School me on the Smith Wesson 610

Phillies · Aug 3, 2020

I have a ton of 40 caliber, and I don't shoot 40 cal semi autos. But I do love my revolvers... So I thought a 10mm/40 revolver would be a perfect fit. I did plenty of online research and the 610 seems to get good reviews. Only thing I don't like is the lack of a fiber optic sight and the large size. An N scale seems to be an overkill for that round ? I know Ruger males their own version which is a tad smaller and has a fiber optic sight but I think it just looks kind of ugly. Anyone have any thoughts ? Oh, and the search feature doesn't seem to work on my smart phone...

Thanks,

oldgranddad · Aug 3, 2020

I don't have a 610 but I do have a 4" N frame in .45ACP. Whether light target loads or 900'/sec big boy loads, the N frame handles it with ease. Since you didn't mention carrying this revo, I would suggest the 610. You can load light or go big time and not worry about shaking it apart or busting up a forcing cone. Have you spent any time with .357 mag full house loads in a K/L frame? It stops being fun real quick. Go with the N frame. YMMV

Phillies · Aug 3, 2020

Thanks. I do have a 686 +P that I shoot .357 out of. I really do like that size. But it wouldn't be for carrying so maybe the bigger size isn't really an issue then.

Seadragon · Aug 3, 2020

If you want to shoot .40 out of a S&W revolver then the 610 is your only option. The 610 is virtually the same size and weight as a .44 Mag 629. It is a big gun, no getting around it, but a pleasure to shoot if the size is not a problem for your application. It can be had in both the 4 and 6 inch barrel versions.

And now the good news: the 610 comes with an interchangeable front sight. The factory sight is a black ramp but this sight is easily removed and replaced without tools or any gunsmithing. (Well, you might want a pair of pliers to grip the sight but that's about all.) Replacement sights, including fiber optics, are readily available at places like Midway, etc., but be sure to get the ones made for the interchangeable front sight.

OKFC05 · Aug 3, 2020

You can switch the front sight to whatever you want.
Remember the 10mm is close to a .41 magnum in ballistics, way more than the .357. I have an L frame .40 S&W (sometimes called the 10mm short and weak), but no way will it handle the 10mm cartridges.
Some people ream out the 610 to 10mm wildcat magnums, and they really put 10mm slugs downrange.

BLUEDOT37 · Aug 4, 2020

Unfortunately S&W hasn't seen fit to put the 10mm Auto in the L-frame yet for us so we're stuck with just the N-frame option, but it's not a bad one.

Since the new M69 L-frame can handle the 44 Magnum then the 10mm Auto will be a snap in one.

I've got a 4" & I don't think it's size is overkill. Heck, people (myself included) love the N-frame .357.

As mentioned, the front sight is easily changed. I went with a red ramp though I have fiber front sights on some of my other revolvers.

I converted mine to 10mm Magnum. That gives you true 41 Magnum power.

Then you can shoot three different cartridges in it, if you like.

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CH4 · Aug 4, 2020

I am a fan of the 610 because I like the 10mm and 40 S&W cartridges, the 610 gives me the flexibility to shoot both. I chose the 610-1 Classic because it has the interchangeable front sight, unfluted cylinder and 6.5” barrel for hunting and or range play. I like the 5” 610 no dash, but it doesn’t have the interchangeable front sight.

I like the idea of putting the 10mm/40 S&W in an L frame, but I prefer a steel cylinder, the 646 had a Ti cylinder. Moreover, the current production 610 can be had with a one piece 4” full lug barrel while the L frame 69 has a two piece barrel that I don’t find attractive. To my eye the two piece barrels look cheap.

If you can swallow the lock, I’d be all over a new 4” 610.

uncleted327 · Aug 4, 2020

OKFC05 said:
You can switch the front sight to whatever you want.
Remember the 10mm is close to a .41 magnum in ballistics, way more than the .357. I have an L frame .40 S&W (sometimes called the 10mm short and weak), but no way will it handle the 10mm cartridges.
Some people ream out the 610 to 10mm wildcat magnums, and they really put 10mm slugs downrange.

