I'm interested in buying a Model 60 (2").

Since the Model 60 has had several variations over the years, is there a model that's more desirable than the others?

I prefer having the SA option, I plan to only shoot .38, and I don't want an internal lock. So, it seems I have the following options:

60 - introduced in 1965
60-3 (1988) New yoke retention system
60-7 (1990) front sight 1/8 inch wide, new heat treatment
60-8 (1990) same as 60-7 for NYPD
60-9 (1996) change to J magnum frame
60-10 (1996) Target variation on J magnum frame
60-11 (1996) New frame design for 38 Special version only
60-12 (1996) new frame nose cut
60-13 (1996) same as 60-12 but target version

60-4 for the .38 Models

I like the 60-9 because of the 357 Mag capability.

Or if you only want 38 special with no 357 option, then the 60-7. The 60-7 is stronger and has a little better sights.

You can't go wrong with ANY model 60. Better..worse..whatever..it is way to subjective to have a valid answer to that question. Buy one..any one..you will grow to love it.
My first brand new revolver was a 60 back in the 80s. A Jovino square butt..which I didn't know at the time was any different than any other 60. No wonder I had trouble getting grips...

For a classic 2" - a pinned barrel model 60 (made until about 1981). For + P capability, the 60-7, still available fairly regularly in regular and Lady Smith variations.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

The no dash. What's not to love

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For a 2in I would say 60-9.
3in, 60-10.
I like to be able to shoot 357s out of them.
I tried to find a 60-10 at a reasonable price for awhile. Finally gave up and ordered a 60-15. Should be in tomorrow.

I’m with TNZ71 on this. Unless it were to be used strictly as a CC/BUG, I would go for the 60-4 with its 3” bbl with under lug and adjustable sights for maximum versatility. FWIW, this is the only Model 60 I own. If it were going need to be well hidden all the time, I’d look for a 60 or 60-1, anything with pinned barrel. The foregoing is JMHO, but that’s what you asked for!

Froggie

I suppose I should also ask:

Looking through my Holster collection, I have a couple of nice vintage Model 60 .38 holsters.

Will these fit the newer .357 Model 60's as well?

Not even a contest. . .the 60-7 from the early 1990's. If you want a 357, go buy one. . .just not a M60.

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Dr. B

I like them all. I am starting to collect J-Frames, and have my old 60 n/d I carried off-duty and as a back up in the late 70's, a 36 a 640-2 and a 340 M&P. I intend to collect many more. I would still like to find a 3" like TNZ71 has. Very nice gun. As far as carry goes, I carry the 340 M&P most often because of my advanced age and the light weight.

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Dave Frost

There is one one gunbroker now for 900 bucks! Lol

It would be hard to get any better than this first year (1965) mdl.60.
Dick

Yes, finding the no lock, magnum 60's isn't easy.

I finally found a 60-9 (2") and go to bail it out of jail tomorrow.

I have a 60-15 and it's a great gun, accurate and has a good (for a J frame) trigger.

It's sort of a mini - 686.

Lock has given me zero trouble.

You've posted in '61-'80 but ask about later models.

I've had a couple different versions from no dash to new.. all good.

Right now I have a -14. Because of the recoil with 357 and it has a lock, I chose to remove the flag portion not that I've had a problem with the locks. Just don't want to at the wrong time.

My 2nd. favorite no dash 60...Ben Shostle enhanced..

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If they were tightly boned/fitted to an original model 60, probably not - the frame (J Magnum) is slightly larger and they have a 2 1/8" underlug barrel.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Very much agree, though I would also like to add a 60-7 to my collection.

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I had a 60-3 Lady Smith with a 3" barrel, but I didn't like the anatomically designed-for-a-lady's hand stocks so I sold it to a lady friend who loves it. I picked up a 60-9 Lady Smith and like it a lot (except for the stocks -- they don't fit well, and they don't fit my mitt). I have an extra pair of S&W combat stocks that work perfectly!

I believe the -9 outdoes the -7 for a few reasons. It can be had with a 2⅛" barrel so the longer extractor rod helps. It's got a full lug: function and good looks! I'm one of those oddballs who doesn't mind shooting .357s out of a J-frame (it's all about having the right stocks) so the capability is there if and when I want it.

I've read here, but I don't know if it's true, the company does a bit of extra work on the Lady Smith actions. Each of the five Lady Smiths I own has a great action compared to the standard models.

