Hello, everyone. I am currently in the market for a S&W Model 60 with a 3" Barrel and fixed frame integral sights (or at least a gun that meets the criteria I have set).

The criteria I have are:

1. 5 Round cylinder chambered for .357 Magnum
2. 3" Barrel
3. Preferably Stainless Finish
4. Frame Integral Sights
5. Steel Frame

If there is a gun produced by Smith & Wesson that meets these criteria, I am curious as to what it is. I am also curious if the same result can be achieved by simply removing the adjustable sight module on a S&W Model 60. If anyone can provide answers, please, let me know. Thank you.

The Model 60, Chief's Special, is not currently produced in a 3" fixed sight version. There is no currently manufactured revolver from Smith and Wesson that matches your criteria

Over the decades there have been 2 or 3 small runs in this configuration.

The only one I actually remember was in late 80's there was a run of square butt 3" fixed sight Model 60 Chief's Specials for John Jovino. It was either 1000 or 2000 pieces.

Removing the rear sight from a 3" Chief's Special Target will leave you with no sights.

The channel that the rear sight sits in is not the fixed sight groove, it is milled specifically for the sight assembly. Also the front sights are different heights on the two revolvers.

Years ago, I had a nickeled 3 inch square butt Model 36 in .38 Special. It was a nice little revolver, but I traded it for an M1911A1. You could get the adjustable sighted Model 60 and put a Cylinder and Slide fixed sight on it. Just sayin’.


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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I don't believe this configuration, even the Jovinos, was offered in .357, per OP's parameters.

OP: I don't think what you're looking for has ever been made by S&W. If you can live with .38 Special, then yes, there are 3" fixed sight Model 60s; otherwise you'd have to have one reamed out to accept .357, a load the pre-mid-'90s J-frames were not rated for.

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Pickpocket

Before you invest a chunk of cash in a 3" J-frame chambered for .357 magnum I strongly suggest that you beg, borrow, or rent one and try a couple of cylinders-full of magnum ammo at the range. The recoil, muzzle blast, and muzzle flash of magnum ammo fired in a short-barreled lightweight revolver should convince you that there is no way you will ever master that combination sufficiently for serious defensive use.

I carried a 2.5" Model 19 for quite a few years as a plain-clothes cop. It only took one range session with .357 magnum ammo to convince me that it would never work in the real world. The J-frames you are considering weigh in at a half-pound to a pound less. Good luck with that if you ever need to fire a second round accurately!

Many states have state lotteries, selling millions of lottery tickets to people who have a dream, and that dream is what they are buying. Lots of people seem to want lightweight small-frame .357 revolvers, and all they are getting is the dream.

If you're talking hot, full-house .357, agreed. If you're talking the best modern defense loads, i.e., Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .357, Remington Golden Sabre .357, Hornady Critical Defense .357 -- these are all mid-range loads and very manageable in the kind of steel J-frames OP's asking about.

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Pickpocket

Recoil is not an issue for me. Full house .357 Magnum stings, but I've done a lot of training with .357 Magnum in small j-frame revolvers. I plan to carry the gun with both .357 and .38 depending on how I feel, and only shoot it with .357 while doing more serious training. Thanks for the suggestions and advice, everyone!

See if you can find a S@W model 65 3in. 38/357. IMO the perfect carry gun.