I have a 2" model 60 .38 that became my bedside gun (took the place of my old M36) when I got a 3" heavy barrel M60-15 .357 for a carry gun. Then I picked up a 2 1/2" M60-14 that's the best of both worlds w/ a fat shrouded barrel but still small enough to carry in my pocket. The recoil from the 3' w/ rubber grips is not bad w/ any load (but I'm a 220 lb. sawed off gorilla); the 2 1/2" w/ .357+P's is brutal! I like having the extra power of a .357 when I'm out in the hills... sure glad I had a .357 instead of a .38 the day 2 mountain lions came after me!