Early 70's Model 60 question

[Inksmyth]

New to S&W. I picked up this pistol cheap. Very poorly maintained. It appears to have been fired very little. The cylinder was so gunked up from sitting in a closet for 30 years. it would hardly turn. The only blemish is the trigger guard. It appears the pistol was dropped on a rough surface, maybe a concrete curb. I have sanded down and filled the gouges with an epoxy and will polish out when time allows. After a complete strip, deep clean and some polish it looks and shoots great. My question is, when carrying this pistol do I need the hammer on an empty chamber?
Also I have sent an email to S&W trying to find out if +p is safe.

 

[armorer951]

Because of the safety features built into your S&W, it's safe to carry the gun fully loaded.
While the gun is capable of shooting the +p round safely, the velocity gain is negligible.....and the +p rounds will accelerate wear in key areas. If it were mine, wouldn't feed it a steady diet of +p loads.

 

[Inksmyth]

Thanks for the input armoer951. I have never owned a 38. What ammo would you recommend for self defense EDC?

 

[Green Frog]

Inksmyth, welcome again. Everyone has their own formula for what constitutes the best formula for CCW/EDC, but for the Chief's Special, I like to have a semi-wadcutter loaded to standard velocities or even Plus-P in the chambers when "on call." I practice with target grade wadcutters (often called "mid-range wadcutters") or standard velocity cast lead SWCs (most of which are reloads) and only rarely shoot the warmer stuff (so as not to wear the gun unduly.) The ammo that actually gets carried is some old FBI hollow pointed SWC stuff in nickel cases with a blue coating on the bullet ("Nyclad??") This arrangement works for me because I reload and because I had the FBI ammo on hand, but you could use about any good SWC or HP SWC and do just as well. There are some high performance rounds out there, but I doubt the short barrel of the Chief Special would bring out much advantage from them. JMHO, based on personal experience. BTW, the best way to have that CS work well for you is to practice with it a lot... but then again that's true of any gun!

Froggie

 

[armorer951]

There are many fine ammo choices out there. In my back-up gun (model 60) I carry the Speer Gold Dot 135gr +p "Short Barrel" rounds. The Federal 129gr Hydra-Shok or the Hornady 125gr XTP, would also be good alternatives.

Find something you shoot well....and practice as much as you can.

 

[redlevel]

I don't do much target or range shooting with my model 60 of about the same vintage. I carry Buffalo Bore heavy +p 158 grain gas checked hollow points. They have been well documented at 1000 fps from a 2" Model 60. I renew the loads when they start looking grungy, usually every 8-10 months or so by firing them and replacing them. I fired enough of them whenI started using them to know they shoot to point of aim at 12 feet, which I figure is about max range I'll use the snubby. I don't worfy about it "shooting loose." I got the gun to be an effective stopper if I ever need it. I didn't get it to last forever.

 

[Inksmyth]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Sgt.Peck]

Hornady Critical defense is a good 38 load and has very good reviews. It is non +P and still is over 1000 feet per second. It is what I use in all my 38 snubbies.

 

[Inksmyth]

Thanks. I carry that in .45