3" model 60 vs 60 pro (357)

[m.01.d]

Hey guys & gals,

I am looking for a little bit of help. I am a brand new member to the forum so forgive me if this is covered else where... if so perhaps you could point me in the right direction? Also I am no gun guru so I am apologizing in advance if I refer to something incorrectly...

I am looking to purchase a new firearm for every day carry inside the waist band and have narrowed my selection down to one of the 3" model 60 357mags.

the 60 pro (178013) which retails for $799.00
vs.
the 60 (162430) which retails for $759.00

I like almost everything about the pro with the exception of the extra length, according to their website, S&W sates that the pro has an overall length of 8.7" and the 60 has an overall length of 7.5" but theres a difference of only .2 oz? Can anyone confirm the extra 1.2"? I haven't had either in my hand yet, just trying to do my research first. Just by sight they look to be very similar in length.

If there is an additional 1.2" how is carrying the gun? Does anyone have experience carrying both to compare & contrast?

Any generalized compare & contrast remarks to share aside from the sights?

Does anyone have anything negative to report on either firearm?

Any help will be greatly appreciated, thank you

 

[sawlog]

They make a 3" and a 3" pro. Also a 2.125" model 60. It sounds like you are looking at the 60 pro vs the 60-14 which is the 2.125" barrel.i own and carry the 60_14 and the 60 pro. Im carrying the 60 pro iwb as I'm typing this.
Both are great guns for carry I think. The length is a non issue, you can't tell the difference much when carrying iwb.
My 60 pro has a much better trigger then my 2" 60. I have called and talked with two different people from Smith and Wesson, they both told me that the pro gets a trigger job from the factory. Some folks say that they dont, but there is a big difference! Or maybe I just got a crappy trigger with my 60-14.
Both gun shoot great. The sight picture on the pro is a little different, you have to cover the target with the front sight to hit. Alot of folks say the same thing about their pro.
I keep the awesome stock grips on my pro and carry in the cooler months. I carry the 60-14 when it's t-shirt months, I have Craig Spegel boot grips on it. For me the factory rubber grips stick to my shirt to much.
If I had to get rid of one or the other I honestly don't know which one it would be.
As far as ammo goes... If you not recoil sensitive then the 357 are really not bad. I have thousands of 357's and 38's thru them.
Here is a pic of my 60 pro, the sights are different then factory because I have been messing with them. And my 60-14 with Spegel grips. Both in iwb Grizzle horsehide holsters. Hope this helps.

 

[diyj98]

I have a 60-15 3" barrel. I liked the fully adjustable rear sight vs the windage only on the Pro. My 60-15 has I believe the lightest single action pull I've ever felt on a factory S&W. If I hadn't ordered it new myself, I'd swear that someone did a trigger job on it.

 

[sawlog]

I have a 60-15 3" barrel. I liked the fully adjustable rear sight vs the windage only on the Pro. My 60-15 has I believe the lightest single action pull I've ever felt on a factory S&W. If I hadn't ordered it new myself, I'd swear that someone did a trigger job on it.

The pro are also fully adjustable rear sight

 

[diyj98]

The pro are also fully adjustable rear sight

Of course you're correct. I had the 640 Pro on my brain when I wrote that.

 

[KSDeputy]

I won't buy the pro model because I do not like adjustable sights on a combat gun. I plan on buying the snub nose model. I had one previously when they first came out, and regrettably sold it. I have a model 637 air weight revolver.

 

[tkdguy]

I have a early 3" Model 60 in 357 and it is a perfect carry gun. I can shoot inside 3" at 25 yards with Winchester 38 Plus P 125 grain silver tips. I am 5'8" tall and would not want a longer gun. Very lite revolver. Carry the entire day without noticing. It has target sights.

 

[sawlog]

I won't buy the pro model because I do not like adjustable sights on a combat gun. I plan on buying the snub nose model. I had one previously when they first came out, and regrettably sold it. I have a model 637 air weight revolver.

I agree with you on the adjustable sights. This is what I came up with to fix that. Worked great.

 

[kaaskop49]

I agree with you on the adjustable sights. This is what I came up with to fix that. Worked great.

Be interested in how you handled the adj. rear sight. With what did you replace it?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[sawlog]

Be interested in how you handled the adj. rear sight. With what did you replace it?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

This picture should show it better. I put a piece of stainless with u channel milled down it in the place of the rear sight. Drill and countersunk it so that it uses the same screw from the factory sights

 

[Bill In Texas]

Welcome to the Neighborhood! Either is a fine gun. I have the Pro, but the 60 with the 2 1/8" barrel is on my list.

