Anyone Carry a Model 60??

Hey all,

I was in a local shop the other day and they had a M60 with the 2 inch barrel in the case. I have never handled one so I had to check it out. I really liked it. I thought it felt great in the hand and even fit in the front pocket of my cargo shorts which made it that much more desirable. The only negative I had about it is the factory grips and how LONG they are. I would change those grips the first thing if I get one to something that would be shorter, maybe something like what comes on the 638 or 640. Those seem like they would conceal much easier. What do you all think?

If you carry they M60, I'd like to hear your thoughts on them. I wouldn't load it with 357 ammo, I'd settle for 38+P all day. I'm no glutton for punishment.

One other model I would like to handle and see how it feels is the 649. I think I would like that one too.

Also, if you have modified your 60 with grips or any other accessories, how about posting some pics? I'd like to see what you have done to yours to make it more user friendly.

Thanks all.

Nalajr

I carry a 649 quite a bit and love it. It's the 38 variant, not the 357. However, I think a J Frame chambered in 357 is a bit excessive for my tastes. I keep mine loaded with 125 grain Remington JSHP +P's.

The gun also has a 13# rebound spring and 8# mainspring. It really lightened the trigger and helped my accuracy a good deal. It's a great carry gun and I'll never sell it. I strongly recommend one if you get the chance to pick one up. Hope this helps.

I have two 60s in rotation ... older models, no IL, with minimalist Pach grips. Each is perfectly balanced, and ideal for CCW. With the Pach grip, I can belt carry, shoulder carry, or ankle carry with zero problems. I have several other excellent J-frames for CCW, but the 60 is unsurpassed.

There has been a 2" model 60 on my ankle every day of my life since 1980. Everyone has worn the Sile rubber boot grip or a copy of it.

In 1986 it was replaced with a Model 60 Chiefs Special Target so I could have the adjustable sights

In 1997 I gave up the adjustable sights to switch to a J-Magnum Chiefs Special. I did this so that I could carry 357 Magnum. If I have to draw that revolver in a life or death situation, I want all the power I can get. The amount of punishment my hand gets or does not get for 5 rounds is irrelevant if I am dead or seriously wounded.

This year, I will be switching the ankle gun to a J-magnum Model 60 Chiefs Special Target

Thanks all for the info. No doubt I like the 60. I forget exactly how much it was, but I am thinking that is was around $650, give or take a bit.

Hey SAA, nice pic. What model is the TOP RIGHT? It looks like the barrel is a bit longer than standard, is it?

Thanks again everyone. Keep it coming.

Nalajr

I used to carry a no dash M60. I use Ahrends J frame boot grips.
I changed to a M640 Pro. It is a Magnum gun. I carry stout hard cast WC's from Buffalo Bore. I like the added weight of the Magnum gun for belt carry. Also, it gives me a lot of head room when I reload for practice. This is for belt carry, in a Lobo Pancake holster.
For pocket carry, I have a M442 in a Mika pocket holster.
I have determined that I don't need an exposed hammer on a CCW gun. That is why I have switched to the Centennial revolvers for that purpose.
Nothing on the guns that I don't need.

Best,
Rick

Nalapombu said:

Thanks all for the info. No doubt I like the 60. I forget exactly how much it was, but I am thinking that is was around $650, give or take a bit.

Hey SAA, nice pic. What model is the TOP RIGHT? It looks like the barrel is a bit longer than standard, is it?

Thanks again everyone. Keep it coming.

Nalajr

Click to expand...

That's high for a used Model 60, even with box. J frames are plentiful, all steel or lighter weight materials, and can be found for < $500 for the nicest used models. Your LGS trying to sell a $650 Model 60 is dreaming a bit. I'd walk on to somewhere else with more realistic prices.

Nalapombu said:

Thanks all for the info. No doubt I like the 60. I forget exactly how much it was, but I am thinking that is was around $650, give or take a bit.

Hey SAA, nice pic. What model is the TOP RIGHT? It looks like the barrel is a bit longer than standard, is it?

Thanks again everyone. Keep it coming.

Nalajr

Click to expand...

