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My father left me one of these very nice revolvers with no pinned barrel, but with hard chromed hammer and trigger. My problem is finding a good defensive round for the gun, since it can't take +P. People say, just get the FBI load. First, this load is almost impossible to find, it's insanely expensive plus, let's face it, it's a 2-inch barrel!
I just bought some American Eagle .38 Spc 130-gr FMJ. That should give me penetration, but no expansion. Does anyone know how this gun would hold up with +P loads for defense only? Georgia Arms has a so-called FBI load, but when tested to the tried-and-true brand, even though it looked the same, weighed the same and had similar velocities, the Georgia Arms version just didn't expand, even from longer barrels. And doesn't someone come out with two versions of that load, +P and standard?
I've never fired anything in this gun and my dad only checked it out when he first got it years ago. I also have a VERY nice Rossi version of the same gun, only with a 3-inch barrel and much better sights. I've never fired it so it looks like it just came from the factory. Not even a test load. That said, I did fire its twin brother, but used mostly SWCs. Then, at the end, I fired five +P loads, 125gr JHPs, I think. It barked a bit louder but was easily controlled. I later carried it as a pocket gun and even used it to extract myself (and a girlfriend) from a very dicey situation in Washington, D.C. Having had the crap beaten out of me a few years earlier, I can say with conviction that having a gun makes all the difference in a confrontation. Even though there were more potential assistants than bullets, the adage about no one wanting to be shot ruled the situation. But still I would like my ammo to be effective. At the time I had Glaser blue-tips, but now, what is the old Model 60 capable of? Or should it just be retired as obsolete?
BTW, the Model 60 and the Rossi 88 seem to have almost identical specifications and measurements. Compared side-by-side, I made notes of the differences. The Rossi has a stainless trigger and hammer. Cylinder appears identical except for notches, which are in the same places and about the same depth. Topstrap and trigger guard also appear to have the same thickness and shape, but the cylinder ejector on the Rossi, while fully functional, lacks the quality of the Smith's ejector, which tends to be a bit thicker and better machined. On the plus side of the Rossi, the hammer is wider, making it easier to cock and uncock. The sights also are superior and allow for windage adjustments. And, finally, the smaller barrel on the 60 gives the gun exceptional feel and balance. At the same time, the 3-inch barrel is better when any distance is needed.
Overall, I was impressed by the look and feel of both guns and can more fully understand why the 60 was so expensive and sought after. But their inability to shoot +P makes them both almost obsolete. I asked someone from Smith & Wesson once about shooting +P in the 60 just for defense and he just gave me the official answer: that the Model 60 is not rated for +P, period.
Anyone else have any inputs on the old 60? And what are they going for now? Has anyone shot +P out of theirs? If not, what is the ammo you carry in it?
Thanks!
I just bought some American Eagle .38 Spc 130-gr FMJ. That should give me penetration, but no expansion. Does anyone know how this gun would hold up with +P loads for defense only? Georgia Arms has a so-called FBI load, but when tested to the tried-and-true brand, even though it looked the same, weighed the same and had similar velocities, the Georgia Arms version just didn't expand, even from longer barrels. And doesn't someone come out with two versions of that load, +P and standard?
I've never fired anything in this gun and my dad only checked it out when he first got it years ago. I also have a VERY nice Rossi version of the same gun, only with a 3-inch barrel and much better sights. I've never fired it so it looks like it just came from the factory. Not even a test load. That said, I did fire its twin brother, but used mostly SWCs. Then, at the end, I fired five +P loads, 125gr JHPs, I think. It barked a bit louder but was easily controlled. I later carried it as a pocket gun and even used it to extract myself (and a girlfriend) from a very dicey situation in Washington, D.C. Having had the crap beaten out of me a few years earlier, I can say with conviction that having a gun makes all the difference in a confrontation. Even though there were more potential assistants than bullets, the adage about no one wanting to be shot ruled the situation. But still I would like my ammo to be effective. At the time I had Glaser blue-tips, but now, what is the old Model 60 capable of? Or should it just be retired as obsolete?
BTW, the Model 60 and the Rossi 88 seem to have almost identical specifications and measurements. Compared side-by-side, I made notes of the differences. The Rossi has a stainless trigger and hammer. Cylinder appears identical except for notches, which are in the same places and about the same depth. Topstrap and trigger guard also appear to have the same thickness and shape, but the cylinder ejector on the Rossi, while fully functional, lacks the quality of the Smith's ejector, which tends to be a bit thicker and better machined. On the plus side of the Rossi, the hammer is wider, making it easier to cock and uncock. The sights also are superior and allow for windage adjustments. And, finally, the smaller barrel on the 60 gives the gun exceptional feel and balance. At the same time, the 3-inch barrel is better when any distance is needed.
Overall, I was impressed by the look and feel of both guns and can more fully understand why the 60 was so expensive and sought after. But their inability to shoot +P makes them both almost obsolete. I asked someone from Smith & Wesson once about shooting +P in the 60 just for defense and he just gave me the official answer: that the Model 60 is not rated for +P, period.
Anyone else have any inputs on the old 60? And what are they going for now? Has anyone shot +P out of theirs? If not, what is the ammo you carry in it?
Thanks!
). Most of us carried a .357 revolver, but our agency would not let us use .357 ammunition. Thus they issued us very hot +P+ .38 Specials.