I love the Pro and carry it occasionally outside the waistband in a Simply Rugged Pancake holster. I'm used to covering the target with the front sight because I own several M&P's and they all use the combat sight picture. What it amounts to is aligning the green tritium dot with the top of the rear sights.

The Pro is very accurate for me with this sight picture, but I mostly shoot from 15 yards in.

One word of caution if you decide on the Pro, not a big deal, just something I learned. Check all the screws for tightness when you get the gun and after you shoot it. The side plate screws don't seem to loosen often, but the cylinder release screw and the little screw that holds the sight assembly in place do. Often a dab of clear fingernail polish will fix the problem!

 

[gnystrom]

With my carry guns I have convinced myself it is far more important to get all my shots on target in a very short period of time shooting DA rather than me spending a lot of time sighting each shot hoping for a small group that may or may not impress the person in the lane next to me.
I own the 60 3", 60 Pro 3", and a 640 Pro 2-1/8". All these guns will fill the requirements I set forth for myself. Of those guns, the 60 Pro 3" is obviously the easiest to shoot high scores slow fire at distances over 50'. Rapid fire DA only, I cannot tell the real difference between the three as I never see the sights anyway.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
I have an M-60 pro 3in, an Ruger SP101 [ported] and had an SP101 3in.
[That went to my niece when she got her CCW]
The three inch guns are MUCH easier to shoot with 38's or 357.
The longer barrel is easier on the eyes [to hit with] and
gets the 357 up to where it belongs.
The Normal barrel M-60 "seems" a little more barrel heavy than the pro.
[like the difference between a heavy barrel M-10 over a tapered barrel]
Either will take more full power 357's then you can at one time.
In a pancake holster [Simple Rugged] the gun is just not there.
A near perfect trail gun.
With the iwb straps it is smooth for comfort.
As long as you get good fitting grips [ mine are all Packmayr thin"decelerator" {not the big "compact"} and I can shoot my
"Groo Monster Maulers" 180 to 200 gr HC,with out pain.

 

[zogger]

I went with the 60 3" and CC in a Garrett Industries Silent Thunder IWB Revolver holster. I also put the Pachmyer Diamond Pro grips on it. I am very pleased with this combination.

I went with the adjustable sights so I could "tune" the sights for me. I have a tendency to shoot high and also left. While I work to get comfortable with the gun/grips, I can adjust the sights to always have the best chance to hit the target even in DA.

 

[jban357]

I had all three. Still have the 2" and the regular 3". I am very happy with these. The reasons I didn't like the pro were.
1: the night sight was a joke. to small to be usable
2: felt uncomfortable with all the steel they took away from the barrel, Always had a feeling the it was going to do a banana peel one day.
3: When I shined a light thru the barrel, you could see a disturbance on where they marked the outside of the barrel. especially on one side.
I will say the grip on the pro was good, am thinking about buying one for the regular 3" gun

 

[m.01.d]

Wow! Thanks for the speedy reply all!! I decided to actually call into S&W today to ask my question...

I was wandering about the 3" model 60 vs the 3" model 60 pro and the difference of length between the two, I was assured that they are both the same 7.5" overall length & that the extra .2 oz of the pro was due to the grips offered on this particular gun. Next step is trying to locate a pair and actually put them in my palm to see what it likes, thanks again for the help

 

[sgc]

per jban357 - I'm curious why they would mark the outside of the barrel on the pro and not on the regular 60 ? thanks

 

[jban357]

per jban357 - I'm curious why they would mark the outside of the barrel on the pro and not on the regular 60 ? thanks

They mark all barrels. It's the "Smith &Wesson 357" on the side of the barrel. It was like they stamped it real deep and you could see a distortion in the metal on the inside of the barrel where they stamped it. I shoot mostly lead reloads, and it caused leading real bad in that area, You could even notice it when you pushed a tight jag thru the barrel.

 

[MetalMan]

I have found the 60-15 to be the best IWB carry gun for me, especially in summertime with horsehide backed Milt Sparks VMII. As many before have said, the gun literally disappears and is extremely comfortable for all day carry. Accuracy at the range is an added bonus to boot.

 

[sgc]

They mark all barrels. It's the "Smith &Wesson 357" on the side of the barrel. It was like they stamped it real deep and you could see a distortion in the metal on the inside of the barrel where they stamped it. I shoot mostly lead reloads, and it caused leading real bad in that area, You could even notice it when you pushed a tight jag thru the barrel.

Ok, thanks, got it. Doesn't it seem though that they would stamp the frame before inserting the barrel? (novice question)