The 10mm is nowhere close to a 41 Magnum nor is it way more than a 357 Magnum. In fact at it's best the 10mm equals the 357 Magnum. The tales 10mm fans have convinced themselves of never ceases to amuse me...

colt_saa · Aug 4, 2020

uncleted327 said:
The 10mm is nowhere close to a 41 Magnum nor is it way more than a 357 Magnum. In fact at it's best the 10mm equals the 357 Magnum. The tales 10mm fans have convinced themselves of never ceases to amuse me...

I think you meant to say that the 10MM Auto is nowhere close to the 41 Magnum

That Urban legend was started with an article by John Taffin on the 10MM Magnum cartridge, not the 10MM Auto.

I forget how many decades ago it was published, but his conclusion was "Anything the .41 Magnum can do, the 10 Magnum can also do and perhaps do it even a little faster and a little better. That is a tough confession for an old sixgun man to make."

So just as your post failed to identify which 10MM cartridge you were talking about, folks that read the article tended to forget it was about the 10MM Magnum and just made the same mistake talking about the 10MM article .

Protocall_Design · Aug 4, 2020

S&W also made a M646. That is an L frame 40 S&W. The OP said he has a lot of 40. He did not say he wants to shoot 10mm anything.

I wanted a 646, but couldn't find one at a price I could afford, so made my own out of a 686. It's like a 3/4 size 625 45ACP. I shoot it a lot for IDPA matches, and love it. I put on my fiber optic sights front and rear. That makes it ideal for indoor ranges and other low light situations.

You can't shoot 10mm auto or magnum in a 646, but then I don't want to anyway. I have other 357 and 44 magnums for hot loads.

uncleted327 · Aug 4, 2020

colt_saa said:
I think you meant to say that the 10MM Auto is nowhere close to the 41 Magnum

That Urban legend was started with an article by John Taffin on the 10MM Magnum cartridge, not the 10MM Auto.

I forget how many decades ago it was published, but his conclusion was "Anything the .41 Magnum can do, the 10 Magnum can also do and perhaps do it even a little faster and a little better. That is a tough confession for an old sixgun man to make."

So just as your post failed to identify which 10MM cartridge you were talking about, folks that read the article tended to forget it was about the 10MM Magnum and just made the same mistake talking about the 10MM article .

Nobody thinks 10mm Magnum when anyone on the planet writes 10mm. So no I'm not incorrect by anything I stated, and it still remains correct. But if trying to state there's confusion by me not separating the 10mm Auto from a caliber 99% of the people on here don't even know exists makes you feel better, good for you.

colt_saa · Aug 4, 2020

uncleted327 said:
Nobody thinks 10mm Magnum when anyone on the planet writes 10mm. So no I'm not incorrect by anything I stated, and it still remains correct. But if trying to state there's confusion by me not separating the 10mm Auto from a caliber 99% of the people on here don't even know exists makes you feel better, good for you.

WOW, I really struck a sore spot with you

There is no cartridge called the 10MM, so what you said still remains inaccurate, but if it makes you feel better to be wrong then who are we to correct you

Dave Lively · Aug 4, 2020

colt_saa said:
WOW, I really struck a sore spot with you

There is no cartridge called the 10MM, so what you said still remains inaccurate, but if it makes you feel better to be wrong then who are we to correct you

I agree with the previous poster. When someone says 10mm everyone but you knows exactly what they mean. Its like someone saying "car" and your asking if they meant "horseless carriage" or the type pulled by a horse.

The 10mm Magnum is such a small, niche cartridge you need to specify if that is what you mean. And in terms of this discussion S&W has never produced a gun in 10mm magnum. Nor has any other major manufacturer.

Nothing wrong with the 10mm magnum if you like customized guns chambered in wildcat cartridges. But most shooters have never seen a gun chambered in it and never will.

colt_saa · Aug 4, 2020

Dave Lively said:
I agree with the previous poster. When someone says 10mm everyone but you knows exactly what they mean. Its like someone saying "car" and your asking if they meant "horseless carriage" or the type pulled by a horse.

