I'm about to pull the trigger on a New Model 357 60-15 3". Any opinions here from anyone on the forum who owns one?? I carry a 642 now and I doubt I will will be using it for carry. I kind of fell in love with the feel of the gun when I had a chance to handle one at a local gun show. I have read a few reviews online but I would like to hear from actual owners here if possible.

Hi Jim. Opinions on the steel frame .357 model 60 (and sister 649 and 640) vary from love 'em to leave 'em. The frame is obviously strong enough to handle .357, but some will point to the thin bbl walls at the forcing cone as a weakness. Kick is noticeable with mags, but not the brutal recoil of the aluminum frame mags like the 360. I prefer the CCI Blazer .357 158gr JHP load which another poster says runs 990 fps in 3". Still nothing to stand in front of.

My 60 is a -14 Ladysmith with the 2 1/8" bbl. I installed an old set of Sile rubber finger groove grips which fit my hand well and cushion some recoil. I find the J-frame's lesser height pushes the recoil directly back into the hand, making it easier to control than the RB K-frame mags which I have always had problems controlling.

Does this help you at all? Stay safe partner.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

hello, that is one of my ccw. i love it. 357s do kick pretty good but not too bad. thats my 13 year old daughters favorite gun to shoot. 38s of course. good all around gun.

I have great affection for mine. It's a "do-it-all" revolver. Not too heavy to bog you down carry-wise, but heavy enough to be comfortable to shoot a good bit.

I put some wider Pachs on mine, as I find the "banana" grips to be a bit thin for comfort. It sacrifices a little concealability, but not as much as you'd think.

It's amazing what adjustable sights and an extra 1 1/8" of tube will do for "hitability."

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Because of the metric system?

I like mine so much (357 mags are nothing too much to me in this gun) that I bought a 2 1/8 model 60-9 (pre-lock) to go with it.
Sometimes, I carry both.
You will love it!

I own a 60-9 (357) and a 60-4 (38 special). As far as I am concerned the 3" barrel is it as far as a concealable wheel gun for EDC. I wind up using 38s in both guns. I have found that the best rounds for both is the 135 gr HP +P by any of the name bullet builders, or the 158 gr SWCHP +P by any reputable makers. I find the Remington bullet for that load is a little softer, but the Federal has the best primers, that is they will always go with even a soft strike from the firing pin. My sights are adjusted for the latter round, but the POI/POA for the 135 grain +P load is almost the same at 20 yards, and at self defense distances there is no discernible difference. If you are going to shoot magnum loads, a rubber grip that covers the backstrap is almost mandatory for most folks, even experienced gunners. With a 3" barrel the gain in velocity with a magnum load is pretty much not an issue. It just does not gain that much. I "chronoed" that issue a few years ago, but the exact results escape me, but the difference was quite small (50-100 FPS for most loads). +P will do the job quite well-unless you want to scare someone to death with the noise and flash.

I love mine. Its a solid gun and easy to shoot. No problems what so ever. The 3" is easily concealed. No worse from a length perspective than a 1911 in my opinion and a lot lighter.

If I needed more than five rounds, I probably should not have been there. That another discussion.

Jim,

Also-don't discount that it uses all the same accessories as your current CCW. Alot of holsters are open-ended and can be used for both, along with speedloaders, grips, .38 ammo, etc.

I bought mine for a woods-packin' gun, but found myself carrying quite a bit when the weather cooled off.

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Because of the metric system?

I have had a 60-10 for years, and carry it whenever I head for the country here in Texas. I keep it loaded with 125gr hot .357 reloads for the unexpected encounter with a rabid animal, big cat, rattler, or two legged varmint (began constantly carrying in the field after I saw Deliverance). I have a DeSantis snap holster that holds it very well, or a fanny pack when I ride my bike in a remote area. I have not carried this particular gun as a ccw as I have other options, but some day I might, and would feel very comfortable doing so.

If you want a great gun to carry that's light and powerful, and has the option of shooting 38s comfortably, this is a good option.

I have the smaller model 60, post lock. Shoot it frequently and mostly single action. I have used 357 white box, 38 special white box, and mostly my own 38 reloads. Nice gun, but I have trouble with iron sights because of my eyes. It is definitely a handful with magnum loads. I usually target practice with 38 spc. Have about 500 rounds through it with no problems.

If that is what you like, I say go for it !!! I would prefer the 3" version I think for target. But, I got such a great deal on mine when I bought it from my buddy, I couldn't pass it up.

The 60-15 is my all-time favorite field gun. I also occassionally use it for ccw. It is very easy to shoot accurately with 'mid-range' magnums such as Remington's 125 grain Golden Sabers.

Jim,

Enjoy the new hand cannon!

