360 / 360j -- same or different?

[two-bit cowboy]

I was in a gun shop yesterday and saw a 360 in the case, Hogue combats and all. It caught my attention only because of having seen a few threads on 360s. The discussions and the auction sites, too, seem to refer to either a Model 360 or a Model 360j Airweight, sku 160360 (I haven't seen another sku for just the ones identified as 360). I didn't bother the guy to pull the 360 out of the case for me -- next time.

To be clear, I'm not including the M&P360, the 360PD (we have one of those), or the 360SC in my question.

So here's my question: when somebody simply refers to a 360 (without the "j" or saying "Airweight) is that still the same gun as sku 160360?

When I used to work in a gun shop in the early 80s the model numbers were much easier to keep up with.

Thanks for any clarification you can offer.

Bob

 

[629shooter]

From what I understand, the 360J is 38 Special only.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Yes, thanks for that, and your comment is consistent with most of the 360js I see on the auctions, but there's at least one with the same sku that says, ".38 SPL +P" on the right side of the barrel but not on the box (same serial number on the box and the gun).

 

[BLUEDOT37]

They are all rated for 38 Special (+P) as far as I know.

S&W Model 360J -38 Spcl- SKU 160360 specs

.

.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Ok, thanks.

 

[Roy P]

both of mine read 38spl on the box and 38spl +P on the barrel

 

[Chb2]

Just bought one.Wondering if you know if the front sight can be replaced with a night sight or fiber optic?Thanks if anyone knows.

 

[Roy P]

yes I have them on both of mine

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

There are two things about the M360J that I find noteworthy.

1.) Though it has the scandium alloy frame, it is not marked as such. Other scandium guns proudly display a special logo. Not the M360J. If the sales literature didn't tell us, how would we even know?

2.) The M360J's all have their s/n marked on the left side of the frame under the thumb piece. Why? No other Smith of their era does.​

Two things I find very curious. Two things that set this one gun apart.

 

[kaaskop49]

Hi kernel, my 360Sc from 2001 (SCAxxxx) has it's serial # etched on the left side of the frame under the cylinder window. My only revolver so marked.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Hi kernel, my 360Sc from 2001 (SCAxxxx) has it's serial # etched on the left side of the frame under the cylinder window....

There was a time when S&W did that with most ALL of it's standard product. All frame sizes, not just your M360Sc. They stopped that practice in about 2002 after a little over two years. As yours, the s/n was marked on the left side below the cylinder window.

The M360J is different. First, it's marked in a different location. The s/n is on the left side under the THUMB PIECE. Second, the time frame is different. The first M360J was made in 2008. Six years after S&W stopped marking all their guns with s/n's under the frame window.

The M360J is like no other Smith I've seen. The s/n location, and it's time frame, are both unique to this one model.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

There are two things about the M360J that I find noteworthy.

1.) Though it has the scandium alloy frame, it is not marked as such. Other scandium guns proudly display a special logo. Not the M360J. If the sales literature didn't tell us, how would we even know?

2.) The M360J's all have their s/n marked on the left side of the frame under the thumb piece. Why? No other Smith of their era does.​

Two things I find very curious. Two things that set this one gun apart.

There's an exception to every rule: your #2.

There's a 360 J Frame on auction right now that has rubber boot grips (as opposed to the usual combats), and there's a S&W logo on the left side below the thumb piece. It has a lock and says ".357" on the right side of the barrel. Curious.

This takes me back to my original question: is there a difference between a 360 and a 360J?

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

There's an exception to every rule.....

With S&W that goes without saying.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

This takes me back to my original question: is there a difference between a 360 and a 360J?

Yes. The 360 is chambered for .357 Mag & the 360J is chambered for .38 Special & seems to have been a limited run model. They both are "J" frames.

.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Yes. The 360 is chambered for .357 Mag & the 360J is chambered for .38 Special & seems to have been a limited run model. They both are "J" frames.

Ah, ha. Ok, thanks much for that.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

.....seems to have been a limited run model.....

That "limited run" has been in on-off production since at least 2008. Eight years. "Seasonal" might be a better way to describe it. Since they seem to make them every year.

Many J-frame's have magnum and non-magnum version. That's not uncommon.

 

[WC145]

There's an exception to every rule: your #2.

There's a 360 J Frame on auction right now that has rubber boot grips (as opposed to the usual combats), and there's a S&W logo on the left side below the thumb piece. It has a lock and says ".357" on the right side of the barrel. Curious.

This takes me back to my original question: is there a difference between a 360 and a 360J?

The 360J is .38spl only, mine is part of the first run from 2008, I bought it from Bud's. In late 2008, maybe early 2009 Bud's was selling some .357mag 360's that looked like the 'J' model but they were not 360J's nor were they M&P's. They were selling for about $100 more than the 360J. As far as I know that was the only time they were available, haven't seen them since but there's been several runs of 360Js in that time.

I looked at the gun in the auction, that is very similar to the one I'm talking about but I can't see the date on the empty casing envelope to be sure and the grips look later than '08-'09 but I could be wrong.


As far as what gun someone is referring to when they say '360', who knows? People say all kinds of things that mean something else. I know guys that still refer to every 1911 as a 'Colt .45'. You have to ask them to be more specific, I guess.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

That "limited run" has been in on-off production since at least 2008. Eight years. "Seasonal" might be a better way to describe it. Since they seem to make them every year.

That's probably more accurate.

I remembered after I posted it that I saw a 360J in a LGS & it's supposedly new. No idea when it was made though.

My son's 360J, SN# CTF09xx, was made 07-20-2012. Guess they keep dribbling out. (You know how dribbles are.)

.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

....My son's 360J, SN# CTF09xx, was made 07-20-2012.....

I wasn't aware of that run in 2012. In fact, I'd never seen that s/n prefix before on ANY gun, so thanks for sharing. I've added it to my list, for future refrence (questions on the M360J come up every other week, it seems. For a gun that's thought to be uncommon, by some , it's like everyone and his brother has one).

 

[BLUEDOT37]

...it's like everyone and his brother has one).

...or his son.

Here's the label.

.

.