Put A Smith M60 On Layaway

[ACP230]

I'd been looking for a Smith M60, the stainless snubnose, off and on for a while. Yesterday, on the way out of town, I stopped at my local gunstore.
There was an M60 in .38 Special in the case. It looked in great shape, lockup was good, and it had wooden grips that might be Herrets.

Before getting back on the road, I put some money down on the M60.

I stopped at two other sporting goods stores, but didn't see anything as nice at either.

Now to round up the cash to pay it off, and then to the shooting range!

 

[slystad810]

Nice choice. Here's a little something to tease you

 

[10-Ring]

The mod 60 was my 1st wheelgun and still one of my faves. I bought it new many many moons ago...so many moons that it's a 38 special!
Great revo! Congrats on your find

 

[ACP230]

I remember articles in the gun mags when the M60 first came out.
If I recall correctly, one writer threw it in a freezer, buried it in dirt, and left it in a bucket of salt water for a day or so.
It came through with flying colors.

Somewhere I still have that article. I may have to go and find it. I won't be subjecting the gun to any of that abuse, however.

I like the feel of the wood grips, but probably will put Uncle Mike's boot grips on it anyhow. The rubber grips are smaller overall, and I have them on all my other Smith snubs.

 

[doggscube]

My wife's (inherited) Mod. 60 snub is old, as well, it's a non-+P .38. I had to replace the original grips with Hogue Mono's because the cylinder release was cutting my thumb. I carry it in warm weather. My wife has never fired it, heck, she's probably never touched it. I'm taking her to the range this summer.

Nice choice!

-Jeff

 

[ACP230]

I was in the town where my M60 is currently residing today but didn't get to handle it. Didn't even make it into the gun store. I'm feeling a bit deprived this afternoon.

 

[skeezix]

Good Catch

An older model 60 in 38 Special is on my gotta have list. I'm not a fan of .357 snubs - 38 Special is enough for me.

 

[Captain Bligh]

I have a Model 60. My experience is that grips make all the difference in the shooting pleasure of this gun, particularly if you have big hands. I couldn't stand the stock grips.

I settled on Pachmyr Compacs. If you're not having fun with the gun, change the grips.

 

[1 old 0311]

I got one years ago. This past winter, being bored I, thought "What the heck.....Lets polish it" Tried Flitz, and Semicrome with so-so results. Then tried Mothers Mag Wheel Polish. Pull the grips, and cylinder , and start rubbing away. Two hours later and it will look like a mirror. Put on a light coat of auto paste wax, and it will keep the fingerprints away.

Kevin

 

[MCgunner]

The mod 60 was my 1st wheelgun and still one of my faves. I bought it new many many moons ago...so many moons that it's a 38 special!

You cannot convince me of the desirability of any snubby, except maybe the SP101, in anything BUT .38 special. It is a match made in heaven, the .38 and the J frame. .357s in a J, if they have much more velocity, have so much flash/bang even in tailored snub loads I just fail to see the point. And, the recoil is flinch inducing for a lot of shooters. Make my the Special, personal preference I admit.

The M60 is a beautifully useful and resiliant J frame for sure, and if you can handle the short sight radius, they're amazingly accurate and some amazing ranges. I personally saw one shoot a sub 2" 50 yard group out of a ransom rest. Wasn't my gun, though I did try to buy it from the guy who was shooting/testing it at the range. That's exceptional I think for a J frame, but I don't know. It is the only J frame I've ever seen tested from a ransom rest. I have nothing to judge that gun against. I know that I can routinely shoot 3" groups at 25 yards with almost any J frame gun that's in good shape. That's plenty accurate for self defense. Some berate the little guns as only good as "belly guns". BS, I even like to carry 'em in the field to shoot rabbits! I've done it! a 3" gun with its extra sight radius does make that easier, though, I'll admit.

 

[Marshall]

I love my .357 Mag Model 60. Having the option of shooting both .357 Mag and .38sp is nice to have. It's a very accurate gun for a snub nose.

 

[ACP230]

I finally picked up the M60 this morning.
I didn't realize it had languished in layaway so long. This may be the longest I've ever had a gun on layaway.

I put some Uncle Mike's rubber Boot grips on it, just to try them out.
They feel OK, but the wood grips, which turned out to be Herretts, let me get my little finger on the grip, instead of under it.

The trigger pull in SA isn't too bad, but the double-action pull is hard. A bunch of dry fire, and range time, may help smooth both up. My other Smith snubs are Bodyguards, so having the unshrouded hammer feel a lot different. The sight picture is pretty much the same as my other snubs. It could stand some improvement, at least a colored front sight blade if nothing else.

No chance to shoot the M60 today, as it rained. I may have to reload some .38 Specials before I can. That could mean shooting it will have to wait till next week.

 

[10-Ring]

The M60 is a fine weapon. I love mine & I'm sure you love yours too

 

[Candiru]

Did someone say M60?



Mine is an M60, no dash. Supposedly it isn't rated for +P ammo, but I can't afford to put enough self-defense rounds through it to break it, anyway. I got mine used, but I think there had been five or fewer rounds through it at that point. The frame showed some wear marks from carry (probably in a purse), but there were no cylinder drag lines. The trigger is still a bit stiff, but I hope it will lighten up with some use.

 

[slabsides]

Candiru, my 60-no-dash is a ringer for yours. Mine was the first one in Maine that was sold to a civilian: some earlier ones may have gone to VietNam-bound military types at the time. They were popular over there. I've got Pachmayr, Herret's Shooting Star and regular grips for it. Perfer to tote it just like Candiru...with a Tyler T-grip adapter.
Mine is usually loaded with a very hot 160-gr lead recipe suggested to me in correspondence by Jeff Cooper, who had written that in his opinion, the stainless used by S&W could stand 'low-end .357 loads." The gun has fired several thousand rounds of these warm bombs, with great accuracy, and to the sights. For the last few years, I've been toting it with a dehorned hammer. I put a small washer under the mainspring seat to give the lighter part a bit more oomph. Works well. The original hammer is stored!