S&w 610

[Angus MacDuff]

I have a full collection of the magnum revolvers but do not have this quasi-magnum. How does shoot the .40 out of moonclips compared to the 10 mm and lastly what is the going rate. Around MI I find that the upper $500's appears to be about right. Also, is there any plan to lengthen the barrel to a magnum type length of six to eight inches to make a better hunting pistol set-up?

 

[Preacherman]

S&W used to make them in 6.5" and 8.375" barrel lengths. I don't know when they stopped producing them, but they are available now and again on the used gun market: for example, see here, here and here.

 

[Majic]

The 10mm weren't the greatest sellers. The reason they first dropped the entire series. After they brought them back they still didn't sell very well except the 4 inchers that were used in the action games with the .40S&W loads. They most likely won't bring back a long barreled one.
It would have been nice if they made up one in the Mountain Gun configuration.
Prices have always been relatively high for them, with the first run series at a slight premium.

 

[BluesBear]

Did they ever make them with a standard barrel or are they all full lugged?

I'd have to search for a 6" regular barreled one if they exist.

 

[NordicG3K]

Current production is a stainless, 4", unfluted, full-underlug gun. Other variations include a 5", 6" and 6-1/2". There was also a Lew Horton 3" gun. For collectors the 5" fluted guns and the 3" LH guns are most desireable. I believe 6-1/2" was the longest 610 available, though there may have been some PC guns with longer barrels.

A 4" gun would make an ideal camp/hiking gun. As for hunting I personally feel that the 6-1/2" is the best choice. With a 10mm anything longer begins to put you in the realm of "diminishing returns."

I would love to see a 3" or 3-1/2" Mountain Gun version. I asked about a 3" gun built on the L-frame, but apparently S&W doesn't feel the L-frame cylinder would be strong enough with 10mm-sized chambers when using full-power loads. A couple people have bored out S&W 646s, but are limited shooting to mid-range loads.

 

[caz223]

It would work for hunting, but I prefer .41 magnum for that right now.
Where it does shine is in gaming, steel plate shoots, etc with the .40 round.
With the 50 ounce gun, excellent chamber support, and using moonclips, you can imagine how little muzzle flip there is, how quickly it reloads, and how accurate/easy to load for it can be.

 

[Majic]

Blues they were always full lugged models. I just got one of the first run 6 1/2" models. The 5 inchers come few and far inbetween with outlandish prices.

 

[BluesBear]

Thanks majic, I reread S&N and they indicated only full lugged. Drats.
That full lug just would clash with the rest of my 6" N-frame collection.