Anyone here have a M-60...

[Skeet 028]

In 357mag? Had a fellow offer me a NIB three inch M-60 yesterday.... for a reasonable price I guess. I know it can shoot any 38s etc but you know you just HAVE to shoot the big stuff every now and then. Are they nasty recoiling revolvers? Cons on the gun is it is SS and of course has a lock. Pluses are it has adj sights but is still mostly concealable. I also have a set of Crimson Trace grips for a J frame that I guess would fit. I have kinda been looking for a 3 inch adj sighted 36 for some reason(saw one at a gun show and I hesitated to buy it went back and it was gone). Wondering if anyone here has one and wondering how you may like it. Thanks in advance.

 

[SA1911]

I have a Chief's Special. It's a belly gun. It doesn't need sights. At the distance of its intended use, trying to align sights would surrender to a potential threat more time to kill you.

Not only would it be a huge tactical error trying to fire a .357 Mag from a belly gun, because of it's short barrel, there would not be justifiable advantage over the FBI Load.

Try firing a .357 Mag at night out of a 4" L Frame. The muzzle flash will destroy your night vision, which ain't good were a bad guy shooting at you. The muzzle blast is deafening. It's disorienting within an enclosed room. Either way, you'll want 100% of your senses were a killer shooting at you. Even in an L Frame, recoil will take your gun's muzzle off target. Your gun's muzzle must always remain pointed at a threat. It's geometrically worse out of a J Frame.

When I had a 586, I always carried the FBI Load in it for bipedal self-defense.

As far as I'm concerned, there is but one authentic .357 Mag revolver: the Model 27. The L-Frame is a darn good gun. The L Frame does make firing 158 grain .357 Mag loads easier to manage. But I love the Model 27.

 

[muddocktor]

My wife has just the gun you described, Skeet 028. And yes, I have shot it with full bore 357 Mags in it. And it shoots them just fine, but it does become a bit of a handful. I wouldn't shoot more than around 50 or so at a time with the hot stuff and if you don't grip it just right, recoil can beat your middle finger with the trigger guard. But it is shootable. With that said, downloaded just a little reloads are much more enjoyable to shoot for 357 and 38 Special are real fun to shoot. I keep 38 Special +P Critical Defense in it for my wife for personal protection and have her practice with 38 +P reloads and she handles the recoil very well with those.

I look at it as a revolver that shoots hot 38's all day long and can handle hot 357 occasionally. And the trigger on my wife's is really sweet too.

 

[old&slow]

I have a 2 1/8 " barrel model 60. Great little gun, very accurate and one of my favorites.
About two cylinders of full blown magnums in it and I don't want to play anymore. But, 38 +p you can shoot all day.
I carry 135 gr Speer Gold Dot short barrel .357's in it. They are more like a ..38 +P than a full blown .357 mag. and easy to control.
recently I changed from the m60 to the Shield 9mm for a carry gun. But, I sure wouldn't give up the m60.

( sorry I've posted this picture before,, but it's the only one I have of the m60 on paper. The target is from a CC match I shot in and wasn't that far away. When I do my part the little m60 will shoot groups like that at 20 yards .. it's a sweetie )

ps.. I had trouble with the HKS speed loaders for the J frames. Safariland speed loaders work better on J frames.

 

[ChiefTJS]

I have a 3" M60 with the adjustables and lock. I haven't had it long so I've only put about two hundred rounds through it but it shoots very nicely. I of course had to put some hot .357's through it just so I'd know how bad it got so I loaded up some very hot 180's that shoot great in my 77/357 rifle, Wow! It was an eye opener for sure and I only ran two cylinders through it but it's nice to know that I can do it and it was super accurate with them as well. I bought it to be a nice little .38 and .357 if need be so I'm very well pleased with mine.

 

[hyena]

Skeet 028
I don't have an M60 three inch, but my main shooting buddy does. Very nice gun. Being steel frame, I did not find shooting full house .357 loads too unpleasant. His has an excellent trigger, and is also very accurate. I don't have any specific need for one, but if I were offered one at a good price, I'd buy it. It's a very nice little gun.

 

[Goldstar225]

I have the 3" model 60-15 Pro. I mainly shoot .38's in it and keep it loaded with +P .38 LSWCHP. I occasionally shoot magnums in it but they aren't pleasant.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Howdy Skeet 028,

I have been on the lookout for a 60-4 or 60-10 (same Chiefs you're looking at, but no lock). They're a bit spendy compared to the 60-15 and 60-17, which is likely what the one you're looking at is, right? I have a 60-9, 2⅛", .357, fixed sights. It's a Lady Smith, as new w/o the box or goodies, and I picked it up for $465.

