What Makes S&W 610's so special?

[Izzydog]

Recently I've noticed a growing interest in S&W 610 10mm revolvers. Some I've notice are commanding $1k-$1400 per specimen. My question is why, and which versions are the most desirable. It seems like the only way anyone could get the most out of those things is to hand load, and even then it would be a costly venture. Please enlighten me, what am I missing?

[BruceM]

Limited production, pre MIM and Lock Smith N-Frame revolvers are all rapidly escalating in value. The original M610 no-dash has been in the sweet spot for some time, especially the 5" version. The fact that they are excellent shooting guns doesn't hurt either.

Bruce

[629shooter]

If you like the 10MM Auto cartridge, then you "need" a 610. I think they are the indestructible 10MM.

The 3" and 5" are the most "rare."

[jughed440]

Ammo versatility is what makes the 610 special. The moon clips allow it to shoot the much cheaper 40mm, and some owners will hog out the cylinder to accept 10mm Magnum too. They're skyrocketing in price only because whoever runs S&W doesn't have the smarts to make them again (or maybe i don't have the marketing smarts to understand why they don't)
I was lucky to land this 610-2 through trade..

[scooter123]

Hand loading the 40 S&W or the 10mm is not at all "costly". If you catch a sale you can load either for about 16 cents per round. As for the positives, with the 10mm you have the power of the 357 Magnum with a bigger bullet.

[Nightowl]

I have my eye out for a 610 for quite a few years, but never passionately. Just interested. Finally, got a 5" that was advertised here and paid $1000 and glad to do it. It is a great shooter, I was surprised how accurate and easy to shoot it was. I might even reload for it someday.

[Shooter6br]

Would like one but have a 41 mag 657 from 1980. The 610 is a great pistol also

[HarrishMasher]

If you find one for a $1K you should grab it. I have been watching 10mm revovlers sell on GB for the last bunch of months, usually never go for less than $1,500, usually closer to $2K. $1K would be a great score these days.

The 310 Night Guards (10mm) usually go for over $2K.

[dswancutt]

How many of us would like to pay this for a 610 now.



And yes I still have it. No, it's not for sale



Now she has ugly rubber stocks to keep the combats in good condition.

[WCCPHD]

Originally Posted by HarrishMasher

If you find one for a $1K you should grab it. I have been watching 10mm revovlers sell on GB for the last bunch of months, usually never go for less than $1,500, usually closer to $2K. $1K would be a great score these days.

The 310 Night Guards (10mm) usually go for over $2K.

I got mine, a dash 3, with interlock, about a year ago for $600. It was in the box with two sets of grips, original and wooden Hogues with $79 price tag on them. Original owner said he shot fifty 10MM and fifty .40 caliber in it and put it up. The gun was located about 120 miles away and he met me half way. This was the only time I did not try to negotiate a lower price on a gun.

[truckerdave397]

I bought two of them most of twenty years ago. Like new in the box. One is five inch and the other is I think six and a half inch. I am sorry to say that I never shot either one of them. They keep each other company in the gun safe. At the time I paid $425 each.

[Jamesatrange]

I can honestly say that my 610 is one of my favorites. My shooter 610 is the 4 inch pre lock. I paid more than it went for originally but am happy I did, but it's one that I can honestly say warms my heart every time I bring it to the range. I shoot a lot of 40 S&w because I reload it. It's one of my guns that makes me feel competent because it's always on target and just a pleasure to shoot. They demand a high price but I've never seen any negative feedback so if you find one you'll enjoy it.

[Izzydog]

Mine is the 610-2 4" non fluted Cylinder. I paid $575 OTD in 2001, I had to borrow $150 from my dad. I've often considered selling it, but it has some sentimental value to me. I'm toying with the idea of getting a turret loader and dies, and reloading. I still have oodles of .40 S&W, I really should take it out more.

[10mmauto]

What Makes S&W 610's so special?

It's a 10mm!

Here's mine:

[6518John]

I have posted on this before--It is a mystery to me why manufacturers can't give away these semi-auto caliber revolvers when they are in production. Then once production stops, the same, $200-$400 revolvers become highly sought after, $2000 grail guns.

Correspondingly the biggest mystery to me in modern firearms marketing/production is why there are not readily available revolvers in 2.5, 4 and 6 inch in 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, and maybe 10mm. It would seem they would be ideal companion pieces to the pistols. Further, one could take advantage of mass-produced, relatively cheaper bulk ammo the common pistol calibers seem to generate. (Of, course 10mm is an exception to that).

When I have mentioned this before the highly knowledgeable forum member here have told me "they don't sell." Yet I see thread after thread, post after post, both extoling the virtues of 9mm/40/45/10mm revolvers and searching for them. And when they do come up for sale on here, they are gone instantly.

