S&W Model 60-15 PRO

I have had both the 60-15 Pro you mentioned and an older full underlug 60-4 in .38 Special. Sold the Pro model and still have the full underlug.

The Pro model had a canted barrel and had to go back for repair. I also didn't care for the light barrel feel, and it wasn't as accurate with any load as the full underlug version.

My general experience with the Pro Series is that they aren't. I've been very happy with the full underlug model, it's more accurate than I am.
 

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I bought a 60-15 pro series new in 2020 as my foray back to revolvers after 25+ years. Really liked the concept and enjoyed shooting it until the problems began after a few months of ownership that resulted in 4 trips to the factory. The worst of the issues included a locked up cylinder, a broken trigger stud, and the ubiquitous canted barrel that no amount of sight adjustment could compensate for. All issued were fixed (except the canted barrel), but the love was lost and I replaced it with a 66-8 which is a great revolver. Maybe my 60-15 was just a lemon. I hope the other 60-15s out there are as good as I wanted mine to be.
 
Troutscout said:
I bought a 60-15 pro series new in 2020 as my foray back to revolvers after 25+ years. Really liked the concept and enjoyed shooting it until the problems began after a few months of ownership that resulted in 4 trips to the factory. The worst of the issues included a locked up cylinder, a broken trigger stud, and the ubiquitous canted barrel that no amount of sight adjustment could compensate for. All issued were fixed (except the canted barrel), but the love was lost and I replaced it with a 66-8 which is a great revolver. Maybe my 60-15 was just a lemon. I hope the other 60-15s out there are as good as I wanted mine to be.
Click to expand...

I'm convinced that once in a while, the factory produces a gun that should have never left. Whether it's some structural issue with the frame or a myriad of little issues or something else, it's one of those guns that'll just never be made right. As much as I hate thinking about guns being destroyed, it sounds like your was one that should have been tossed back into foundry pot.

For what it's worth, I had a 986 that was like that ... I just couldn't get it right, Smith couldn't get it right, and I ended up parting ways with it. I don't have any hard feelings, though ... I've got a safe full of great S&W revolvers and I'm sure I can get another one if I get the bug for a 9mm wheel gun.

Mike
 
Model 15-4ever said:
My general experience with the Pro Series is that they aren't. I've been very happy with the full underlug model, it's more accurate than I am.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, the Pro Series revolvers are actually a great value (lemons notwithstanding). Generally speaking, they go through the same hand tuning that the Performance Center guns do; they generally just don't have the higher level finish. Sort of like a "budget" Model 28 versus a Model 27.

Mike
 
The 3" J-frames are nice. The wood grips are fine for .38 Special. I would use rubber grips for .357.
 
60 & 640

Here is my favorite two J frames! The 60 Pro and the 640 Pro!
NaUZjpK.jpg

The grips were made by Curt Harlow to fit my hand! Proper fitting grips make all the difference when shooting 357s from the J frame platform! The 640 Pro is cut for full moon clips. Both sets appear to be the same configuration but they are not! The 640 has the backstrap exposed but the 60 has the backstrap covered with about 3/16" of wood! This is because of the SA trigger pull length of the mod 60 and most of my shooting with this gun is SA.
jcelect
 
Rubone said:
I have a regular 60-15. I just can't like the undercut lug. Spoils the aesthetics and looks like Legos to me....
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I agree!

I own "regular" 60-10's and 60-15's

I also own 640 Pro's, which I do like.

The look of the 60-15 Pro is a major turn off for me, and I have no desire to have one.
 
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Bill In Texas said:
I've had a 60-15 for a number of years now. I bought it as a carry gun, but it got replaced by my 640-1 when I got it.

No fault of the 60-15 though. I still use it when hiking in the woods. I keep it loaded with some 158 grain .357's with a pointed tip that my father-in-law reloaded and gave me.

If you buy one, keep an eye on all the screws as they have a tendency to loosen while shooting, especially the one holding the rear sight assembly on and the cylinder release.

Very accurate and fun to shoot little gun!
Click to expand...

A little 242 Loctite will fix the loose screw problem and still let you make adjustments.
 
Model 15-4ever said:
I have had both the 60-15 Pro you mentioned and an older full underlug 60-4 in .38 Special. Sold the Pro model and still have the full underlug.

The Pro model had a canted barrel and had to go back for repair. I also didn't care for the light barrel feel, and it wasn't as accurate with any load as the full underlug version.

