Is it safe to fire heavy bullets in a Smith & Wesson model 60-9? I have several boxes of American Eagle 158 grain JSP. For carry, I use Federal 125 grain JHP. I sold my 686 and the model 60 is the only .357 magnum I own. TIA.

The 158s should be fine, pretty much the historical standard weight for 357s I think. I have the 60-10 and have never hesitated to shoot any factory 357 Mag from it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I wouldn't hesitate to put 158s through mine.

The barrel is 2⅛".

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Perfectly safe as noted above. You may want to try both loads out at the range, point of impact may vary significantly.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

158 grain full power loads will actually cause less forcing cone erosion than full power 125 grain loads.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Not a question of pressure or damage to the gun, but in my opinion you would be better off using Buffalo Bore 38 Spl. +P "heavy" 158 grain LSWCHP-GC. They move out of a 1 7/8" Chief's Spl. barrel at 1,025 fps. I have personally chronographed them many many times and that is no exaggeration!

Recoil recovery is much faster for follow up shots, accuracy of the BB bullet is superb and POA = POI out of most M60's & M36's while pressure is lower and causes less metal stretching over time. The noise level is much lower (important to you if shots are fired inside a car or house), muzzle flash is a lot less than the magnum load and the BB 158 gr. +P's have proven themselves over the years. From a 2" barrel, the BB round could actually have a greater muzzle velocity as well - much of the gun powder of the magnum loading is being burned outside of the barrel so it is not adding to the propulsion of the projectile. Magnums were NEVER designed for 2" barrels, 6" barrels were their intended usage.

IMHO shooting 357 magnums out of a 2" barreled gun is self defeating, but obviously you are free to do what you want - your gun. Please borrow a chronograph if you don't own one and test the 158 grain magnum's velocity out of your revolver. If the actual velocity (not what is stated on the box as they do not rate them for 2" bbls) is the same or less than the Bufffalo Bore 38 special loading, then you have proof you are not carrying the best load for that gun. I can pretty much tell you that here but I doubt you would believe me. Even if it is the same or just slightly more, there is still no advantage because of all the negatives listed above. Remember, for a bullet's speed to increase, powder must be burned inside an enclosed tube to propel the bullet to greater speeds. While the huge muzzle flash might be something to look at - it can also cause temporary night blindness and retard follow up shots. IMHO, Magnum's out of 2" barrels are not optimal at all. The BB load is absolutely excellent. BTW, I have no association with BB what so ever and have no horse in this race. This has been my experience and have never carried 357 magnums in a 2" barreled gun since actually testing them against BB +P Heavy rounds. A minimum effective barrel length for 158 grain mag's is 3" and longer. 6-8" is optimal.

Muzzle flash serves no useful purpose! Muzzle flash is burning powder past the end of the barrel, which translate to money spent for no gain!
jcelect

I dunno 'bout that. It does make for a great fireworks display. It can clear the lanes on either side of you at the range. If you don't hit your target in a defensive situation, at least you will singe them.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

No prob at all with 158 grain.

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Uvidíme se později, aligátore.

Well stated, for all those reasons BB 158 grain LSWCHP-GC has been in my pocket for years. Not fun to shoot out of a lightweight snub /but its not a range toy.
Plus- They use low flash powder, and a lead bullet can be reach higher velocity than jacketed with in the pressure envelope -most notable in short barrels. (i also like 148/150 wadcutters at 7-800 fps.)- those make it a fun "range toy".
Smiles, Mike

I think the 60-9 (J Magnum) will handle anything you put through it. This one belonged to my wife and she kept it loaded with Remington 158 lead HP +P. Looks like a semi-wadcutter with hollow point. We traded it for an Ashford Shooter's Supply Model 60 Target and load it with the same. It's not a carry piece for her. It resides in a drawer in the coffee table where she usually sits.

I pity the fool who comes in uninvited.

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I have a 629 ported 44 Magnum with a 2 1/2 inch barrel.

The same logic applies there

I shoot 44 special from it. If I ever carried it around town, it would be loaded with BB 44 special.

On the other hand, if I carried it as a bear defense gun I'd probably load it with 44 Magnum.

The muzzle flash from a ported 44 mag would be horrendous, I figure even if I missed it would set the bear on fire.