Howdy,

A neighbor has a S&W model 60 with a 3 inch barrel that he is "thinking"
of selling. It appears @ 99% condition with a box & papers.

I looked at one of these years back and was undecided then.
Any opinions on S&W model 60 with a 3 inch barrel's ?

Pro's and con's ?? How are they as shooters ?

I like it...but he hasn't mentioned a price yet.

Thanks in advance,
Texan

Great guns - I have have had 3 of them. After trading the first 2 away a long time ago, I found another and got it. I keep coming back to it. If you can get it for a good price - I would do it. We were just out shooting our left over pumpkins with ours the other day. Mine is the model 60-10, in 357 mag., but so far I have used only 38's in it. Probably stay that way. It shoots and handles very well. wyatte

The model 60 no dash is fixed sight in 38 special and they're excellent shooters. The 3" heavy barrel has an outstanding balance . . . just like the 3" Model 36-1.





They also make for excellent concealed carry pieces if you get the right holster for one. Here's my IWB pancake holster from lobogunleather.com



Good luck . . . the 60 no dash is hard to find because they were a special order variety from John Jovino,S&W Distributor in New York . . . forgot how many.

Russ

I have a 60-4 .38 Spl. 3 inch with adjustable sights. It is my favorite J frame. Buy it!

Me and Steamloco have the adjustable sights.

Lord, I love this my revolver. I'd jump on that gun in a New York minute.

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USN WWII Korea
NRA

If you don't buy it, I would.

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Bud

The 3 inch s&w model 60 is a very nice revolver. It's one of my favorites to be honest.

A keeper for sure.

One of the best features of a 3" 60, in my opinion, is the adjustable rear sight. It allows accommodating changes in ammo, whether a .38 version or a .357 Magnum version. Most like the older models - but the newer 60's are true .357 Magnums - like my only 60, a current production 3" 60-15 - the '60 Pro'. For just a few $ over a fixed sight snubby 60, it has some decent attributes: Nice wood grips, slabsided target barrel, an adjustable rear sight, and, not much use to me, but some folks like them, a tritium Night Sight on front.



3" 60's are nice! My speedloader has Remington R38S12 +P 158gr LHPSWC's - all I need for personal protection. It's a delight to shoot them with my 60 Pro.

Stainz

Kinda like mine too! It even uses the correct battery.

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NRA Benefactor

I really like the feel and shootably of my Model 60-14 and have mostly shot it at the gravel pit with no problems. .38 Special is delightful to shoot with the full lug barrel adding weight up front to keep muzzle flip controllable, even .38 Plus-P is comfortable to shoot.

My 3" Model 60 wears the S&W factory rubber grips, full sized, and they greatly reduce felt recoil when shooting magnum rounds (but its main diet is the .38 Special). I found that contrary to what you read out there, the 3" Model 60 can be used as a pocket carry piece if you choose your pocket holster carefully and wear trousers with generously deep pockets like the popular Carharrt's brand. The base of the grip's heel shows just a little bit, but with the larger rubber grips, you just see a bit of black rubber that's easily hidden by a tee shirt worn untucked. Oddly enough, switching to the "concealable" small factory grip panels makes the gun more noticable in the pocket. It allows the grip's shiny backstrap to show and that, in turn, makes the gun very noticable in the pocket should it be exposed.

I'm heading out for a trip this summer to hunt gold and sapphires in Montana and surveyed my handguns for a good defense weapon to take to the forest and desert areas. Mostly thinking protection from bears, the large predator cats and feral canines, not to mention the ubiquitious rattlesnake. The gun needs to offer resistance to dirt, dust, rain and sweat.

The .38 Special airweight would be very light on the hike and a no brainer for concealed carry, but the 2" barrel and loss in velocity as well as a reduced sight radius put that choice on the back burner. To stay on the safe side of the laws of Idaho and Montana, I won't be carrying concealed in town while in Montana, where I intend to spend most of my time (Idaho recognizes my CCW permit).

The Sig P 226 and S&W 659 lost out due to the marginal 9mm on bear, but it might do ok on large cats like mountain lions, or a pack of canines but why risk it? The 226 is certainly lightweight, but hard to conceal, holds enough rounds to keep a dog pack at bay but, again the 9mm is a marginal field load IMO. The S&W 659 shares the same attributes of the 9mm Sig and it's very thick and heavy to boot. But ya gotta love stainless steel in the field.

So, after reading up on gun laws in Montana and Idaho, I took a second look at the Model 60-15 with the lugged 3" barrel and adjustable sights. If plinking opportunities present themselves, target .38 Special semi-wadcutter ammo is perfect for the job. When in bear country, in go the .357 158 grain bullet Magnums. When rattlers could be slithering about, I have CCI snake shot to stoke the cylinder.

The 60 is svelte, light, well made, the trigger's slick and she's got plenty of accuracy. The stainless frame, barrel and cylinder makes for good durability. Using S&W full sized rubber grips offers great handling ability, tamed recoil and allows a full-fingered grip. The gun made the cut as a nearly perfect a field gun, given the compromises you need to consider, as you're going to find.

