I have a very nice model 60 no dash, 38 special only. I carry it all the time. My question is I am torn between selling it or trading it for the model 60 357. I don,t know if it would be worth it or not. I don,t know how bad the 357s recoil compared to the 38 +p loads would be, and as far as the different dimensions and weights? Anybody have ideas or gone through this before? Thoughts, opinions?

Yes, I went through it. I wanted it for CC with the Speer short barrel .357 loads, as they produce energy roughly equivalent to the 45 APC and have a lesser chance of over penetration than full house 357’s.

I have large hands and the wood stocks beat up my hand. I put on rubber Hogue stocks and that helped. I sent it to S&W for porting and they sent it to Magna Port for their Quadra porting. That helped but the gun still rotated in my hand more than I liked due to the short stocks and the abbreviated grip they provided. I then found a pair of Pachmayr stocks that were long enough for my hand to get a full grip on the gun. It is now my favorite and handles full house loads well, although a 4” K frame .38 will return to point of aim slightly quicker for a second shot.

If it was me I'd keep what you have and be content at the 38 +p level. I have a model 60 3" in 357 mag, though I have not shot 357s in it. With my lighter J frame, 340pd I always stay at the 38 +p level(or below). I just wouldn't go through the sell/buy hassle & cost just for the 357 option. Look at it as an opportunity to ADD when the right deal is presented.

I know this opinion has caused a lot of controversy but I am not confident that a .38 or anything smaller will do what needs to be done. If a .22 is all you have it beats a knife. I also realize that over penetration can be a liability with the larger calibers in an urban setting. We all must take what info we can gather and go with what we believe in.

I sometimes fire 357 in my Model 60. Recoil isn't too bad IMHO, but I feel comfortable loading it with 38+P for SD, so I do. If 158 grains going 1000 fps (Buffalo Bore) doesn't penetrate or create a decent hole, then it just wasn't my day. The 2 inch barrel 357 adds a couple hundred feet per second, but I doubt that is enough to make a big difference.

However, if you aren't comfortable carrying 38+P ammo for SD, then you NEED to trade up. I wouldn't carry what I didn't trust.

The Model 60 shoots fine with 357 unless you are recoil sensitive. If you are, add a few ounces by going with the Ruger SP101, or go to a 3" barrel. I haven't tried it (yet) but have read lots of good things about them.

A 500 won't do what needs to be done if you're not proficient at shot placement. I am more than confident that a .38 will do the job, as long as you can put the lead where it needs to go. As for selling/trading the .38 Mod 60 for a .357 Mod 60, I wouldn't. I don't like the recoil of a .357 in a J frame. But, that's just me.

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Misty

FWIW both of my Model 60s are .38s; I greatly prefer them to the .357 models, for a number of reasons.

My current carry round is the Speer 135 grain Gold Dot Short Barrel. If hitting a bad guy with one of those didn't do the job, hitting the same spot with a .357 round probably wouldn't have made much of a difference (IMHO, of course). Furthermore, if the first round missed its mark I'm more likely to get a second (or third) chance when shooting .38s.

But if I were to be completely honest, the primary reason I stick with .38s is because the combination of the .38 Special round and the J frame just seems "right" to me. If I get the urge to shoot .357s, I'll step up to an L frame.

Both of my model 60's are also 38's and with proper ammunition they're all I require. Should I feel the need for a compact .357 my Ruger sp101 3 inch is the lightest/smallest revolver I want for that caliber. In my opinion keep your model 60 in .38. They are great revolvers and the one I most use.

I have a 60 no dash (.38) and a 60-9 (.357). I have run .357 rounds through the 60-9 and the recoil isn't extreme (still not fun), but the follow up shots are a little slower to get on target. The right grips are a most for recoil control. I carry 158 grn SWC +P. The velocity isn't there from the 2" barrel, but I like the bullet.

It's allways been my opinion, it's not what you have in the pipe.....it is the placement of the projectile.....yes, a 45acp does do more damage than a .22, but the latter will kill the same as the 45.

semper fi

There is only three things you have to worry about, placement, placement and placement.

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Dom

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!

I think, as some others have stated, that since you already have the model 60 .38, I would just keep it. I have a model 60-9, and a model 60-10, both of which are 357's, but I still only use them with 38 +p's. I know they are very capable of shooting the 357 cartridge, and many people use them for that. To me, though, I am satisfied with several .38 +p loads. Having said all that, however, I don't see a downside if you were to trade for one of the .357 j-frames. I like mine, and I just look at them as very durable 38's, with 357 capability. You'd be fine either way. wyatte

You will lose money in the trade, you'd be better off buying more .38 ammo and doing more practice.

The Gold Dot and DPX snub loads available in .38 +P are very good ammo when it comes to "stopping power".