[pacecars]

If they would make an L frame 10mm it would sell

[6518John]

Originally Posted by pacecars

If they would make an L frame 10mm it would sell

That would be my thought--L frames in 9/40/45/10.

I would think a J framed 9mm and maybe 40 would be immensely popular as well.

I would buy a 4 inch 586 in .9, .45 and .10 in the bat of an eye. I know we LOVE our 3 inch 625-3.

[jtcarm]

About the perfect all-round revolver, IMO. A .40 cal magnum powerful enough for big game plus full moons for fast reloads and .40 SW for defense.

No, I don't own one and likely never will.

If an unknown rich uncle were to leave me millions, I'd probably buy a pre-lock 629 and have Bowen Arms build me a 610 Mountain Gun.

[BobR1]

I bought my 610 No Dash new in the early 1990's.
I wanted it for a Duty Revolver, and the 5 Inch barrel was not the best length for LE Duty Holsters.
I took my 5 Inch to Ron Power "Power Custom" and had his Full Power Custom Combat work done to it, and also had it shortened off the back end to a 4 Inch. (The length it should have been offered in to start with) I carried it for 15 years as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff, and most of my last 2 years as Police Chief. I carried it in a Tex Shoemaker Semi Break Front Security Holster. My spare ammunition was carried in a Black Basket Weave Custom Quad Carrier, 2 Up and 2 Down. I always had a few extra moon clip reloads in the glove box. In the Winter I carried a couple extra in my coat pockets.
I never felt under gunned. As I live close to Mayberry, most of my gunfights were with deer hit by cars. Full House 10mm did a super job on crippled deer. I liked to carry plenty of ammunition because at Midnight help might have been an Hour away.

The 357 Magnum 125 is rated at 95% One Shot Stops. I will guarantee Full Power 10mm with good bullets is ahead of the 357 Magnum in stopping power, and not nearly as ear splitting loud.

Bob

[J. W.]

The 610 is definitely an interesting gun. I'd love to see S&W bring out a 3" or 4" 6 shot L-frame 10mm.


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[BCDWYO]

I'm fond of this 5" no-dash for all the reasons mentioned. Always have my eyes open for a nice 3" pre-lock, but the few I've seen have sold for around $2500, and I haven't been willing to go there!

[08Cayenne]

Just look at it and it shoots better than it looks. I way overpaid for it but thats okay. I wanted one, and never will sell it, so I paid a couple extra hundred to get exactly what I wanted. I'll do the same when I find a shorter barrel 610.

Originally Posted by Izzydog

Recently I've noticed a growing interest in S&W 610 10mm revolvers. Some I've notice are commanding $1k-$1400 per specimen. My question is why, and which versions are the most desirable. It seems like the only way anyone could get the most out of those things is to hand load, and even then it would be a costly venture. Please enlighten me, what am I missing?

[jtcarm]

Originally Posted by BCDWYO

I'm fond of this 5" no-dash for all the reasons mentioned. Always have my eyes open for a nice 3" pre-lock, but the few I've seen have sold for around $2500, and I haven't been willing to go there!

Mill off the front half of that lug and you'd have about the perfect all-round holster gun.

Of course, that might be grinding away more more than half the value

[shocker]

Download a 44 or 41 magnum and there you are.

[cometpx4]

I have had 4 or 5 pass thru my collection over 20 years, including a Lew Horton 3 inch. Huge mistake trading them off. If Smith ever brought them back i would grab one in a second. Rimz moon clips make them easy to shoot as you can load them and unload them easily without a tool. Perfect for a lot of fun at the range.
Also, you can shoot hot 10mm, mild 10mm with no worries about whether the weapon will cycle, and you can shoot really cheap and always available .40 cal thru them. Very versatile revolver.
Smith should bring them back.

[Jack Flash]

Performance is close to .41 Mag level with the benefit of quick reloads via full moon clips.

Besides, they are rare. Any rare S&W develops a following.

[Dan Christopher]

They are nice guns, to be sure. Over the years I've owned two of them, but ended up selling them to fund other gun projects. I wouldn't mind having one again. But right now there's way too many other revolvers on my 'must have' list.

[at_liberty]

Originally Posted by J. W.

The 610 is definitely an interesting gun. I'd love to see S&W bring out a 3" or 4" 6 shot L-frame 10mm.

Would it be the gun we want, or with features we won't buy? You just cannot go back in time with these guns.

[Peter M. Eick]

First 50 shots at 15 yrds offhand with stout handloads. The 610's are liked because they are accurate and handle hot loads well. This was the first target I shot with mine and it had one flier that was the first shot. Not bad for a new gun.






