Scored big today, my first 610-3

[Nicholas]

Woohoo, scored a 610-3 today in the original matching case with original wax paper and all S&W docs. 3 & 7/8" barrel, very faint turn line, original buyer claims only one box of ammo fired through it.

I haven't owned a S&W revolver for several years, last one was a Model 25 in 45 Colt. I'll post a picture once I figure out how to do that.

Looking for a nice leather RH holster with thumb strap.

 

[Bill In Texas]

Congratulations Nicholas!

 

[adwjc]

Pictures !

 

[Nicholas]

Here we go, hope this works:

 

[Buckeyebill]

That is a beautiful 610. Well done.

 

[Chipperxd]

nice pick up OP. why do they bother with this 3 and 7/8ths barrel? why not just make it a 4 inch? Am I not understanding something?

 

[lkabug]

Great find. I've been looking for one of those for awhile myself.

 

[Steve_Revo_]

Sweet rig!!

 

[CapnB]

Congratulations! I'm sure you'll enjoy shooting it, but I have to admit I had to look up what a 610 was before you posted your pictures. I sort of stopped counting when they hit three digits. I know, I'm old.

 

[k22fan]

Yours is from the first short time period that they were cataloged. While it was not the first time they were made it was the first time 610-anythings were cataloged. That period started with no lock dash 2s. Afterwards 610s fell out of the catalog then came back again for awhile with cylinder flutes.

My 3 7/8" 610-2 has been my most used centerfire match revolver. Since S&W chose 8 3/8" to meet the maximum sight radius allowed in matches it is logical that 3 7/8" was chosen to slide these big revolvers into matches for concealment revolvers that required barrels under 4". I could have done that locally but I would have been ashamed of myself for bring my match revolver to compete against small revolvers. That's where my theory came from.

Mine came with rubber Hogue Mono-Grips so yours probably did too. Those wood Mono-Grips look much better. I had to replace my firing pin with a longer one. I like having a different gun than all the other competitors.

 

[Nicholas]

@k22fan. No, it came with the wood grips as pictured. While I like them and they are fairly grippy I may change to Hogue and save the wood grips.

I fired 29 rounds this past Thursday, 24 ppu 180 grain in the 4 moon clips I have and 5 Freedom Munitions in the cylinder. Ppu makes good target ammo which I enjoyed shooting the 610 for the first time. The Freedom ammo was 180 grain and had considerably more recoil and flash. The primers were slightly flattened and had to drive one case out of the cylinder.

All in all, I'm happy with the 610. The only change I believe I need is to change the front sight to a red insert. I have a hard time picking up the all black front sight at our indoor range. Other than that I'm happy, lockup is tight and accuracy is better than my capabilities.