I also have a 36-6, the 1989 3" target model (not for sale, sorry). It's a dandy, but I don't believe I'd ever try to carry it concealed: big sights and a hammer. Plus, since it's a 36 it's a .38 Special, not .357. I like it a bunch. I keep thinking I'm going to lose the factory Hogue Monogrip and put on some wood, but it handles mighty well with the Hogue. The SCSW says there were only 615 of 'em, but I believe there were really 2,000.

Best of luck with your decision.

 

[petepeterson]

I have a 3" Model 60 that gets shot a lot. I put wider, more hand-filling grips on it (Pach Compacs) and don't find the .357s to be all that bad. About 25 in a session is usually enough for me. It's a cream puff with .38s.
Makes a great "woods" gun. Easily concealed, light, and has some boot to it.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I have a Chief's Special. It's a belly gun. It doesn't need sights. At the distance of its intended use, trying to align sights would surrender to a potential threat more time to kill you.

Not only would it be a huge tactical error trying to fire a .357 Mag from a belly gun, because of it's short barrel, there would not be justifiable advantage over the FBI Load.

Try firing a .357 Mag at night out of a 4" L Frame. The muzzle flash will destroy your night vision, which ain't good were a bad guy shooting at you. The muzzle blast is deafening. It's disorienting within an enclosed room. Either way, you'll want 100% of your senses were a killer shooting at you. Even in an L Frame, recoil will take your gun's muzzle off target. Your gun's muzzle must always remain pointed at a threat. It's geometrically worse out of a J Frame.

When I had a 586, I always carried the FBI Load in it for bipedal self-defense.

As far as I'm concerned, there is but one authentic .357 Mag revolver: the Model 27. The L-Frame is a darn good gun. The L Frame does make firing 158 grain .357 Mag loads easier to manage. But I love the Model 27.

Kind of opinionated..

I carry a M60 with 357's in it. Much better than stuffing an L or N frame in my pocket.

 

[MetalMan]

I actually shot all 3 of my Model 60's last night with .38 Specials. Had no trouble making reasonably tight groupings at 10 yds. No surprise that the 3" 60-15 was the most accurate of the bunch.

I also put one cylinder of +P through each gun and, also not surprisingly, the groupings opened up somewhat. This is my EDC carry load and I like to maintain some familiarity with the feel. I have yet to run any .357 through the 60-15; I reserve these loads for my K-frames.

 

[Pef]

I have a model 60-3 (snub nose 38), 60-7 (snub nose 38), 60-14 (snub nose .357) and 60-15 (3" adjustable sights .357). The 3" handles .38's nicely; full house .357's can be a bit snappy, though, but not flinch-inducing (for me, at least).

The gun is extremely accurate - far more accurate than me. And it is very well balanced - the 3" J frame feels like a natural extension of my hand when shooting.

Here's my best 25 yard grouping with the 60-15:

With the right IWB holster it carries nicely IWB at 3:30 - 4:30.

The bottom line is that I am very pleased with this gun and I have not for a second regretted the purchase.

 

[stu1ritter]

I also have a 60-15 3". I do not shoot .357's with it. I can't stand the recoil.

Stu

 

[Dale53]

I have had a 60-4 since they were released. I would have preferred a 4" barrel, but 3" was the only thing offered in the "J" frame with adjustable sights. However, I was quite surprised how well I could and can shoot the little revolver.

I have used it in the field quite a bit (and successfully) for edible small game. Shortly after I brought it home I realized it was a KEEPER!



Long live the adjustable sighted "J" frame!

Dale53

 

[gnystrom]

I bought the Pro Series version for my daughter back a couple of years. It is her first gun and with the addition of a set of CT lasergrips, she is deadly accurate at the range.
Buy the darn thing. It is way too nice not to have a home. Adoption is a good thing.

 

[Bill In Texas]

Howdy Skeet!

I've got a 60-15 Pro Series. I've had it for a couple of years now and carried it for a short while. It was a nice carry gun for OWB, but with a 3" barrel, it was to long for pocket carry for me, so I got a 640-1. Anyway, I digress.

Shooting .38 Specials in it is a joy. I didn't find that shooting WWB 110 grain .357's or Remington 158 grain .357's were bad at all. That being said, if I wanted to carry .357's in my M60, I would use the same mild recoiling load that I use in my 640-1. That being the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 grain load.

