I just purchased a Model 60 3" which I plan to use for target practice and for home defense. Which .38 ammo is recommended for target shooting? What about for home defense? I do not plan to use the .357 magnum. It's too dangerous to shoot in a home.

Thanks

Welcome! Any standard pressure .38 loading (158 gr lead, 130 gr FMJ, 148 gr wadcutter) is fine for targets and practice.

There are several well-regarded defense loads; the 135 gr Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel, 158 gr lead semi-wadcutter hollowpoint, Hornady Critical Defense, etc. Best to try several to see with which one you and the gun work best, and use it occasionally so you are familiar with it and if it shoots to a different place than your practice round. Enjoy your model 60!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The 148 grain wadcutter target round is preferred for paper targets because it cuts a cookie-cutter like round hole in the paper and is easy to see and score because of the more visible hole.
There is a virtual plethora of self defense rounds to choose from.

For my older Model 60 and 37 I use 148 gr. wadcutters for targets. Also for critters out back. For defense I prefer a hardcast 158gr semi wadcutter (that's for four or two legged critters). We are rural country dwellers.

148 gr wadcutter practice, and Buffalo Bore 150gr. wadcutter for defense.

38+P 135 grain Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel for defense and lead Semi Wadcutter bullets for practice. The 3" Short barrel load should be very respectable with excellent expansion qualities.

The Short Barrel load was developed for NYPD officers who still carried 2" revolvers and wanted more stopping power without Magnum detractors like overpenetration, muzzle blast and recoil and report.

I've been using Winchester Train and Defend training ammo, (marked "T" on the box). They are accurate, clean and to me, have low recoil making the J frame more pleasurable to shoot.

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M60 442 642 637 686 686+ 629