S&W 60 or SP101 2" or 3"

[amprecon]

Which do most of you prefer? I'm kind of leaning towards the S&W 2" because it's lighter. I don't really like the 3" S&W 60 because of the adjustable sights.
The gun would be used for carry, HD, woods carry and maybe by my wife in her purse on occasion. If I were convinced to go with a 3" it would probably be the SP101. If the 2" then probably the S&W 60.
Just need some convincing, I understand bullet performance and accuracy is better with the longer barrel.
As a side note, I was interested in the Kahr K9, but the slide is just too much for her to operate.

 

[Jim March]

It's all about your preferred carry method!

Fanny pack? 3" SP101

Pocket? 2" 60

Ankle? 2" either one, slight pref. for 101

IWB? 3" either one, slight pref for the 60 unless I needed very potent loads, then slight pref the other way.

Shoulder horizontal? 2" 60

Shoulder vertical? 3" 60

Shall I continue?

 

[Blueduck]

Jim makes excellent point on how you prefer to carry. Personally I look at it as only CCW or general carry gun 3", back up to something else 2".

In regard to S/W or Ruger I'll take the S/W every time. I'm used to hearing good things about Ruger but about 18 months ago we hit a really bad streak with them at the office. They might have improved QC since then but doubt I'll ever find out as everyone quit buying them after that debacle.

 

[bpisler]

I like my pistols to hit POA or very, very close.A model 60 3' with adjustable sights works for me.I can conceal a 3" as easily as a 2" plus i'll pick up a little velocity and maybe be a little more accurate.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Longer barrels are easier to shoot,

so it depends on your carry method. And for waistband carry, I'd prefer at least a 3" K frame, unless there are medical or other reasons that I have to have the J frame size.

 

[Kahr carrier]

There both pretty good I think the 2inch 60 would be good for deep concealment or pocket carry and SP101 3 inch would be a good belt and utility gun.

 

[Jim March]

I've seen some bad S&Ws, and some bad Rugers. I came across a brand-new Performance Center 8-shot 5" barrel 357 which had a trigger that just stank...crunchy, grinding mess as bad as the worst 15-year-old Taurus.

That's what the checkout is for! Done in detail, you can spot all sorts of trouble.

 

[10-Ring]

In terms of form & function, the 3" mod 60 gets my vote, YMMV

 

[Arub]

Quality wise, both the Smiths and Rugers are pretty much the same. I went with the Smith model 60 w/3" barrel mainly because I like adjustable sights. I do own the Smith in 2", but yearn for the 3" model. Bought the 2" for concealed carry, carry IWB in a Don Hume PCCH, the extra 1" would not have made any difference. It might in a pocket or ankle carry rig.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Ruger SP. I currently have both a Smith 686 and a Ruger GP, both in 4" barrels. Fit and finish is just a tad finer in the Smith, but where it counts, reliability, feel, trigger pull and accuracy, there appears to be no detectable difference, at least not to me.

Pick any of the four, based on your preferences and you can't go wrong.

 

[Brian Williams]

I have been carrying a S&W mod 60-4 3" in 38 spec daily for the last month. It is very accurate and still small to hide IWB.

It is one of my top three Revolvers along with a mod 13 3" and a 586 4"

 

[Brian Williams]

Here it is with the grips it now has on it, Herret full checkered.

 

[M1911]

Depends upon how you carry it. For pocket carry, it's gotta be a 2" tube. For belt holster carry, then make it a 3". I could go either way with the 60 or SP101 (in fact, I've got one of each).

 

[V-fib]

my choice SP101 3"

 

[Gila Jorge]

fAced wiuth similar decisions: I ended up with
60LS in 2 inch and 696 in 3 inch. Best of both worlds. For most concealment I've got the 60 but for leaway on concealment or general bumming around discretely I have the 696. Also prefer the 44 over any 38/357: Alsl have a 4 inch Mtn Gun
with Hogue Bantums for discrete carry. Also with 44 Spcls.

 

[cratz2]

For just myself, I'd take the S&W 60 3". For the wife to carry in her purse, I'd go with the 2" version of the same.

 

[who me]

the SP101 3" b/c it's next on my list

 

[Tamara]

2" Model 60 offers the widest range of carry possibilities...

I never have warmed up to those "Brand X" revolvers, like Rugers and Colts...

 

[ruger357]

I tend to like the S&W's better because of their smaller size.

 

[Prodigalshooter]

I have a model 60 2", it is nice and small, but to actually shoot .357 ammo, I'd take the SP101.
If I could carry with a shoulder holster, I'd use my GP100 with the 3" barrel.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I pack a (pre-agreement) Smith & Wesson model 60 with a 2.125" barrel. I thought it would be uncomfortable to shoot with full house .357 magnum loads, but it's not much more bothersome than a K frame with a 4" barrel. It's surprisingly accurate at close ranges.

 

[amprecon]

If only S&W made a 3" 60 with fixed sights, I'd be all over it. It just looks like an overgrown NAA Black Widow. I think I have it narrowed down to a 3". I think the Ruger could withstand more magnum loads than the S&W, but who has ever ruined a S&W 60 by using magnum loads? I've never heard of it.
The Ruger is 3oz. heavier and bulkier and probably handles stouter loads better. I have read TonyB's posts about how tickled he is with the accuracy of his 3" SP101, but haven't read much about the accuracy and recoil of the S&W 60.
The gun will be mostly in the apartment, in the console of a vehicle, in a holster when venturing in the wilds and maybe but probably rarely with my wife in her purse.

 

[Brian Williams]

amprecon, I think the S&W is very accurate check the pic in my above post and you can see the group shot a about 20 yds. I was using Win 125 gr +p personal protection 38 spec.

 

[Captain Bligh]

I have a 2" Model 60. Love it. I like guns that are easily concealed and, as revolvers go, this one conceals just fine.

RJ