I like mine....

[Jack Flash]

It's all well and good to talk about how great these are and how S&W has rocks in their collective heads for not re-introducing them.

But this is a S&W Forum, a narrow segment of the gun buying public. And only a very narrow segment of people here would buy a new one. And if it has the modern features, forget about most of them.

What would sales be to police departments? To the military? We know the answer to both questions is "Zilch". IMHO, they would not sell any better now than they did when they were in production, and probably not even that well.

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Originally Posted by at_liberty

Would it be the gun we want, or with features we won't buy? You just cannot go back in time with these guns.

To an extent I agree with you but if S&W made a 3" L-frame version even with MIM and the IL for the price of a 686 I'd buy it.

[Izzydog]

I would love to find some decent leather gear for mine. Does anyone know who makes good holster/belt combos for it?

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Originally Posted by Izzydog

I would love to find some decent leather gear for mine. Does anyone know who makes good holster/belt combos for it?

Not sure if he has a blue gun for it but member Snubbyfan does great work for a good price and great turnaround time.

[BCDWYO]

Originally Posted by Izzydog

I would love to find some decent leather gear for mine. Does anyone know who makes good holster/belt combos for it?

I got my holster from Simply Rugged.

[629shooter]

Originally Posted by Shorty 45 MK2

To an extent I agree with you but if S&W made a 3" L-frame version even with MIM and the IL for the price of a 686 I'd buy it.

I would too. Sadly, the few that would sell wouldn't be enough to make the production of said revolver "cost effective."

I'd be happy if they just reintroduced the 310. I think I missed the boat on that one, I'm not willing to pay the "premiums" that people seem to require for that particular model. I guess I don't want one bad enough.

[629shooter]

Originally Posted by shocker

Download a 44 or 41 magnum and there you are.

A light .41 would be "closer." But, 40 S&W ammunition/brass is a lot easier to find compared to the elusive 41 Special, cheaper too.

[S&W1006]

For me I am a 10mm fan and I a S&W revolver fan. I searched for years to find one. I will pick up my 6.5 in January. They have a reputation for being very accurate and being built on the N frame they can handle the hottest 10mm with no problems. Plus with the ability to shoot 40 S&W also it is a versatile revolver. I hate I missed out while they were being produced. I would love a 310 also but they were to expensive for me when they were new and they haven't gotten any cheaper.

[shocker]

Originally Posted by 629shooter

A light .41 would be "closer." But, 40 S&W ammunition/brass is a lot easier to find compared to the elusive 41 Special, cheaper too.

I had in mind a Speer short barrel 44 as an example.
200 gr gold dot + 10 gr W231 approximates the legendary Norma 10 mm load.

Note, I own a G29 and am a fan of the 10.

I just don't think there's ten or fifteen thousand customers out there for a revolver. If I want to shoot 40 SW I'd get a LEO Glock 22 trade in.

[J. W.]

Originally Posted by Shorty 45 MK2

To an extent I agree with you but if S&W made a 3" L-frame version even with MIM and the IL for the price of a 686 I'd buy it.

Just my personal opinion, but...

If I'm going to lug around a N-frame is just as soon carry one chambered for one of the classic big bore cartridges.

However, a .40/10mm L-frame would be a very different story. That'd be a superb combination of firepower and size. There is obviously interest in 10mm revolvers or the 610's wouldn't be selling for what they do. I think limited runs for distributors like Talo would sell well if prices reasonably.




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[at_liberty]

Originally Posted by J. W.

Just my personal opinion, but...

If I'm going to lug around a N-frame is just as soon carry one chambered for one of the classic big bore cartridges.

However, a .40/10mm L-frame would be a very different story. That'd be a superb combination of firepower and size. There is obviously interest in 10mm revolvers or the 610's wouldn't be selling for what they do. I think limited runs for distributors like Talo would sell well if prices reasonably.

There might be enough of them to satisfy the steel target shooters. Who else has a unique application for them and would pay a premium price, if they had to?

[jughed440]

Originally Posted by shocker

...
I just don't think there's ten or fifteen thousand customers out there for a revolver....

I agree...but what are the only major differences between a 610 and a 629? The cylinder and barrel bores. It's as simple as changing the machining bits and stamping "610" on the frames and "10 MM" on the barrels...oh, and make 'em moon clip ready

[BruceM]

It is a mystery to me why manufacturers can't give away these semi-auto caliber revolvers when they are in production. Then once production stops, the same, $200-$400 revolvers become highly sought after, $2000 grail guns.

How do you spell "Limited Production"? Not really hard to figure out.