My general experience with the Pro Series is that they aren't. I've been very happy with the full underlug model, it's more accurate than I am.
Click to expand...

I have had the full-lugged model for many years am very happy with it. I like having a little extra weight out front.
 
I had one and got rid of it. There was really nothing wrong with it, but I feel adjustable sights are a snag risk on a carry gun, especially a small J-Frame. I prefer the Model 640 and 649 with the 2&1/8th inch barrel.
 
rwt1405 said:
I agree!

I own "regular" 60-10's and 60-15's

I also own 640 Pro's, which I do like.

The look of the 60-15 Pro is a major turn off for me, and I have no desire to have one.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's a very unattractive Smith. It's the underlug and cr ap finish.
 
I really enjoy the Pro- just not the .357's that came out of it, too much for me! In the in NH woods with lots of black bears �� and more every year. Saying that when I go in the woods I alway pack that revolver, easy to carry in high ride holster. I load it up with "Buffalo Bore" 38 Special +P OUTDOORSMAN - 158 gr. Hard Cast Keith @ 1,250 fps. More than enough for our critters. Accurate and reasonable to shoot.
I practice with standard pressure lead cast semi wad cutters, easy and accurate also. Point of aim at 10 yards was within an inch except the .357 which is my fault. I was all over the target(s)(50 rounds). My hand and wrist could only handle 10 rounds at a session. I know it was me flinching. I'm almost 70 yrs old and have arthritis in my hands and wrists. Great firearm.
 
M60

I have one & carry it a lot. Just shot it this morning, along with M19 & 325PD 45. It is NOT hard to shoot 357s. I shot around 50 or 60 38s between the 2 & 1/2 box of fairly hot 357s. It is a 3" steel revolver, weighs about the same as the PD & I can empty it quickly on my steel man, all in the 6" center point shooting at 4 yds with no problem, except it does shoot a little higher than 38s. It is a very good carry gun. Have the 340 (?) little titanium 357 & it is NOT good with 357s & in fact, the cylinder will jump & lock up with hot 357s. "Not" a 357 carry option. Stick with the M60, it works for me.
 
I like the grips that come with the 60-15 Pro, but think the barrel is ugly.
The worst thing about it is how dim the trijicon sight is.
At first I thought mine was old or defective, but it was as designed.
So I had it replaced with a fiber optic sight.
 
jcelect said:
Here is my favorite two J frames! The 60 Pro and the 640 Pro!
NaUZjpK.jpg

The grips were made by Curt Harlow to fit my hand! Proper fitting grips make all the difference when shooting 357s from the J frame platform! The 640 Pro is cut for full moon clips. Both sets appear to be the same configuration but they are not! The 640 has the backstrap exposed but the 60 has the backstrap covered with about 3/16" of wood! This is because of the SA trigger pull length of the mod 60 and most of my shooting with this gun is SA.
jcelect
Click to expand...

Off topic, but have you swapped the cylinders between them?
 
I bought my wife this gun-non Pro version. Her's shoots better than my buddy's wife's pro version. .38 spl. wadcutters or full house .357 Magnum 158 gr. hollow points. Feels good in the hand.



Shoots better (more accurate) than my Combat Masterpiece with undersize cylinder throats that make the bullets undersize for the bore.
 
Tim Stapp said:
I bought my wife this gun-non Pro version. Her's shoots better than my buddy's wife's pro version. .38 spl. wadcutters or full house .357 Magnum 158 gr. hollow points. Feels good in the hand.

Shoots better (more accurate) than my Combat Masterpiece with undersize cylinder throats that make the bullets undersize for the bore.
Click to expand...

Shoots better and looks better. You have good taste by not getting the Pro version
 
first-model said:
I have the earlier version of this revolver that's chambered .38 Special +P. It's one of my favorite J frames; tack-driving accurate. I've got a thing for 3" barreled J frames and it scratches the itch.

Mike
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I'm a 38 SPCL person since I was about 8 or 9 years old. When I joined the AF Reserve Security Police and attended the academy in 1976, I was trained and shot a S & W 15-4. Scored expert so all the past shooting experience paid off plus the fact that my father is a Master Trainer with the NRA.
 
I've ta 60 Pro I bought new many years ago. First one I saw and fell for it. Been carried a LOT of miles (not cc-open carry when out in the woods or trails. But Hogue monogrip on mine, Not as pretty but a LOT better when using magnums. I shoot a fair number of specials and it's a *****cat. With magnums it's a handful, but still shootable and quite accurate. Great little woods gun.
 
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