I did install the Apex Duty Carry Spring Kit in the gun, which dropped the trigger pull weight down to about 8 lbs. DA. SA comes in at around 2.5 lbs.

If you buy a new Model 60 the first thing to do is to check all the screws to make sure they are tight. Don't neglect the small screw that holds the sight assembly in place, or the cylinder release screw. Those two were loose on my gun. Other than that the M60 with a 3" barrel is a great all around gun! Hope this helps!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Yes, also a 649 and a 640.
Shooting 357 in The J Frames is a bit 'snappy.'
The good news is you can shoot the many available versions of 38 Special.
The other good news is you can shoot 357 if that's your preference.
Grip selection can make a huge difference in perceived recoil for these little guys.

 

[lunger]

I bought a new 60-15 3" with adjustable sights a while back. Chose it as a Kit gun for woods carry. Traditionally a 22 , but the 60 gives me a lot more options .

Mine is also extremely accurate. Can shoot 38's all day long. Full house 357's are a hand full, but a couple of cylinders are do able.

 

[sawlog]

I have the 60-14, 2.125in barrel. The 60 pro and I just ordered the 60-15 That your talking about. Carry one daily and shot the heck out of them. Love them. 357s are just fine out of them.

 

[kaaskop49]

No problem shooting 110gr .357 W-W/R-P loads from my Model 60 LadySmith. Also the CCI Blazer 158gr medium load and the now-unavailable Perfecta 158gr load from WM. I use plugs AND muffs when shooting, so can't comment on noise, but I'm still waiting to see this blinding muzzle flash that some posters describe. Must be the dry desert air that negates it...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[DaStray]

Like Kaaskop49 and two-bit cowboy, I have a Model 60 Lady Smith but unlike some others here, I find the recoil a little on the "stout" side. Like "baseball bat to the hand" stout. Perhaps this is due to the 357`s I fired having been 158gr and just maybe 110`s or 125`s wouldn`t be so bad. I find 38 Special +P to be a good balance of power and shootability though. It is good to know that it`s built for full-power 357`s so with 38`s you`ll likely never shoot it to pieces. Just my 2 cents...

 

[Chukar60]

I have a 60-10. When I first got it the first thing I did was shoot a box of 38's through it then about 6 cylinders of 158 gr 357. Have to say it will get your attention, but did not find it uncomfortable at all.
My first one (now belongs to my sister in law) I never shot 357 out of it. Buy the gun!!!! A 3" J frame is very concealable, makes a great kit gun and even if you only shoot 357 out of it once, you can pound any 38 load you want down the tube without worrying about it.
I love mine and will hang on to this one forever.
Just think of it as a mini 686.

 

[SA1911]

Kind of opinionated..

I carry a M60 with 357's in it. Much better than stuffing an L or N frame in my pocket.

What part did you assume was opinion?

 

[SA1911]

I have a very tender spot for beautiful revolvers, especially S&W revolvers, even more especially the Chief's Special and the Model 27. And many posters here have S&W revolvers that cause my soft spot to become vulnerable to sentimental purchases, which is a good thing.

The Chief's Special oughta be on Mount Rushmore as an American icon. But the reality is it's a very poor choice for bipedal self-defense. To reach that conclusion, one has to begin with human biology and human incapacity.

While death is often the outcome of gunfights, it's not the objective. The primary objective has to be survival of good guys. The only known way to survive is to not get into gunfights. If that's not an option, one cannot take a bad guy's rounds. That means a good guy MUST get the heck outta a bad guy's sight picture. Taking precise aim at a bad guy would make a good guy an easy target for a bad guy.

Absent a CNS hit, which is almost always the outcome of luck, human incapacity is a done deal when oxygenated blood no longer flows topside. All death is defined by lack of brain activity. Humans must have topside oxygenated blood flow to remain alive. The problem for good guys is reducing a bad guy's blood pressure to zero takes a lot of precious time, time that accords bad guys ability to kill good guys. And here we haven't considered the probability of a bad guy's use of drugs that skew incapacity. A human being with a heart no longer beating will live another 8 seconds, which is plenty of time to take a good guy with him. Hence, my preference for BIG holes that cause a lot of bleeding.