That is the 2" model 640 J-magnum Centennial

Factually, all of the older profile 2" J-frames are 1 7/8" while the bulk of the J-magnum snubbies are 2 1/8"

mc5aw said:

That's high for a used Model 60, even with box. J frames are plentiful, all steel or lighter weight materials, and can be found for < $500 for the nicest used models. Your LGS trying to sell a $650 Model 60 is dreaming a bit. I'd walk on to somewhere else with more realistic prices.

Click to expand...

There are no model 60s made of light weight materials. By definition a model 60 is stainless steel.

BTW, the op never said it was used. The model 60 is a current production firearm

Hey guys (and Gals ??)

Yeah I am pretty sure it is a NEW M60 that they are selling. I wouldn't swear to it in court, but I was under the impression that it was new.

I too believe that you shouldn't have unnecessary stuff on your carry weapon. I like the 649, 638 and the 640. That shop had the 640 and 638, but I have handled those before and know a bit about how it feels in the hand and would carry in the pocket.

When I was handling the M60 I put it in my front pocket just to see how it would fit and feel. To my surprise I could carry it just fine like that by just slipping it in my pocket with no pocket holster or anything. I have told myself that the next handgun I buy is going to be one that I can slip into a pocket and go when I need to. Not to say I would carry that way all the time, but I like to have that option available to me.

I was just looking at M60's on Gunbroker to see what variants are out there and I came across a couple different ones that I wanted to ask you guys about. First is the 3 inch with adjustable sights and the next is that PRO Series with the tapered barrel. Both are in 357. I would carry 38+P in them though.

Anyway, I am wondering how those 3 inch versions would carry compared to the standard one that I handled and tried the other day? Do you all think it could pocket carry as well as the 2 inch version? After all, we're only talking about a tad bit over 3/4 of and inch difference.

I ask because everything being equal, I'd rather have a 3 inch barrel if I can carry it. Don't you agree?

If any of you carry these 3 inch versions I'd like to hear about your experiences and what you would recommend to others like me that are thinking of going that way? PICS are always welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks for the help everyone.
Have a good night.

Nalajr

I almost forgot. I am in Houston, Texas and been here about 1.5 years. I had my CCW before coming here and have always intended on getting it here, but never put an emphasis on it...until now.

I befriended a guy from Sri Lanka that works at the local convenience store. I go in and talk to him a couple times a week. He's currently going through the Immigration court system to get his Green Card. Anyway, the other night he was working and for the first time in his life he was robbed. This was a pretty violent robbery too. There were 3 of them that stormed in, all wearing masks and gloves. There were 2 young guys in the store at the time buying pop and candy bars. They too were caught in it. They held the 2 young guys at gun point and made them lay on the floor. The guy running the robbery forced my friend with the gun right behind his ear back behind the counter to open the register and he took all the money, which was about $500. He then started demanding for him to get the rest of the money in those floor safes that all those stores have. My friend told him he couldn't get in it, which is true. Well he didn't want to hear that and started kicking him in the head, side, back and testicles. After maybe a minute or 2 of this treatment the maggots figured they got everything they could get and made a quick exit. The cops were called and they have the video of the incident, but not much is expected.

That kind of stuff hardly ever happens where I am, in SPRING, which is a bit north of Houston. This is a nice area. He had never even been treated badly, let alone get robbed. He was pretty darn shaken up by it and I couldn't believe it when he texted me and told me about it then next day.
I went to see him that day to see how he was doing and he is still shaken up and a bit scared. I hear stuff on the radio and TV news every single day about a store like this getting robbed and people getting shot. Sometimes they live, most of the time they don't. This incident really made me realize that if I am going to live here, I need to take precautions to protect myself. The cops can't do it, they can't be everywhere, there's only so many of them to patrol this whole county.

So that's what is speeding my desire to get my CCW class and permit completed.

You never know what is right around the corner just waiting to pounce on you and do you grave harm.

Nalajr

I've got a 60 (-9) that is prelock. Feels light to carry and handles 38+P with an ease. I sort of compare it to being a mini 686.

I've been carrying a jframe for some time. My 442 is with me always, but I do trade it out for my 60 on occasion (quite honestly, I've found myself packing one of my Detectve Specials lately too!). The 60 wears a pair of J Targets (bananas) and they fit in the pocket quite well. It rides in a cheap Uncle Mikes pocket holster.

Nalapombu said:

Hey guys (and Gals ??)

