60-14 j frame .357 opinions

[Grimjaws]

Been getting the itch to add to the collection.

So looking at something with a little more weight to carry and the stabdard 2” 60-14 has caught my eye. I was wondering what folks thought about this model and if anyone uses one for EDC.

Still recovering from a hand wrist injury so hoping the extra weight will help with some range time as the 637 I normally carry is getting to be painful after a few cylinders even with wadcutters

Thanks for your input!

[Mike, SC Hunter]

Nope.......Too much noise and recoil......I'll stick with 60-1 & 60-4 in .38 spl..

[Grimjaws]

I only plan on using .38 and the older 60s seemed to have jumped in price around here so I’m almost at a new 60 with warranty

Don’t mind the IL as it has never been an issue on my 637

[rockquarry]

Originally Posted by Grimjaws

I only plan on using .38 and the older 60s seemed to have jumped in price around here so I’m almost at a new 60 with warranty

Don’t mind the IL as it has never been an issue on my 637

I had a 3" J-frame .357 Magnum. I shoot J-frames regularly and have for years. .357 is much too much cartridge for such a gun except as a novelty. No practical use that I could see. A 2" version would have at least as much recoil or more than a 3". They would be great +P .38 Special guns.

[colt_saa]

Great revolvers

The extra weight will absolutely help you out with your wrist issues the only question will be how many rounds can you fire before the heavier firearm starts bothering you

The 3" Model 60 will tame recoil even better and is not much more difficult to conceal unless you plan to pocket carry

Personally I stopped carrying my Model 60 Chief's Special Target when the J-Magnum frame came out on the market. My day to day carry pistol has been a 357 Magnum J frame ever since then

[Green Frog]

My advice would be to spend some time looking for a 60-4. IMHO, it’s the best Model 60 variant of all times. Of course free advice is worth what you pay for it, but that M 60-4 is one of the last guns I’d ever sell.
Froggie

[1sailor]

I carried a 3" model 60 as my woods gun for some time. While it did grab your attention when shooting full house loads it really didn't seem that bad. Of course, the only J frame I could compare it to is my M&P340. The M640 actually weighs about an ounce more than the M60 and for an EDC it has the advantage of no exposed hammer. If you're looking for a range gun that doesn't help but I feel it's much better for carry. I traded my 3" M60 for a nickel M19-3 thinking I came out ahead. I carried and shot my M60 a lot. The M19 just sits in my safe. I would gladly trade back if I could.

[Well Armed]

Not to derail the thread, but what's the difference between the 3" 60-14 & 60-15?

[ImDrRichard]

I had a 60-14 .357, 2 1/8 bbl and I thought it was great. Unfortunately, shooting a consistent diet of .357 was too much and I eventually sold it. Now I wish I hadn't.

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Just because a gun can chamber and safely shoot a .357 doesn’t make it a good idea. A small frame revolver is a great envelope for a .38 Special but a .357 is simply too much blast, flash and recoil.

[1sailor]

Of course, you can still shoot .38 Special (as well as others) in your .357 magnum. I prefer the option of using either. Something to think about during the next ammo scarcity. Especially if you don't handload.

[Mike, SC Hunter]

Originally Posted by SnidelyWhiplash

Just because a gun can chamber and safely shoot a .357 doesn’t make it a good idea. A small frame revolver is a great envelope for a .38 Special but a .357 is simply too much blast, flash and recoil.

And if you cronograph it........You will wear a sad face.

[THE PILGRIM]

I find the 357s to be a little brisk in the J Frames.
So I usually load mine with 38 +P.

[stansdds]

The all stainless steel Model 60 will dampen the recoil. I have a 640-1, full power 357 Magnum ammo is a real handful, but 38 Special +P is quite controllable.

[darg]

I have 60-15 with 3" barrel and while it's very smooth shooting 38 and 38+p it's a hoot with 357 and just not what I would want it do it. I think the J Frame is just in general too light for 357 and since most of my J Frames are 2" I just load them up with 38, whether that's factory loads or hand loads.

[colt_saa]

Originally Posted by Mike, SC Hunter

And if you cronograph it........You will wear a sad face.

Mike, I must disagree with you on this

I LOVE H110/296. I have burned well over 100 pounds of H110 over the last 40 years hand loading it in the 357 Magnum and the 41 Magnum cartridges and have spent many Range Days with a Chronograph capturing data

As to real world velocities for the 125 JHP, 357 loading with H110 (not test barrels) in a . . . . . .
2 1/8" Model 640 - 1234 FPS (AVG of 3 revolvers)
2 1/2" Model 19/66 - 1287 FPS (AVG of 2 revolvers)
3 1/2" Model 27 - 1315 FPS (AVG of 1 revolvers)
5" Model 627 - 1496 FPS (AVG of 2 revolvers)
6" Model 27 - 1531 FPS (AVG of 2 revolvers)
8" Python - 1599 FPS (AVG of 1 revolvers)
10" T/C Contender - 1780 FPS (AVG of 1 firearm)
18" Model 1982 - 2106 FPS (AVG of 1 lever gun)

These were strings of 5 shots per firearm all averaged together

I am quite pleased with the velocity from the J-frames.

Considering how often I used to carry a 3 1/2" Model 27 or a snub nosed Model 19/66 the velocity loss when carrying the pocketable Model 640 is not that significant

[MetalMan]

Originally Posted by colt_saa

Personally I stopped carrying my Model 60 Chief's Special Target when the J-Magnum frame came out on the market. My day to day carry pistol has been a 357 Magnum J frame ever since then

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

While I also have a couple of K's (19-5 and 66-4 snubs), I typically carried one of my 36ND's of 60ND's (all 1-7/8" bbl). Once I came upon the 640-1 Pro, this was a game-changer for me as the sights are so much better than the standard "gutters". While it's a J-Magnum frame, I typically practice with .38 Spl's and keep it stoked with .38 +P's for EDC.

[mtgianni]

When the ideal by many for a carry revolver is a 3" model 13 or similar 357, I don't see that much loss in a 2 1/8" bbl. Comparing to a 6" bb; there is more but that isn't a concealed weapon.

[BigMuddy]

My son had a 3” with adjustable sights. I thought it was a great gun. Shot very well, carried easily, and recoil seemed quite manageable. The J frame 357 would not fit a holster that I had for my M36. The frame was a bit beefier.

He carried it as his BUG when he was a police officer. Not trying to drift the thread too much, but one night when chasing a guy through some back yards he lost the M60. He had jumped over a fence and apparently the gun came out of the holster that was attached to his vest. Luckily he found the gun. The holster was a Crossbreed designed to attach to the vest. He contacted the manufacturer and they sent him a different holster, one better suited for the task. Note they didn’t “exchange” the holster. They just sent him a new, more expensive model that was more secure. Excellent service and both he and I have been Crossbreed customers ever since.

He went back in the military and traded that M60 for something (I don’t remember what) but says he wishes he still had that revolver.

Dan

[Old cop]

I’m not particularly recoil sensitive but always found a J Frame magnum too much for me. My EDC is a 340PD and is a handfull w/+P, magnum rounds produce too much recoil for quick & accurate follow up shots.