200 gr gold dot + 10 gr W231

Really?

Hodgdon and Winchester's load data both show a maximum charge of 5.6 grains of either HP38 or W231 for a smidge over 1,000 fps. The original Norma 200 grain FMJTC load was 1,200 fps out of a 5" Bren Ten barrel which, by the way, had special rifling and some free bore. You're at 10.0?

Bruce

[HarrishMasher]

Originally Posted by Jack Flash

It's all well and good to talk about how great these are and how S&W has rocks in their collective heads for not re-introducing them.

But this is a S&W Forum, a narrow segment of the gun buying public. And only a very narrow segment of people here would buy a new one. And if it has the modern features, forget about most of them.

What would sales be to police departments? To the military? We know the answer to both questions is "Zilch". IMHO, they would not sell any better now than they did when they were in production, and probably not even that well.

Unfortunately you are 100% correct. If they would sell, believe me, S&W would make them.

As great of an idea as it sounds, pistol caliber revolvers have never sold well. S&W, Taurus, Ruger have all sold pistol caliber revolvers from time to time. They appear in their line up, then they disappear. A few years later they appear again, then disappear. They disappear because they don't sell well. If they sold well, they would remain in the line.

Do you really think they stop making them to torture us and to deny themselves profits from great selling guns? I don't think so.

[HarrishMasher]

Originally Posted by Shorty 45 MK2

To an extent I agree with you but if S&W made a 3" L-frame version even with MIM and the IL for the price of a 686 I'd buy it.

Sure, so would I and a 41 other dopes on this forum who posted in this thread. But that would be it. That's why S&W does not make them.

[6518John]

While I have no doubt you are correct, I have learned over the years to never to underestimate the stupidity of american corporations as well.

[eTripper]

I've had the good fortune to buy two 610's over the last twenty years. My first was the 3" unfluted Lew Horton [special run] revolver. It was my 'first' firearm in the 10mm chambering. I guess, in the back of my mind I liked an auto-firing round in a revolver. The clerk, explained how there was 'no interest' in the 'big snubbie', or the 10mm round. But, I bought it anyhow, as a companion to my 5" 625. He further expounded on the fact, that the 610 would be a nice paper-weight. So what happens next? You need some 1911's to compliment the revolvers. Within no time [probably a few years] I had both Kimbers, and Dan Wessons to match in 10mm, and .45 ACP. Then a few years back, S&W decides on another run 610's, this time a 3 7/8" lock-version. I walk in, and there one is. In lieu, of Smith making anymore 10mm autos; I'm waiting on the new SIG 220 in the works.

A brace of 610's:





Here's my 625:



A couple of 10mm Autos:

[629shooter]

Originally Posted by shocker

I had in mind a Speer short barrel 44 as an example.
200 gr gold dot + 10 gr W231 approximates the legendary Norma 10 mm load.

Note, I own a G29 and am a fan of the 10.

I just don't think there's ten or fifteen thousand customers out there for a revolver. If I want to shoot 40 SW I'd get a LEO Glock 22 trade in.

A 200gr bullet over 10 grains of W231? The current published MAX is 5.6 gr., yielding 1,011 fps. from a 5" barrel.

Forget the G22, if you're just "plinking." Try a G35, or a G24, if you can find a G24 that is.

[RodSS]

There is speculation that the beefed up L frame .44 mag model 69 may be offered in other versions/calibers? I was thinking .41 mag but it would be great if they did a 10mm version. I certainly would be buying one.

Rod

[shocker]

Originally Posted by 629shooter

A 200gr bullet over 10 grains of W231? The current published MAX is 5.6 gr., yielding 1,011 fps. from a 5" barrel.

Forget the G22, if you're just "plinking." Try a G35, or a G24, if you can find a G24 that is.

I was referring to 44 mag, as in something I could shoot in my 69 that equals a 610.
Speer Manual 14, page 950. I picked 231 because I happen to have a jar of it.

[Rick2106]

My 610-2 always goes to the range with me with 16 loaded full moon clips (mostly .40s&w used) and I always find myself loading more, it's so much fun. The Deltapoint is just icing on the cake, 50yd and 100yd groups are amazing for a handgun, each pull of the trigger is more smiles per round than any other weapon I own. Only one that comes close is my 617-4 S&W 610 is a awsome revolver and worth every penny you pay...

Originally Posted by Izzydog

Recently I've noticed a growing interest in S&W 610 10mm revolvers. Some I've notice are commanding $1k-$1400 per specimen. My question is why, and which versions are the most desirable. It seems like the only way anyone could get the most out of those things is to hand load, and even then it would be a costly venture. Please enlighten me, what am I missing?