First is the 3 inch with adjustable sights and the next is that PRO Series with the tapered barrel. Both are in 357. I would carry 38+P in them though.

Anyway, I am wondering how those 3 inch versions would carry compared to the standard one that I handled and tried the other day? Do you all think it could pocket carry as well as the 2 inch version? After all, we're only talking about a tad bit over 3/4 of and inch difference.

I ask because everything being equal, I'd rather have a 3 inch barrel if I can carry it. Don't you agree?

If any of you carry these 3 inch versions I'd like to hear about your experiences and what you would recommend to others like me that are thinking of going that way? PICS are always welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks for the help everyone.
Have a good night.

Nalajr

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I have both of the 3" model 60s and the older 3" 36. They have all been part of my training inventory since they each introduced.



The 3" guns should be holster carried, not pocket carried. The balance is different for the pocket

Mine has crimson trace laser grips. Inside the waste holster. The extra weight of steel for me is better on the belt. The pro with 3 inch is so nice looking I am reluctant to carry it. If your going model60 carry 357 loads, that's the whole reason for the steel. Otherwise if you only want 38sp go with a lighter gun, it's going to be less of a burden in the long run and you will carry more. Use a pocket holster like the nemesis if you going pocket carry, it keeps the gun oriented the same way all the time. Just my two cents, hope it helps you.

Lotta years back, I was in an off duty altercation in which I ended up clocking the bad guy upside his head several times with my old M60. (in my later career I would have shot him in a heartbeat, but back then I was young and dumb(er) Bent the trigger guard, but not very much...it would still shoot, and still has the bend in it.

Fast forward to today. My son has the old M60 and I have a -7 with bobbed hammer I still carry in my front pants pocket. I just prefer the all steel model since I can't get out of my mind what an alloy gun might have ended up looking like after such treatment. With stock springs, a bit of smoothing up, some Spegel boot grips and a Lobo 2x2x2 ammo pouch, it does take the worry out of being close.

Big Fan Of J-Frame, However...

I have and occasionally use a Model 37. Stupidly, I've let several used but clean M-60s slip through my fingers.

Regarding the store robbery: about 20 years ago, a retired cop was in a Radio Shack store on Broadway, in Lower Manhattan, in NY's financial district and a 2-minute walk from the World Trade Center. He was armed with a 5-shot Chief's special, Model 36, I believe.

A robbery went down with three or more participants, at least three in the store, a lookout at the door and a get-away driver. The retiree interceded and commenced trading fire with three robbers. He fired all five rounds, all misses, and was then executed.

Granted, the retiree broke every tactical and common sense rule in the book but if store robberies are part of the risk you face, use the J-frame as a BUG and carry something more substantial. You'll need more accuracy and more firepower than the J-frame offers, regardless of the specific model.

Mdel 60 is a winner

I have been a fan of the model 60 since Vietnam. It has enough weight to kinda tame the 38 round and is stainless to protect against some of the elements. I think it is one of the best weapons Smith Wesson has ever come up with.

I carry the model 60 pro in a vm2. very nice gun. too big for pocket carry I think

Nalapombu said:

Hey guys (and Gals ??)


Anyway, I am wondering how those 3 inch versions would carry compared to the standard one that I handled and tried the other day? Do you all think it could pocket carry as well as the 2 inch version? After all, we're only talking about a tad bit over 3/4 of and inch difference.

I ask because everything being equal, I'd rather have a 3 inch barrel if I can carry it. Don't you agree?

If any of you carry these 3 inch versions I'd like to hear about your experiences and what you would recommend to others like me that are thinking of going that way? PICS are always welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks for the help everyone.
Have a good night.

Nalajr

Click to expand...

I like to carry my 3" 60-15 when I'm dogging thru the woods or on or near the river. Lately, it's been seeing more time as my "urban" EDC. I'm finding that I shoot revolvers better, but it'salso an excuse to put something new in the holster, too!

I believe it's a bit heavy and long for pocket carry, but you may not find that to be the case. In my opinion, if you want to pocket carry, look at the 444/642/638 type guns. If you're not going to shoot .357, these are much lighter, and the mechanism is enclosed, which helps keep the pocket fuzz out. Also, please reconsider using a pocket holster- it also helps with unwanted dirt, keeps the gun oriented in an upright position in a larger pocket, and helps break up the outline of the firearm.