Opinion on the S&W Model 610 4"?

[jdlii]

I missed an opportunity to purchase 6.5" Mod. 610 because I thought it was priced too high. After coming home to check on the "going prices" and scurrying back to the pawn shop to buy it, it was long gone.

My second chance took a while but, I acquired one with the 3 7/8" barrel, NIB at a very fair price. I find it very handy, very accurate and fun to shoot. The front sight, as you probably know, can be changed and I chose to use the same type of front sight that I have on my Mod. 629-6, Classic DX. It is the brass bead front sight that I am able to find more easily in the woods.

Mine prefers heavier bullets and I use Berry's plated bullets at the range and Hornady XTP's for hunting.

 

[lrrifleman]

Thank you for your advice. As some have inferred, I'm not looking for something powerful enough to move mountains or propel badguys across the room.

I am looking for a revolver that can consume my 40 S&W ammo for when shooting my semi-auto 40s becomes difficult due to my acquired injuries. Also, in the event that I get to fulfill my dream and get my farm, it can double as my field gun. It will also find itself on the PPC range.

 

[The Mighty S&W]

Thank you for your advice. As some have inferred, I'm not looking for something powerful enough to move mountains or propel badguys across the room.

I am looking for a revolver that can consume my 40 S&W ammo for when shooting my semi-auto 40s becomes difficult due to my acquired injuries. Also, in the event that I get to fulfill my dream and get my farm, it can double as my field gun. It will also find itself on the PPC range.

For your purposes, I think you’d be very well served with the revolver you’ve inquired about. And, while you’re not necessarily needing the most powerful handgun available, the 10mm is no slouch by any means, especially when fired from a gun built to handle it in its most potent form.

 

[colt_saa]

That said, what is the forum's opinion on the 4" 610. Is it a realistic handgun/cartridge combination? Do current examples leave the mothership with issues? Do they handle coated bullets well?

I am a big fan of moon clip enabled revolvers

That said, I do not own a 4" Model 610

I currently have a 2 1/2" Model 310 as well as 3", 5" & 6 1/2" Model 610s

Being a hand loader, I lengthened all of the cylinders on my firearms to chamber the 10MM Magnum cartridge as well.

For those that do not know there is a cartridge longer then the 10MM Auto and it will yield a 200 - 400 FPS gain in velocity depending on the projectile being used

The 10MM Magnum cartridge was originally designed for the Auto Mag IV pistol

The 10MM Magnum cartridge is the round that John Taffin was talking about decades ago when he compared it to the 41 Magnum. Many Internet based folks mis-quote Taffin claiming that the 10MM Auto cartridge achieves 41 Magnum Performance.

I can not imagine any Model 610 owner not being pleased with the performance of his/her revolver. It is just a wonderful combination of accuracy, versatility and performance

Today's coated bullets are a great lower cost alternative to using Jacketed projectiles at the higher velocities achievable in the 10MM bore revolvers from Smith & Wesson

 

[colt_saa]

I am a big fan of the 10mm/40, and because of the 610, I can also use it in a revolver; same with the 940 and 9mm. I often contemplate having my 6.5” -1 cut to 3” for CCW.

5” no dash
6.5” -1

Though hard to find, the 2 1/2" Model 310 carries very well

 

[robertrwalsh]

I do not understand the word "enough" used in conjunction with the term "hand guns." The concept is foreign to me.

 

[toad67]

Its a N frame revolver. If its strong enough for the 44 Magnum 629 its more than strong enough for 10mm.

I had sticky extraction when I tried some of the hot ammo you mentioned in my619. But I shot all of it I had. Having to tap empties out was a little annoying but otherwise my 610 handled the hot ammo just fine.

I guess I wasn't very clear on my question. Guns made by Ruger and T/C (44 and 45) can handle the hotter Buffalo Bore stuff, but S&W's can't. It is clearly stated on B/B's site. I was just wondering if the 10mm can be loaded past S&W's pressure limit.

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

Just went over all of the 10mm listings on the Buffalo Bore site. They all say safe for any 10mm firearms in good working order.

 

[Dave Lively]

I guess I wasn't very clear on my question. Guns made by Ruger and T/C (44 and 45) can handle the hotter Buffalo Bore stuff, but S&W's can't. It is clearly stated on B/B's site. I was just wondering if the 10mm can be loaded past S&W's pressure limit.

I have never seen any 10mm ammo labeled +P+ like the 44 Magnum ammo BuffaloBore states should not be shot through S&W revolvers.

What they call "Heavy" or +P 44 Magnum has no warning about being too much for S&Ws. They even list chronograph results for a S&W in the description of their +P Deer Grenade 44 ammo.

BuffaloBore isn't afraid to tell shooters that some of their ammo is too hot for certain guns. If it wasn't suitable for 610s they would say so.

The 610 is a strong revolver. If ammo was too hot for a 610 it would be too hot for a lot of semi-auto 10mm handguns too.

 

[sprscientist]

I'm a fan. From all the factory loads between .40 S&W to 10mm, there are many options. Plus they look great.

 

[AJ]

I was just wondering if the 10mm can be loaded past S&W's pressure limit.

Why would you want to do so?

 

[toad67]

Why would you want to do so?

I don't, just wondered if it was possible.

 

[DesertFox]

The 610 in 3.7" barrel is a tough find. So is the 5". 6.5" classic here.

That pic of a 310NG has me yearning... never should have passed on any of the Night Guards seen...

 

[AJ]

I don't, just wondered if it was possible.

Anything is possible, but why take a chance on destroying a good gun?

 

[toad67]

Anything is possible, but why take a chance on destroying a good gun?

Totally agree, all of my stuff is standard 180 grainers out of my Dan Wesson autos. I've been following this thread because a 610 4" would fill an empty spot in my safe, and just wondered about the hot stuff since it was mentioned earlier in the thread.

 

[kraynky]

The 10mm cartridge is not a "do all", "master of all" cartridge. It'a 10mm catridge, or as many would say, a .40 S&W magnum. Enjoy it for what it is, same as a .357 magnum is a souped up 38 special.

There are no "miracle rounds", so just take it for what it is and enjoy shooting it. The 610 does that well. My 610-3 4" revolver is actually more fun to shoot than the 1006 and 1076 I used to own.

So I keep it and also shoot some .40 S&W out of it.......... It makes me happy, so I keep using it.

 

[sprscientist]

The 10mm cartridge is not a "do all", "master of all" cartridge. It'a 10mm catridge, or as many would say, a .40 S&W magnum. Enjoy it for what it is, same as a .357 magnum is a souped up 38 special.

There are no "miracle rounds", so just take it for what it is and enjoy shooting it. The 610 does that well. My 610-3 4" revolver is actually more fun to shoot than the 1006 and 1076 I used to own.

So I keep it and also shoot some .40 S&W out of it.......... It makes me happy, so I keep using it.

Indeed 10mm is not "master-of-all" or even "do-it-all". Nothing is.

.40 S&W comes as light as ~350 ft lbs, and 10mm comes as powerful as ~725 ft lbs. That's a significant range, with many bullet types and weights even across factory loads. So I would classify the 4" 610 as "do-alot". And that is part of what makes it very enjoyable to many.

 

[JohnRippert]

As a add-on to SnidelyWhiplash's post. If I were going to get a 10mm, which I am not, it would need to be a 5 inch at least to take advantage of the possibilities of the cartridge.