Opinion on the S&W Model 610 4"?

[lrrifleman]

Greetings!

I know that the site is pretty much a magnet for handgun addicted enablers, but I'm not really looking for the recommendation to "buy it"!

I have been considering the purchase of a 610 4" because:
a) I don't have any revolvers that utilize moon clips
b) I have purchased a number of full moon clips in anticipation of getting a 610
c) I will be reloading 40 S&W for a couple of bottom feeders, anyway, and
d) every now and then I am curious about the 10mm cartridge.

On the flip side:
a) I am at the point where I am starting to feel like I have enough handguns, especially with the onset of neuropathy in my hands, which is starting to induce limp-wristing with my semi-autos, and my age
b) I already have a 41 Magnum, along with the 357s and a 44.

I also realize that Smith revolver prices are a bit out of line, but also that prices most likely won't be going down. If I make a purchase, I'd be buying a range toy that would most likely be utilized in PPC matches.

That said, what is the forum's opinion on the 4" 610. Is it a realistic handgun/cartridge combination? Do current examples leave the mothership with issues? Do they handle coated bullets well?

 

[pantannojack]

my answer to the less than 44 mag, but more than the 357 question is M657. A rimed cartridge designed for revolver. Nothing better.

 

[SmithNut]

Greetings!

I know that the site is pretty much a magnet for handgun addicted enablers, ..............snip......

Wondering why you would say such a thing????

I for one can stop any time, I really can, not addicted at all, really....

 

[SmithNut]

As a follow up, I don't consider the 10MM to be in between the .41 Mag and the .44 Mag, with one caveat and that would be if you can find some of the original Norma 10MM loads (170 and 210 grain loads), now those were STOUT....

I have a M610 and the hottest load I've found these days is the Underwood 200 gr. JHP loading, and while it's a good performing load I'd not put it in the .41 Mag category..... It's been quite a few years since I've had either a .41 Mag or a 44 Mag (don't really have a need, and I do not plan on hunting in dangerous game territory anymore) and besides I can load up some 45 Colt ammo for my M25-9 getting me close to those if necessary.

So I'm happy to shoot the Underwood loading in my M610 and the M&P 2.0 10MM, if I need it.....

As for opinions of the M610, I love mine, but it was an early project gun where I put all the parts together that I wanted (4" barrel, fluted cylinder, and without the lock)

Here's my M610.....

 

[kraynky]

My 610 is a favorite shooter, along with my 25-5 (45 colt) and a model 28. I also have a couple of. 40 s&w pistols and enjoy that caliber out of a revolver. The versatility of it attracted me initially, it's accuracy and ease of shooting make it a keeper.

 

[Marshal Tom]

That is one beautiful revolver you have there Mr.!!!

 

[loc n load]

I have been carrying and shooting 610’s since they were introduced. I bought a current production 610 last July and carry it with 200 gr JHP’s or JSP’s depending on the occasion.
The one I bought in July had zero issues, is accurate and is a stable mate to my 625 PC.
I am a fan of moon clip fed revolvers. The 10mm & 610 combo is certainly a capable pair for field, competition or SD applications.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I think the 10mm is an awesome caliber…I have six so far…four Colt Delta Elites…a Glock 29 and a Ruger Blackhawk 10mm/.40 convertible.

All the said…I think a 10mm is best served in barrels longer than 4”…like most magnums are. It will certainly do the job but at the expense of added blast, flash and recoil.

Still…a 4” 610 sounds like a great revolver to have.

 

[CH4]

I am a big fan of the 10mm/40, and because of the 610, I can also use it in a revolver; same with the 940 and 9mm. I often contemplate having my 6.5” -1 cut to 3” for CCW.

5” no dash
6.5” -1

 

[The Mighty S&W]

To me, the 610 can serve a handful of purposes quite well. First, if you are building a collection of Smith & Wesson revolvers, it is one that you don’t see among everyone else’s collection, so you have a bit of rarity to it. Second, if you happen to own other 10mm firearms it might be a practical choice to consolidate ammunition. Third, a 10mm makes for a good personal protection cartridge, and can fill the role of hunting cartridge within reason as well.

If any of those situations applies to you, the 10mm 610 revolver would likely be a good choice. If raw power is what you’re after, or something to take on big game reliably, I would personally look to other options. Don’t get me wrong here, as I love the 10mm, and was shooting it in 1911’s 20 years ago when it wasn’t looked upon as “cool” to do so. I just know that while 10mm does a good job of performing like a .357 Magnum with a slightly larger projectile, it does not approximate the performance of the bigger Magnums regardless of what the common myths might suggest. Yes, a hot 10mm can run head to head with a relatively mild .41 Magnum load, but in the heavier/hotter .41 Magnum simply walks away from it by plenty, and the .44 Magnum only further exceeds it.

With all of that out of the way, I personally think that the 4 inch model 610 is a great looking revolver that could be a very versatile tool, handling pretty much any job asked if it within reason.

 

[Buford57]

The 610 is the only IL S&W I have seriously considered buying. I shot a 6" model at a manufacturer's event at my local range a few years ago. If I had not just given away all of my .40 S&W ammo and reloading components I might have done so. Accurate, good action, well balanced (and I prefer a 4").