I'll be carrying in the pocket as well as on the belt, strongside. My belt holster choice is one made for the .45 Government Model, a nylon product with a double velcro strip closure offered by Mil-Tech, made in the USA. This holster has a removable belt clip for either left side or right side IWB/OWB carry and does a good job of holding the S&W 3" as a perfect fit. As a field holster for the little Smith, the Mil-Tech holster secures the gun snugly and offers almost as much protection from the elements as a full flap holster would.

Depending on your needs it's tough to beat the 3" S&W Model-60. If need be, I wouldn't hesitate to pocket the thing around town or wear it on the hip when working in the field and streams.

I have had a 3" 60 and they are fine shooters. I have a 60-4 and enjoy it even more. Adjustable sights on a J Frame 3" are great.

Buy the gun, they are a great carry gun.

I'm at the end of my 10 day waiting period on a new 3" Model 60 tomorrow. Looking forward to getting it to the range.

I bought one of the John Jovino square butt three inch model 60s in the 80s. A fellow worker said he had a large gun that his wife did not like and wanted something smaller. I told him to let me see it and it turned out to be a model 25-2 in the presentation case. He offered to trade even and my three inch model 60 was gone but boy do I love that 25-2.

I've got a 60-4, too, and LOVE it. I also just picked up it's airweight "sister", a 337-1.

We're a bunch of enablers around here, aren't we?

Adjustable J's are ALWAYS fun.

A 3" Model 60 is a great gun. I have owned several over the years but am down to this one.

This 60-4 has a fantastic trigger and thinks it's a K-frame.

No, the 60-4 is definitely a J-frame.

Did they make a 3" model 60 no dash or 60-1 with a pinned barrel? I cant say I have seen one.

Yes, a very small number of fixed sight, pinned barrel 3" 60-1s were made, about 170 I think. One just sold on a popular auction site for $1200, NIB.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

This 60 wouldn't happen to be factory DAO and factory bobbed hammer? I found one in a San Diego area gun store in the summer of 1990, bought it, and won't part with it. I've only seen one other and should have bought it.

I don't know how many three inch 60s in 38 were made, but they are definitely worth having.

I bought this 60-3 (in .38 Special) back in 2001 at a local gun store. I believe it is from the late eighties, serial number is BDV 5XXX.
It's a great shooter, and I carry it often, in Sam Andrews leather.
The revolver is factory DAO, with the bobbed hammer.

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Nemo Me Impune Lacesset

Honey I shrunk the 686.

Here is mine.

I shoots like it's a target gun rather than a snubbie.

Attached Images

60-3inch.jpg (57.5 KB, 12147 views)

I really like mine too!!

I have a 60-4 and it's a fine all around gun. The trigger breaks like an icicle at 2.5#'s and I can shoot wadcutters into 2" @ 25 yds. off sandbags, the best I'm able. I believe it's capable of 1" or less at that distance. I've never even had to adjust the sights a single click.

It's my oldest daughter's favorite gun. A few years ago she was sweet enough to tell me, "When you die that gun is mine!". Nice... I still wait for her to take the 1st bite when I go to her place for dinner.

Interesting to hear very positive reviews of this model. I've read mixed reviewed of the 60 pro. I'm leaning strongly towards picking up one of the 3" 60's with adjustable sights.

I have an opportunity to purchase a new/old stock stainless model 60 with custom S&W fingergroove grips made of Goncalo Alves. No price given, I have been asked to make an offer. Anyone have a suggestion on price?

Barrel length, fixed or adjustable sights (see above photos), serial number or three-letter prefix, box and contents? Inquiring minds want to know!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks for the reminder-

3 inch barrel, adjustable sights, 357 magnum, a 1990's gun. This pistol comes with the box, etc. There is also a set of the rubber finger groove grips.

I'm on my second, the first was the 357 version, the second time around I decided I'd rather just shoot 38's in it and bought it that way. It makes a worthy understudy to my 3" 686, and it's hard to say which is more fun to shoot. I wouldn't want adjustable sights on a 2-inch J-frame, but on a three-inch gun they seem to belong.

Forgot to ask caliber, also. This could be a .38 Special 60-4 or a .357 60-10. Both came standard with the rubber stocks. The first would go in the $550-600 range, and the second about $100 higher, based on recent sales. If someone is basing it on 1990s pricing you are in luck!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

They are another great S&W revolver, and I can see why they are one of the favorites for many Forum members.

I used to have a model 60-10, 3" barrel .357 that I purchased NIB.

For me, I found that it was one of the last revolvers to ever get used and enjoyed, so I sold it.

Never warmed up to it for CC, preferring other options that are either shorter barrel and/or lighter in weight.

I think it makes a great little woods-hiking revolver, but I personally prefer bumping up to a short barrel K or L or N frame for that.