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Have Fun, Shoot Safe!
John

I own the 3" model 60-10. I think you would really like the model 60-15. They are great little shooters. I know they are 357 magnum capable, but I shoot only 38 and 38 +p's in mine, simply for the comfort factor. This being a 357 magnum, it is certainly capable of handling any and all 38 Special ammo with ease. I like it a lot. wyatte

Long ago, I bought a relatively early 60-15 (paid full retail) and really liked it - lovely fitting, great trigger, manageable with heavy .357 loads, light for carry on hikes up Bear Canyon behind the house. As has been extensively detailed around the web, I oafishly knocked it off a counter onto a hardwood floor and the lock self-engaged . . . partway. I had to go dig the keys out of the safe (which involved quite a shifting of stuff), lock it all the way, and then take the lock off before I could move it.

This troubled me, as this was exactly the sort of force a defensive gun might undergo during a violent encounter that necessitated the gun's use. "Oh, wait a minute, Mr. Cougar/mugger/etc. - I've got to unlock this darned gun that jammed up when you knocked me down."

Now, this was long ago (as I said, this was not too, too long after the -15s came out) and I was not yet comfortable inside the mechanisms of S&W revolvers. No YouTubes to help me feel comfortable learning. And there was as yet no "plug" product available, either. So, long story short, I sold the thing at a loss and eventually bought a 3" SP that suits me fine.

But I would have liked to have kept the 60-15. And, given today's world (what with me now having learned what to do under the hood of a S&W revolver and with The Plug being on the market), there's no doubt I would have kept the gun had this happened today.

I'm not necessarily trying to say that you should disable the lock were you to get the gun for yourself (though it's what I would do personally, and I'd install The Plug) - because only you know what's right for your circumstances. I just mention this because this unfortunate long-ago event is the only reason I don't still presently have that dandy Model 60-15. It was a great gun, and I wish I still had the thing (with the mods that would make me comfortable carrying it installed). If you decide to buy that one for yourself, Jim, I'd be really surprised if it didn't suit you.

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Now go make God proud...

Have had an order placed with a LGS for a Model 60 Pro Series in .357 Mag for over two years. Finally left my name with a couple other reliable gun shops that had the 60-15 on order. Visited one of those yesterday and a Model 60 Pro had just arrived at their door. Price was right and it came home with me!

Stopped on the way home and did some rudimentary sighting-in work. Shooting a tad to the left at first but a small sight adjustment corrected that in short order. Didn't have enough ammo with me for fine tuning but got it shooting well enough that a groundhog within 25 yards is in real danger.

Nice little revolver. Single action trigger is really smooth, double action not really bad at all. This revolver will be my constant companion when I'm bouncing around the hill country of NE Tennessee.

Based on my quick look last night the "night sight" is not effective at all. Hard to see. IMHO, S&W dropped the ball on their effort at a night sight. But, everything else seems right on track.

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Ralph T
NRA Benefactor Member

I think that if I could keep only one of my revolvers it would be my 3" bbl 60-10 .357, IMO it's the most useful revolver ever made.

congrats!! the same gun I carry. I ended up getting a Kramer hosehide paddle holster and a milt sparks vm2 for it. really like them both.
ya, and the night site is worthless

I have both the 357 and 38 version of the Pro Series 60-15's.The only problem I have encountered is the front mounting screw on the rear sight becoming loose after shooting both of them.You may want to check this screw for tightness after a range session.

The 357 model has had the lock removed and the plug installed.
I am waiting for another plug to arrive so I can install it on the 38.

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JR

Certainly will. Thanks for the tip!

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Ralph T
NRA Benefactor Member

Since I started the thread I almost forgot without pictures it didn't happen. It goes well with my 60 no dash, 642, and 63.

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Or use a little drop of Loctite red.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

I had the same problem as Ranger98. I have fired about 50 rounds with maybe 10 of those 357. Seems kinda odd.

I also like my 60. Probably like it better with 38+P, not so much the recoil, more for control and second shot recovery.
After I saw the movie Deliverance, I stay out of North Georgia.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

InTheWoods

Who makes that gun holster next to the knife in the 60-15 pic ?
Brand? Item #? please

My M60 is my edc gun. Love it and won't leave home without it.

I really enjoy my -15. I only bought it because I could not find a -10. If and when a -10 comes along I may replace it, for now I tolerate the lock assy.
A perfect size for us with small hands. Good luck.

My 3" 60-10; micro-686 .357magnum , is my Penn's Woods "Kit Gun"

This 60-15 is in my EDC rotation.

While I, too, object to the aesthetics of the lock, my example has been 100% reliable and shoots better than I can.

In a Milt Sparks VMII, this gun all but disappears and can be carried comfortably all day.

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I've had one for several years.

Easier to shoot accurately than any other J frames.

Longer sight radius, more muzzle weight to reduce flip, and adjustable sights.

No problems with the lock.