should i have my s&w m60 re-barreled?

[KinkBreaker]

i have a s&w 60-7 38spl in stainless with a snubby barrel

it was given to me as a gift kinda
it was in a motorcycle accident where it flew through the air and landed on the muzzle and screwed it all up bad. had a gunsmith friend of mine give a go at it(not his normal thing, hes a rifle builder) and he got it to where the bullet would leave the barrel without a huge gash getting cut in it on its way out. its safe to shoot but there is no accuracy at all. to proper get the muzzle right about 3/16" would have to come right off the front of the thing.

it was a gift so ill be keeping it around working or not.

i called s&w and they can put a 3" barrel on it for about $250. and it looks like it will cost 65 to ship it

is it worth the $300 plus to get this done?

[ubetcha]

Don't mean to get off the subject,but my daughter in-law is looking to purchase a model 60.How do you like this model? I'm a Ruger man,but I know S&W is top notch.I will load 357 cases to 38sp specs with either a Lyman 150swc or a Lee 158rf. I'm shooting Lee 158rf with 4.7 gr 231 and it shoots very well in my Ruger Security Six.
Thanks

[KinkBreaker]

i like the gun actually except the snub nose barrel, it even shot pretty well before the accident

[Piedmont]

I wouldn't pay that kind of money. Try to locate a barrel on the internet that your gunsmith can screw on. Is this a pre-shrouded barrel?

Another option would be to countersink the muzzle 3/16", like you see on older milsurps that had cleaning rod wear. The outside would still look the same.

[Nobade]

If you want a longer barrel now is your chance! Make it into just what you want and fix it at the same time. And yeah, might check around for a takeoff barrel and maybe give Ham Bowen a call and see if he has any longer ones laying around...

-Nobade

[gunfan]

i have a s&w 60-7 38spl in stainless with a snubby barrel

it was given to me as a gift kinda
it was in a motorcycle accident where it flew through the air and landed on the muzzle and screwed it all up bad. had a gunsmith friend of mine give a go at it(not his normal thing, hes a rifle builder) and he got it to where the bullet would leave the barrel without a huge gash getting cut in it on its way out. its safe to shoot but there is no accuracy at all. to proper get the muzzle right about 3/16" would have to come right off the front of the thing.

it was a gift so ill be keeping it around working or not.

i called s&w and they can put a 3" barrel on it for about $250. and it looks like it will cost 65 to ship it

is it worth the $300 plus to get this done?

Yes, it's worth the re-barrel. I prefer a heavier barrel of the 3" variety.

Scott

[Artful]

The M60-7 is IMHO the best version of the Chief's Special ever produced.
It was the first run of the model 60 specifically heat treated for +P's, has a wider smooth trigger, a wider front sight, and was produced in a time that they had worked all the kinks of manufacturing a stainless steel gun out. And does NOT have is the larger stretched J-Frame, the internal lock, the MIM parts, the cheaper ratchet design, the integral cylinder stop lug.

you can check out some of the online places to find barrels
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/283341/smith-and-wesson-barrel-s-and-w-60-638-649-2-stainless-steel
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/582434/smith-and-wesson-barrel-assembly-s-and-w-60-11-640-649-4-2-1-8-full-underlug-stainless-steel
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/529993/smith-and-wesson-barrel-s-and-w-60-10-3-with-black-ramp-front-sight-stainless-steel
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/898955/smith-and-wesson-barrel-assembly-s-and-w-60-4-3-full-underlug-stainless-steel

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/barrel-parts/barrels/index.htm?avs%7cCaliber_1=AAR_38zz1zz357+Caliber+( xzzx357-xzzx359)&avs%7CMake~~Model_1=Smith%20%26%20Wesson__J%20Fram e

You could try some of the custom revolver smiths like
http://www.pinnacle-guns.com/revolver.asp

[Ilwil]

I vote for a 3" barrel. It will make a big difference in accuracy and shootability, and is still entirely concealable.

[Tatume]

You can save most of the shipping cost if you and your local FFL are friends. He can mail it for about $8.

Take care, Tom

[KinkBreaker]

wow almost everybody seems to love a 3" barrel on these things, i though maybe i was being the weirdo

piedmont - the countersink thing is what the guy already did to it for me but it was really too damaged to make that a viable fix

[bob208]

i have a mod 31. which is your 60 but in .32 spl. i am looking for a 3" barrel to put on it. that extra inch will help alot.

[ddixie884]

2in barrels are for looks and selling or carrying in a pocket.
A 3in is a lot better for shooting, performance or carrying in a holster.
JMHO-YMMV..............

[9.3X62AL]

I favor a 3" or 4" barrel over any 2" revolver, in any caliber. I have a little Colt Police Positive in 38 S&W, with 4" barrel. What a little jewel, and it is the Kit Gun From Hell.

[jlchucker]

I vote for a 3" barrel. It will make a big difference in accuracy and shootability, and is still entirely concealable.

I've got a store-bought one with the 3 " barrel, and won't part with it. The down side (and maybe it's just that I don't know where to look) is that I'm a lefty, and haven't found an affordable leather holster for the 3 inch version. Right now I'm getting by with a nyon one that's kind of universal. I know I can get one custom made, but I carry other handguns more than this one, and don't want to spend as much as a custom holster would cost.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

The Post Office will ship firearms from private citizens back to the manufacturer for repair at less cost than FedEx. Check with them. Our local Post Office has many employees but they refer to one employee who is knowledgeable about shipping firearms. There is no transfer of a firearm when an owner ships it back to the manufacturer for repairs. Our local Post Office has a list of firearms repair shops which include a few places other than the manufacturer, but Smith and Wesson would be my first choice. Smith and Wesson recently told me they were very busy and were not doing any custom work. They were working full shifts just to produce items listed in their catalog and repairing only their products back to factory specs. They might have quoted you a high price just because they are so busy and not wanting more jobs.

You might try to have the crown re-cut and if that doesn't do it, ya I'm all in favor of the 3 inch barrel too.

[Piedmont]

It isn't just a simple barrel swap. You need at least a new, longer ejector rod also.

[pipehand]

It isn't just a simple barrel swap. You need at least a new, longer ejector rod also.

I forgot about that. On the plus side, he'll get more positive ejection.

I wish I had known about the Postal Service shipping back to the manufacturer. It would have saved me beaucoup bucks when I had a 686 rebarreled.

[HATCH]

My local smith swapped my n frame barrel for $60.00
its worth $300 if its otherwise in decent shape.

[MtGun44]

Not possible to recrown?

Bill

[KinkBreaker]

ooh the didnt tell me about the ejection rod on the phone. thanks for the heads up.

any body already dont the shipping thing? how bad a deal is it?

[Tatume]

The Post Office will ship firearms from private citizens back to the manufacturer for repair....

This is not true. Private citizens may not mail handguns. See:

http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_009.htm#ep308518


You can save most of the shipping cost if you and your local FFL are friends. He can mail it for about $8.

I stand by my statement.

Take care, Tom

[Piedmont]

KinkBreaker, You have a PM.

[KinkBreaker]

pics of the gun
637976379863799

[MtGun44]

Once again.

It should be fairly easy to just recrown the barrel. Why are you replacing it?

Bill