5" 357 S&W model 60

[Angus]

I have a lead on one at a solid price, anyone have good or bad to say about them?

[Heavy lead]

Got a 3", nice little handgun, too small for my hands with full bore .357's, makes me want to shoot my Linebaugh, but a pleasure to carry, and accurate if you can hold it.

[x101airborne]

I have 3 of the various 60's series. 686, 66, 67. ALL are dead nuts accurate. They are my favorite to pack and carry. I use the 67 for squirrels and other small game, the 66 and 687 for large game. I love that series of smiths. You cannot go wrong with the mid-frame revolvers and Those are the best. I have medium hands and to cup one of those grips just feels natural to me. You will love it!!!

[ReloaderFred]

The S&W Model 60 is a J Frame, which means it's a small 5 shot revolver. I've never seen one with a 5" barrel, only 2" and 3".

Hope this helps.

Fred

[shotman]

I havent either but they say they dont make a judge with a 4in . They did cause I have one

[Ed K]

I had a 3" model 60. I bought it because I thought it would be a neat trail gun. I decided it was to small to shoot full 158gr 357 mags. Don't take that as I couldn't shoot it or wouldn't shoot it in a pinch. I mean it was too nasty to have as your "friend" when in the woods and wanting to shoot casually. A lower pressure 44 special does handles those chores now.

[Bret4207]

I've seen a few of the 5" 60's. This one has adjustable sights, right? I was a gold plated FOOL not to buy one!!! GRAB IT!!! NOW!!! WHAT ARE YOU SITTING THERE FOR!!!! RUN MAN!! RUN!

[shotman]

A 60 with adj rear? that has to be custom shop gun 1000 bucks ?

[John Ross]

The 5" M60 with adj. sight came out around 2005 as a regular production gun. Saw it at SHOT. Has a half lug that's about 3/4" longer than it needs to be, right?

[Angus]

Yep, that's the one

[Dale53]

I have a 3" .38 Special Chief's Target model that is an absolute HOOT to own, carry and shoot!

I was disappointed in that it was only offered in a 3" barrel. However, after owning it for awhile and shooting it regularly, I realized I could shoot it quite well. It went on quite a number of bird hunts with me as a side gun to my Beretta Silver Snipe O/U. I took a number of sitting grouse as well as the occasional sitting rabbit (both cottontail and snowshoe rabbit). The family MUCH preferred the revolver shot game (no shot to pick out of their teeth).

If I had a 5" .357 Model 60, the first thing I would do is put a set of Pachmayr Compac grips on it, and shoot it with .38 Special level reloads and just flat enjoy the HECK out of it...

FWIW
Dale53

[Kirk Miller]

I've got that very gun. A total blast to shoot. Originally, I bought it for a trail gun to use while grouse hunting in the back country. However, there is no way possible that I can own a firearm of any sort, and fail to experiment until the perfect load for my use is found.

Eventually, the load that was both accurate and inexpensive was found. 5gr unique, rem spp, and the old style 358477. Because, the rifleing is so shallow, an alloy of at least c/o ww hardness has to be used. In all of my other revolvers, an alloy quite a bit softer gets me better accuracy.

After nearly 4000 of these loads, that little piece still shoots more accurately than I can hold.
Hope this helps
Kirk

PS I like the 357 so much, that I picked up the 22lr version and it's just as much fun albeit, heavier by a few ounces.

[NHlever]

There are a couple of versions of the 3" adjustable sight model 60's in production now, and they have been tempting. I have only seen a couple of the 5" inch versions in my travels, but they looked nice. You are lucky to find one for sale, and I would grab it.

[theperfessor]

I remember seeing that gun reviewed in one of the gun rags when it first came out. I have a couple of J-frames with 1-7/8 or 2" barrels in .38 that are really nice. I'm going to second Dale53 and say that my first thought when I read about it was how nice it would be with .38 or .38 +P loads in .357 cases. Light to pack in the field, enough power and versatility to cover a lot of needs, lots of cushiony grips available. Wish I had one.

[S.R.Custom]

They're out there. Most --like this one-- are not cheap:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=222209778

[MGySgt]

I bought a NIB M60 3 in with adjustable sights for the wife tio shoot .38's. It shoots great, SA is light and crisp, DA however is too heavy, Maybe I will put a spring kit in it, but I also am buying the Crimson Trace grips for it.

Wife likes the laser!

[Angus]

He is shipping it out Friday... I really, really can't wait to get it on the range. Where should I star with, loading Lee's 150gr RN and also Lyman's 357446 for both 38spl and 357 level loads?

[theperfessor]

I've had pretty good success in .38 using 150-170 gr bullets with Bullseye, Unique, and 231. In .357 I like Unique, 2400, and Blue Dot. I'm sure a lot of other powders would work also, these are the ones I can most easily get locally.

[MGySgt]

I don't know if my M60 3 in will ever see a 357. I think I can get all I need out of my 358477 in 38. That is standard and +P loads.

[Heavy lead]

I don't know if my M60 3 in will ever see a 357. I think I can get all I need out of my 358477 in 38. That is standard and +P loads.

Mine has, I have a new performance center with tritium sights, and just for fun launched some 180 grain boolits over 15 grains of Lil Gun (my regular load for the GP100). It's about as much fun as shooting a blackhawk with the grips removed.
Since then, I've been shooting a nice Lyman 358395 wadcutter load in .357 brass, nice and easy.

[Bret4207]

He is shipping it out Friday... I really, really can't wait to get it on the range. Where should I star with, loading Lee's 150gr RN and also Lyman's 357446 for both 38spl and 357 level loads?

Start with 5.0 Unique in 38 brass. I wouldn't even bother with 357.

[NHlever]

"Gunblast" has a good review on the pro model 60, both the 3", and 5".

http://www.gunblast.com/SW-60Pro.htm

http://www.gunblast.com/SW60_KitGun.htm

[excess650]

A J frame should be a beast to shoot with full 357s. I've shot +P level 38s with 358429s in my 640 using 2400, and didn't really care for it. I generally pack a 4" round butt M19, and with less than full 357s. For anything that needs MORE, I have a 4" M625 stoked with Auto Rims or a 5-1/2" Redhawk 44 Mag, both carried in a crossdraw holster. The larger diameter, heavier boolits should take care of business.

Back in the late 80s or early 90s, I bought a 3" M36 with adjustable sights, full lug barrel, matte finish and Hogue Monogrip. Soon after I bought the similar M60, but sold the M60 as the M36 was considerably more accurate. I still have the M36.

[MGySgt]

I had Buckshot Hollow Point a SC 358477 mould for me. With 35 to 1 Lead/Tin it comes in at 133 gr.

I launch that with 3.8 gr of BE - I shoot these out of the Ruger LCR and that is all I want or need. I think the M60 will do OK with that load. That boolit tries to turn it's self inside out when it hits something. It also has less muzzel flash than my Unique load or the Horndady Critial Defense 38 load.

[jameslovesjammie]

I'd love a 5" adjustable sight J frame for my boys when they get a little older. 2.8 grains of Bullseye under a 125 grain LEE RNFP makes for a fantastic beginner load.

[casterofboolits]

I pased on a J frame 38 Spec with a 5" barrel back in the early 90's and have been kicking myself in the butt ever since. I have never seen another one.