CCW/ hunting revolver sounds kinda like wanting a Hummer that does 160 MPH or a Ferrarri that can pull stumps. You'll either wind up with a bulky CCW or a very short range hunting gun.

The 3'' BBl splits the difference well though. Not something to plan a hunt with, but capable of taking out a deer or a blackie anyways.

I think the .357 IS the best chambering you're gonna get. cheap, plentiful, easy to practice with, have fun and even shoot smaller game with .38 Specials.

I've got some 200 hard cast semi Wad cutters that are coming out of a 4" bbl at 1250 FPS. Not too bad.

I've got one of the Scandium 336's myself. With .38 Specials it's really fun to shoot. with reduced velocity .357 rounds it's barely tolerable. with full power .357's it's the most miserable, vile, harsh kicking dirty rotten lil' SOB I've ever fired. It sure is pleasant to carry all day though, compared to my 1911, my 586, Security Six or my Bisley .45 Colt.

for what little it's worth.... I'd go with a shorter barreled J- frame for now, and maybe get a K-frame with a longer barrel for the woods, or even look at some heavier chamberings.



Gotta love talkin' guns though!:D
 
It's not barrel length that limits CCW and in fact, an overall larger slabsided auto will carry better than a revolver. There are a couple of *very* compact 9mm semi-autos available right now that will outperform a snub .38 in terms of muzzle velocity (and energy) due to barrel length, carry easier and be easier to shoot well due to greater sight radius.

Snub revolvers have a cool factor, but...
 
I'm a glock and revolver guy when it comes to CC down here in TX. I do carry my Keltec P32 all the time also.

I am partial to 3" fixed sighted .357 revolvers, and currently have two that see regular use; a S&W Model 13-3, bobbed hammer, and a Ruger SS .357 Speed Six, bobbed hammer.

I usually carry these revolvers in the "appendix" position, located IWB at about 1:00.

The 3" barrel is perfect for this as if it were any longer, the muzzle would make "scrambled eggs" every time I sat down!!

I am not a fan of carry guns with adjustable sights. S&W loves to put target sights on many of their short-barreled revolvers, but there are also many out there that have fixed sights.

My feelings: If you want a carry pistol, get one dedicated to that job. Train and carry with it, take up IDPA or something similar to familiarize yourself with the weapon and equipment.

If you want a hunting or target arm, then longer sight radiuses and adjustable sights are the order of the day, IMO.

Andy
 
Now if a deer ATTACKS you... :D

otherwise you need two pistols, Tom.

Skeeter Skelton, a gunwriter from the 70's, strongly believed in the 5" barrel as an all-purpose choice...

but I can't even decide on one khuk, much less one pistol.

Is Dan Wesson still around (interchagable barrels)?

or Mod. 60 for CC and a rifle?


Mike :confused:
 
you guys are right.

I have a shotgun and rifle for hunting. The only reason I am stretching it is handguns are allowed for deer around here, but to rifle hunt, you have to travel a bit.

The Ruger gp100, after I re did the grips, was a great 3" fixed sight pistol. maybe the sp101 in 3" would be the ticket. Always liked those.

I guess I am committed to the magnum revolver, because I do want it to be able to serve emergency duty, in case I run into a black bear in the woods. 3" minimum becasue you never know, a longer shot outdoors is not impossible.

However, the Glock in 10mm might be an option.

Take care,

Tom
 
I have a Glock 20 which is that company's full-sized 10MM, and like it a lot. For more compact carry, the model 29 would do good double-duty as a carry gun with appropriate ammo. Your capacity is also greatly increased with the auto. The 20 holds 16 rds, IIRC, and the 29 carries 11. The mags for the 20 will fit and function in the 29, also.

Andy
 
I've got a 2.25 inch Ruger SP101. I can't imagine hunting deer with it, even with a longer barrel. It is a very good carry gun, though, and you can put heavy .357 loads through it without trouble, unlike some of the lighter alloy, scandium, titanium .357 snubbies. So that would give you a lot more flexibility in the ammo you could shoot.

Somebody asked about Dan Wesson. I don't know if they are in business now, but one of my friends has two Dan Wesson "kits", one in .357 and one in .44. He's got 4-6-8 inch barrels, I dont' think he's got the 2.75 inch for the .357 but he might. Its still a big gun, even with the shorter barrels on them.
 
I had a 3" Model 65. Kinda wish I'd found a way to raise the money I needed without selling it. :(

There are some good CCW/other choices out there. I was just reading about the new .410/.45 Colt Taurus. Doesn't seem to throw a shotgun pattern very far, but the reviewer said it shot the Colts just fine. :) (It's rifled.)

Another choice- not cheap, but effective and easy to conceal- would be the new Kahr .45.

Personally, I ordered an IWB holster for my 4 5/8 Blackhawk 9mm/.357! :eek:

John
 
I've a 38 Smith, the Target model, which I like quite a lot. I never went for the 357's because I've got so many heavier rounds. I like the 38 First one I had was a snubbie Taurus. IT was so much fun shooting it, I wanted a longer barrel.

I would rather have the 5" barrel, but if this is going for your CCW, well, you'll have to decide. You might go to a gunshop and handle the two and see how much of a limit the extra length and weight place upon you.

Course, you really wouldn't know until after you've carried one all day. Hey, I got an idea, put a rock in a holster and try it. Just kidding, sort of.

Remember you can aquire other weapons for other days.


munk
 
Oh, Dan Wesson is still in business, though I don't remember what conglomerate owns them now.