Often I find the Lady Smiths to be a bargain by comparison, too, and I'm comfortable enough with my manhood that I don't care what "issue" (a word I normally would not use) some bad guy might have with me carrying a Lady Smith (nobody else would ever know!).

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

I love the M-60-4, but you specified a true snub, a point lost on some respondents. As usual...

M-60-7. Has metallurgical and yoke retention improvements. Is RATED for Plus P. Older ones officially aren't.

Factory told me that M-60-4 was the first Rated for Plus P.

I have to say my Model 60-3 will out shoot the other 8 J-frames that live with me. I have no idea why but this one is extremely accurate. Nope---not for sale at any price.

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"Tastes just like chicken"

My top choice of M60's is the 60-7. All the good stuff with none of the bad. After firing .357's out of a M60-9 I've never had any desire to own one. Anyone thinking of using a -9 with full house Magnums should try one before buying one. I'll bet most would then be looking for a -7.

Well, why it may not be exactly what the OP specified, my pick is my 60-4. It shoots so well, it is truly useful for more than one task.

Dale53

Here's my 60-4:



Make no mistake, these are REAL shooters!

Dale53

I wholeheartedly agree!!

Photos below “at play” and “at work”.....

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The first type S&W's I collected were the early Chief Special Target model & variations, so, it would naturally follow that my personal favorite Model 60 is the Model 60-1 Chief Target Special made in limited quantity for Ashland in appx 1984. Ya' see ?

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

My second favorite Model 60 is a M60-2, NY-1 Ben Shostle engraved, with genuine MOP stocks.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

That is a very attractive firearm ,but I am sure you have had many folks tell you that.

I also have a 60-1 Target. Bought it new in about '85. As far as Model 60s go, it's a pretty fun gun. Model 60s weigh so much more than my Model 38 that it takes something special (like adj. sights) for it to be of interest to me.

Well, it sure is attractive. But the temps around here were -7 this morning. You should buy that young lady on the sideplate some clothes.

What was the mime? Dear Santa, please bring the women on dad's computer some clothes?

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Dick Burg

To my knowledge, S&W hasn't made anything other than excellent Chiefs, blued or stainless.

I've fired the FBI load outta a Stainless Chief. It ain't all that much fun. I wouldn't even consider firing a .357 Mag outta one. Moreover, for its intended purpose -very short range self-defense- I'd doubt that there's advantage using a .357 Mag vs. the FBI Load. BTW, I've recently been dialed in to the .38 Special +P Gold Dot snub load, which is supposedly better than the FBI load. I'm gonna pick up a box and try 'em. However, I still ain't carrying a Chief for self-defense. That job belongs to either my Sig P239 .40 S&W or my Sig P229 .40 S&W. But either version of the Chief has an undeniable coolness to it.

Here's my take, based upon 35 years' Chief experience: it's a .38 Special handgun. .38 Special +P ammo will work, but recoil is noticeable. Its optimum utility is 10' and one threat.

I love the Chief's Special and Stainless Chief. They represent a halcyon epoch of America, an era where good prevailed. But for self-defense where one's life hangs in balance, there are many better choices. God forbid, were I to see a banger walk into a venue where I might be, my first thought would be to ID his buddies. A Chief's Special would leave me extremely vulnerable, assuming I couldn't hightail it outta there.

I'd buy another vintage Chief in a New York second. But that doesn't mean I'd carry it for self-defense.

Anecdote: a cop I knew carried a Detective Special for years. He was at a large So Cal amusement park with his family. In front of him were a group of young African-American men. Every other word outta their mouths started with either "F" or "M" followed by "F". After about a minute of exposing his kids to an extremely despicable culture, he told them to watch their language. One turned to him with an immediate reaction of hostility. However, he caught the off-duty cop's confident demeanor. They shut their mouths.

Going to have to disagree with you over the effectiveness of carrying a revolver for self defense. After owning, carrying, and shooting dozens of different handguns as I searched for the best carry gun, I have gotten to a point where I primarily carry revolvers now. I find them more reliable, shootable, and easy to carry (at least for me) than most semi automatics. And the chances of me getting into any situation where I would need more than 5 shots to get out of it is statistically very low (though I do carry a reload anyway), so I don’t consider that a deciding factor.

For the snubbies, I had a 60 no dash pinned, and I still have a 60-3, 60-7, 60-9 and 60-14.

I prefer the 60-7 above all others. I don't carry .357 loads, so the 60-9 and 60-14 are just extra weight; I like the larger front sight and the smoothed, more comfortable trigger.