The 10mm Magnum is such a small, niche cartridge you need to specify if that is what you mean. And in terms of this discussion S&W has never produced a gun in 10mm magnum. Nor has any other major manufacturer.

Nothing wrong with the 10mm magnum if you like customized guns chambered in wildcat cartridges. But most shooters have never seen a gun chambered in it and never will.

Dave,
If you go back and read the post that got uncleted327 all bent out of shape, you will see that I am trying to explain the origin of "the 10MM is as powerful as the 41 Magnum" myth

You have made my point, when Taffin wrote that article about the 10MM Magnum, people ignored the word Magnum and associated all of his comments to the 10MM Auto cartridge.

Then all it had to do was circulate around the Internet for a decade or so and POOF, "the 10MM is as powerful as the 41 Magnum" becomes common knowledge.

Is it fair to say that you do not consider AMT to be a Major Manufacturer?

The 10MM Magnum was created for one of the AMT Auto Mags

Phillies · Aug 4, 2020

As the OP here, I was only looking at this revolver due to my large amount of 40 that I have no use for anymore. I wish that made that revolver in an L frame but I guess I should be happy there is any option at all for a 40 caliber recover. I read the Ruger version doesn't even take 40 well in it. I think I'll be picking one up sometime in the near future

OKFC05 · Aug 4, 2020

If it matters to anyone, I made the original post using the generic "10mm" intentionally, and in fact made reference specifically to the 10mm magnum later in the same post. What I was trying to point out was that in the "10mm caliber" or bore size, there are 3 cartridges (.40 S&W, 10mm Auto, and 10mm Magnum), and the S&W 610 can be chambered for all 3. Most of my fellow Oklahoma shooters that have a Model 610 have done so, and I have fired all 3 in their 610s. (see post 6).
I almost bought a 610, but instead bought a S&W 646 (when S&W was making them) for use in IDPA. The 646 only chambers .40 S&W, being a lighter L frame.
As to 10mm not being precisely .41 caliber and 10mm magnum not being exactly the same as .41 magnum, I know that, but who cares?
The OP asked "school me on the 610".

Protocall_Design · Aug 4, 2020

Phillies said:
As the OP here, I was only looking at this revolver due to my large amount of 40 that I have no use for anymore. I wish that made that revolver in an L frame but I guess I should be happy there is any option at all for a 40 caliber recover. I read the Ruger version doesn't even take 40 well in it. I think I'll be picking one up sometime in the near future

The 646 is a S&W L frame 40 S&W. It holds 6 rounds and uses moonclips.

Phillies · Aug 4, 2020

Protocall_Design said:
The 646 is a S&W L frame 40 S&W. It holds 6 rounds and uses moonclips.

Too bad that isn't made anymore. The 610 will do. With the larger size too bad the 610 couldn't have squeezed in a 7th round. I guess the 10mm is just too big for that ?

gerhard1 · Aug 6, 2020

Phillies said:
As the OP here, I was only looking at this revolver due to my large amount of 40 that I have no use for anymore. I wish that made that revolver in an L frame but I guess I should be happy there is any option at all for a 40 caliber recover. I read the Ruger version doesn't even take 40 well in it. I think I'll be picking one up sometime in the near future

You'll probably be quite happy with a 610. I have two and I love them. The first one was a 5' version made in the early '90s, and then about a year or so ago, I got a 4".

neverenoughguns · Aug 12, 2020

gerhard1 said:
You'll probably be quite happy with a 610. I have two and I love them. The first one was a 5' version made in the early '90s, and then about a year or so ago, I got a 4".

Do you notice any real difference in recoil? I am also contemplating a 610 and keep going back and forth between the 4 and 6" versions. The 5" version seems to be a bit rare and I do not believe are they are in production as of the present time.

School me on the Smith Wesson 610

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