 

[WCCPHD]

I've had two. I bought an early dash 3 and could have more than doubled my money on it until S&W brought the dash 3 back. I sold it and bought a dash 2. Great gun. I like the ability to shoot .40 as I have a large accumulation of that ammo.

Funny thing is that they are not four inch guns. They are 3 and 7/8 inches and this is what is on the end label of both of the boxes my guns came in.

 

[Dave Lively]

As a follow up, I don't consider the 10MM to be in between the .41 Mag and the .44 Mag, with one caveat and that would be if you can find some of the original Norma 10MM loads (170 and 210 grain loads), now those were STOUT....

Ever shoot some of the original Norma ammo? Or watch a YouTube video of someone chronographing it? Norma put some very impressive numbers on the box but the actual ammo fell short of those numbers by a big margin. At least the stuff they sold to the general public did, maybe they sent some extra hot stuff to reviewers.

I jumped on the 10mm bandwagon right after it came out in the 80s. The only ammo I could get was the original Norma and PMC. While the Norma ammo was hotter than the PMC it was weaker than the stuff you can buy from Underwood and Buffalo Bore today.

I still had some of the original Norma ammo when I traded my Springfield Omega in 10mm for a 610 in 1991. It shot the Norma ammo without any problems but when I tried shooting some Underwood 10mm through it 25 years later I had to pound the cases out with a rod.

Properly loaded the 10mm is a powerful cartridge, a bit more power than 357 and with heavier bullets. Like most myths there is an element of truth to the power of the original Norma ammo. But a lot of exaggeration and wishful thinking too.

The original Norma 10mm is a collectors item now so you don't see many reviews of it. But there are a couple of older YouTube videos where it is shot through real guns. Their disappointing results match my recollection.

After buying a 44 I decided to sell my 610. But if the OP wants something with moon clips the 610 is a great choice.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-e3BTkzr_M&list=PLNw5las6Yz2hN2bw58cNhxfaZhJzvEi_h&index=3&t=1243s[/ame]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMtg1Q6vP3k&list=PLNw5las6Yz2hN2bw58cNhxfaZhJzvEi_h&index=2[/ame]

 

[ladder13]

I want a 3-5 inch pre lock.

 

[SmithNut]

Ever shoot some of the original Norma ammo? .......snip.........

Yes, I've shot a box or two, some years back at one of the first indoor ranges in the Seattle area - Continental Sportsman - up in the Lynwood area I took my M1076, not knowing what to expect I only loaded it up with 2 rounds of Norma 170grn as I recall and pulled the trigger....... The sound was louder than anything else being shot there, in fact most of the shooters stopped shooting and stepped back to see what the heck I just let go......
When pulling the trigger for the second shot, nothing happened, looked the gun over and the slide was locked back, the second round I'd loaded was not in the gun anymore - it was on the floor by my feet.... really....
Sooo, picked it up, put it in the magazine and shot it, then proceeded to shoot additional rounds, no issues......
But that first round was quite an attention getter......
This was back around 1992 and after shooting up all that Norma ammo I've been on the lookout for more ever since.....

 

[AJ]

I have a 610 and like it.

 

[The Mighty S&W]

The problem with taking a trip down memory lane regarding the performance of long discontinued ammunition loads is that it relies upon recollection. Most of the “hot” 10mm ammo that I have fired was Double Tap ammunition which I bought quite a bit of back in the early part of the 2000’s. Compared to the average 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP fodder, it was very hot stuff, but once I bought my first .44 Magnum I quickly discovered that it wasn’t nearly as powerful as I had convinced myself it was.

Of course, people can obviously hand load to their hearts content, but even then the cartridge has its limitations. The fact of the matter is that the 10mm is a very potent autoloader cartridge and it also is enjoying an almost mainstream status these days. When looking at off the shelf ammo, the 10mm is reasonably powerful, but it is no substitute for a magnum revolver. Fortunately, I don’t get the impression that pure power is really what the OP of this thread is seeking.

 

[oink]

I thought the Sig branded 10mm ammo seemed fairly stout, at least as compared to other factory brands I've tried. Some, if not most, just seem about like 40s. I have a .40 barrel for my Glock 40 and there seems to be little difference between most 10mm and 40s. I haven't tried Underwood or Buffalo in 10mm. Actually the only Buffalo I've used was their 45-70 and it seemed to be what I'd expect, or was it Underwood?

 

[toad67]

Do the 610's have a lower SAAMI pressure limit than other firearms do, like the 25/625 in 45 Colt? Was wondering about shooting the hotter Buffalo Bore/Underwood stuff.

 

[Dave Lively]

Do the 610's have a lower SAAMI pressure limit than other firearms do, like the 25/625 in 45 Colt? Was wondering about shooting the hotter Buffalo Bore/Underwood stuff.

Its a N frame revolver. If its strong enough for the 44 Magnum 629 its more than strong enough for 10mm.

I had sticky extraction when I tried some of the hot ammo you mentioned in my619. But I shot all of it I had. Having to tap empties out was a little annoying but otherwise my 610 handled the hot ammo just fine.