The Ruger sp101 is a nice gun, a little heavier though, but you can shoot 357's.

If Ruger had put out a long barrel SP .32 I'd have one I think the longest used to be 4", but I don't think it lasted long. Wish they'd made it a eight rounder, too.
Hell, I like them all.

I even like Spectre's single action. I have a 4 5/8" Ruger 45 Colt.


Guns are good.

munk
 
Thanks again guys.

This is a fun diversion, as well as serious discussion.

I had the scandium in NC. Great to carry, brutal to shoot full bore 357's . I could handle it, but only slow fire. Only about a 15 yard gun for me.

I guess I'm being unrealistic about the hunting application.

The good thing is that at work, I can just leave it on the shelf during the day.

The problem is, I am always changing my mind when it comes to guns.

The only long term gun commitment I have made is the 14 years I've invested in my little Chipmunk. The wife absolutely refues to let me sell that. It is too cute, and the only gun I have from the gunshop I worked at in NJ for 5 years before moving to NC.

Tom
 
While the .38 has history, I personally have been present for some spectacular failures in stopping a fight. there are excellent ways for packing 3"-5" DA revolvers or single actions of 4 5/8", but I personally find packing a 1911 comfortable all day, and carrying a 45 ACP Commander even better! My praise does not extend to ultra small .45's due to some being finiky about feeding. It's just damn hard to beat any .45 with a full sized frame and 2 spare magazines.

As for hunting, tell me why any pistol sufficient for 80 -90% stops on bad guys would be too feeble for hunting?
 
I don't suppose a deer is tougher than a weight lifting felon.

Unfortunately for the 38, there are no 38 plus P loads. They all say they are, but their published velocities and actual chronographing shows they are merely top of the chart, average 38 special loads. Maybe Corbon or someone makes a true 38 +P, but I doubt it.

I learned this painfully in a gun forum when everyone questioned my statement that 38 loaded properly exceeded Nine mill. I was wrong- the companies do not make loads that do. They could, it's within Saami, but they won't out of respect for older guns. And you're not supposed to load your own for self defense.

munk
 
jurassicnarc44 said:
While the .38 has history, I personally have been present for some spectacular failures in stopping a fight. there are excellent ways for packing 3"-5" DA revolvers or single actions of 4 5/8", but I personally find packing a 1911 comfortable all day, and carrying a 45 ACP Commander even better! My praise does not extend to ultra small .45's due to some being finiky about feeding. It's just damn hard to beat any .45 with a full sized frame and 2 spare magazines.

As for hunting, tell me why any pistol sufficient for 80 -90% stops on bad guys would be too feeble for hunting?
Click to expand...



I don't think the feebleness of a particular round would be the problem. A .357 might be adequate for whitetail, but I"m not sure. I know a .44 magnum would be adequate. However, even these quite powerful handguns are pretty low powered compared to a hunting rifle, even a non-magnum deal like a .30-.30 and coming from a short barrel they will probably be even less powerful than from a 6-8" hunting handgun barrel.

The bigger problem is I think the ability to make precise shots at realistic hunting ranges. A good carry gun needs to have a relatively short barrel and attendant sight radius. I've read that most "gun fights" occur within 7 yards. I know that I could hit a deer sized target at 7 yards with my SP101. I've never even seen a deer in the woods at 7 yards. Even short shorts are at least 25 yards when hunting, most of the time and 50 yards is probably more likely. Maybe I'm wrong, since I dont' do a lot of "long" range handgun shooting, but that seems like a pretty hard shot with a carry pistol.
 
Latest developments...

One of our polishers wants two Single actions engraved. In return, he will build me a 5 1/2 " single action in 45 colt. Since we work on 1911's also, our service manager should be able to scrounge me the parts to get one of those built too.

It's great when people owe you favors!

I shot my GP100 3" with fixed sights at approx. 40 yards once. I was able to get a 6" group.

I would feel more confortable with the long guns though, for hunting.

My 30/06 Brazilian Mauser is just toast. Even after cutting back the barrel 4" to get past the worst of the worn rifling, it just won't shoot any kind of group.

I'll probably just sell the action. It would cost less effort and money to just buy another 30/06 milsurp that shoots OK. I blew this one. Should have sent it back as soon as I unwrapped it. I thought just a little work would fix it...

Test firing is not part of the 3 day inspection.

I understand why, so caviar emperor from now on!

Tom
 
Shann said:
A .357 might be adequate for whitetail, but I"m not sure. I know a .44 magnum would be adequate. However, even these quite powerful handguns are pretty low powered compared to a hunting rifle, even a non-magnum deal like a .30-.30 and coming from a short barrel they will probably be even less powerful
The bigger problem is I think the ability to make precise shots at realistic hunting ranges.... . I've never even seen a deer in the woods at 7 yards. Even short shorts are at least 25 yards when hunting, most of the time and 50 yards is probably more likely.
Click to expand...

You need to dig out the bullet weight, velocity and energy figures from lever action rifles of the 1870 -1900 era. Such rifle rounds as the 32-20, 38-40 (38WCF), and 44-40 (44WCF) were similar in power to today's pistol rounds, and were not only deemed adequate for deer, but men spent their money on them to feed their families.

Placement, then as now, was the real issue. Over the years, while still hunting (moving only about 2 minutes in twenty), I've had more available shots at 15-20 yards than at 50. But then I also favor beaver dams, swamps, old cemetaries and thickly grown woodlots and hunt from the ground with a recurve.... Rupture both lungs, and any of those bad boys will do!
 
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