We've been considering just one bad guy, which would be unlikely in cities of America. Bad guys rarely do bad things alone. The reality is a good guy, upon ID'ing one bad guy, must scan for his buddy, or more assuredly, his buddies. This is where the Chief's Special, all revolvers for that matter, become huge liabilities. The longer it takes to prevent one bad guy from putting rounds on a good guy, the more likely one of his buddies will kill a good guy. If muzzle flash, recoil, or disorienting muzzle blast takes a good guy's gun's muzzle off of a threat, he'll know tactical disadvantage. Hence, my preference for the FBI Load, even in .357 Mag revolvers.

The Chief's Special is a beautiful handgun, in either blued or stainless, but it has severe limitations that can cause a good guy to be autopsied.

As much as I love the Chief's Special, I'd take a Sig P239 in .40 S&W every single time, except where I can conceal a Sig P229 in .40 S&W.

 

[S&WsRsweet]

My dad was a retired police officer with 32 years on the job and started as beat walking patrolman and retired capt detective.He could own and carry any firearm he wanted and owned an extensive collection he told me onc if he had to own only one handgun he would go with his last purchase which was a 3 inch m60 with adjustable sights and in 357 mag ,he carried and used it as a heavy duty 38 ,He as stated by sa1911 carried the FBI load exclusively for self defense but he would carry 357s in it when he went for strolls out in the sticks as he put it ,he actually liked the idea of the lock as he only kept one handgun loaded not in his safe and he didn't have to worry about the grand kids or their friends ,he kept his Remington 870 loaded as a home defense gun with a locked action ,you have a great gun the three inch with adjustable sights will give you plenty of precision and with 38s you will enjoy shooting it to get plenty of practice and become dangerously proficient to a bad guy or 4 and it will make a great trail gun if you like the outdoors ,you can use mild wad cutters to introduce new shooters to the sport just an outstanding all around firearm congratulations on being wise enough to buy it .Ok I'll add that once again sa1911 makes a great point avoiding the OK corrall if you think the're is a gunfight happening is the best thing and round count is limited in any revolver but ,the da revolver is the easiest one handed gun to reload if one of your hands is incapacitated also it's easier to explain how to load an shoot it to a non gun person in a hurry if needs be also the bad in a gunfight doesn't care where his missed rounds go but if you areva good guy especially in an urban environment if you fire 12,or 13 rounds and make contact with say 2 bad guys with 3 hits each you can bet you will be held accountable for where the other 6 or 7 rounds went especially if you hit an innocent bystander and yes you have to put yourself in the line of sight of a bad guy to see him whether you are shooting and automatic or revolver or shotgun for hat matter to my thinking yes a high round count automatic is a great weapon but you had better be well trained and calm enough to use it properly as you can unload one very very fast especially in a life threatening situation and you are the only one who knows yourself good enough to know how you will probabaly react in that situation ( not how you hope you will react ) I only been in one gunfight if you call it that as I was hiding as far under a parked automobile as I could get by the time I got my firearm ( a revolver ) drawn and got up the bad guy was running away ( answer to my prayer) .Anyway I was pretty well trained on revolvers and not so much on auts so ror me the revolver is the best choice and safest for myself and the general public ,the fact is most folks don't think where are all 12or 13 rounds going if I miss the bad guy even once so high cal autos while very good aren't the end all be all for all or even th majority of regular ( read non military or police and some private security trained ) folks . Not knocking automatics at all just I think we need to be realistic with our own abilities as round count or power doesn't make up for lack of training or ability .

 

[mrchuck]

I carry this weapon with 357's in it.
Yes it recoils more than a 38 Special at the range.
But when the adrenal rush kicks in when you have a perp on the ground at gunpoint,and then he jumps up to attack you,you will NOT even feel the recoil nor the sound.
The .357 Magnum is a proven man stopper.

 

[Targets Guy]

I have a Model 60-15.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Du !!!!!!!!

 

[Skeet 028]

Thanks for all the replies. I just had to buy the gun. It is larger than my little 637 but I wanted a gun with adj sights for carrying mainly around the farm/ranch. Easier to carry in my chest pocket in my coat I have a 19 and a 66 and a 686 all in 4 inch but they really don't fit that pocket for quickly getting it out. I want something a little more flat shooting than a 45. I missed a coyote a week or three ago with my 45 at about 35 yds or so. Have a bunch of 110 and 125 gr loads to shoot and figure they may be a better option and the adj sights may be a good thing for carry around the farm. My wife has a 36 she carries quite a bit and a Kimber micro 9 and she prefers the 36. Will post a pic of the darn thing later. We're getting a bit of snow ..supposed to get an other foot

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Good move!
Not likely you will regret buying it,
Very few folks do.