When it comes to balance and feel, for whatever reason the longest barrel I like on a J frame is the 2 1/8" on the 640 pro.

Can't say why other than just the way it feels to me. YMMV.

Not bashing the 3" model 60 at all. It's a great revolver.

Hope he decides to sell it to you.

gus

For a NIB 60-4 the $550/$600 mentioned above would seem to me an absolute steal.

I bot mine new 20+ yrs ago. I'd decided on a 631 4" .32mag but had some questions about whether or not this was the all-around trail/SD gun I was looking for (couldn't shoot my 36 snubby worth a darn). Called S&W, the gal sent me back to the custom shop where I spent a good 20/25 minutes talking to one of the guys. He gushed about this new full-lug 5-shot .38+P target they'd introduced, said "it's my favorite revolver"-- needless to say, I went w/ the 60-4.

When I got it, I took it out on the prairie and got the sights right (rear sight dropped all the way, perfect), found the cheapo RN lead 158 gr reloads I'd bot ran 3" to 4" at 50', just leaning across the hood of my pickup. Much better than my snubby, but not really thrilled. I had 5 rounds of 125 gr +P Fed Hi-Shoks w/ me, wasn't expecting any better. Leaned across, carefully let 'em fly. Wish I'd cut off the top of that fencepost-- a pingpong ball would've covered the group.

I found the extended depth of the grip awkward and annoying-- I cut it off just shy of the frame, there's an internal flange there that covers the underside. Fast forward, I currently have a set of Spegel RN Boots (identical) in the works.

Don't miss the .357 capability, as I wouldn't be shooting them anyway.

Was thinking $600. Always good to hear what others think. Thanks for the help. Will post photos if the purchase works out.

A number of years ago, I believe Gun Digest had a VERY interesting article by a gentleman who had a custom "J" frame made up with a 4" barrel and adjustable sights. I REALLY liked the concept. I was at the Indianapolis 500 Gun Show not long after that and a small number of Smith "J" frames with 3" barrel and adjustable sights in blue turned up. I didn't have enough money with me and figured that I would get one next trip. However, they were gone. In their place was the 60-4 (3" barrel and adjustable sights in .38 Special). .38 is what I wanted but I much prefer a 4" barrel. I somewhat reluctantly bought the 3" dbl underlugged barrel and all.

Boy, did I get a shock. My first target at 25 yards after sighting it in was a 96x100 on the timed fire target, standing. The guy next to me looked at me with his eyes bugged out, "What is that piece?" I told him that it was a little piece of "Magic". He was shooting a Model "K" and I had beat his score.

Well, after carrying it as a side gun to my bird gun and taking a number of rabbits, snowshoe rabbits, and wounded grouse with it, you'll not be buying this little baby from me. It doesn't go until they plant me. That dbl underlugged barrel is a bit barrel heavy and seems to hold as well as a four incher. It has a VERY nice trigger and, frankly, the execution is just about perfect for that "side gun". It works very well with Speer's Shot Capsules (a load of #12 shot will shred a snake's head at fifteen feet) so it makes a nice hiking gun in rough country, too.

In bear country, I will be packing my 624 or 629 in 4" but for most anything else you could hardly beat the 60-4:


FWIW
Dale53

I enjoy mine, nice trigger, great shooting .38's, don't care for shooting .357's. But of course others have different opinions.

Bottom 60 top is a 63

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

This was from an outing the other day with the 60-4.
4 of 5 hit the sweet spot and one was off the target due to "operator error".
Shot DA with no rest.

It's on my list too! Get it if it's in good shape at a reasonable price.

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But then, what do I know?

Well, I made the deal for $450. Very pleased.

$450 for a 3" .357 with beautiful grips like that. Is a very good deal
If I ever find one for that or even $500, I will buy it. I have two .357
2 inchers and love them. Would like a 3 & 4" to just have.
My grandkids may want something in the next few years.

For 450 bucks? Oh HELL yeah!

I wouldn't be able to count it out fast enough...

You got a great price on an excellent gun, congratulations!

My model 60 that I may soon have to part with. What are they going for?

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Kevin
NRA Benefactor Member

I have a 60-15 3 inch 357 and I really like it. Shoots like a target gun. I'm thinking about getting a Lobo holster and carry it rather then my 642 since I can't find the 640 357 Pro I want.

Attached Images

357 004.jpg (73.4 KB, 135 views)

Both have since had the locks removed and Apex carry kits installed

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JR

About $500 seems to be the going rate, a little more if you have the original box and contents.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

That figure (+/- $500) would be about right around here. Odd as it seems to those of us who like those guns, not everyone appreciates them and sometimes I see one offered for what I consider a bargain price. +/- $500 would seem fair to both seller and buyer.

I grabbed one of these 2 or so years ago off of a private seller for $400. Money well spent. It logs a lot more holster time than I anticipated. It's amazing what an additional inch of tube and adjustable sights will do for "shootability".

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Because of the metric system?

what dash number if it is calif legal I will give you 450 right now, assuming the condition is excellent.