I have owned both a S&W model 60 and a S&W Model 642 Airweight in .38 special. The airweight wins hands down.
The weight issue is the deciding factor, as it was the feeling of "lugging" the all steel model 60 in my pocket that made me trade it for a thinner, lighter automatic in .380acp. I did miss the reliability and versitility of the snubbie ammunition-wise, so that's when I caved in and got the 642. So much lighter, and no hammer to snag on my pockets.
I also feel that the double action only provides a level of trigger control over a cocked single action if/when I get hit with an adreneline dump during a confrontation.
I use .38 special Federal Hydra Shok 110grain JHP's on Bianchi Speed Strips with an Uncle Mike's IWB holster (or just a pocket) for daily carry. Right now it has Pachmayr overmolded rubber grips, but I just ordered a set of LG-205 Crimson Trace laser grips for a more compact, less binding set of carry grips.
-Beantown
The weight issue is the deciding factor, as it was the feeling of "lugging" the all steel model 60 in my pocket that made me trade it for a thinner, lighter automatic in .380acp. I did miss the reliability and versitility of the snubbie ammunition-wise, so that's when I caved in and got the 642. So much lighter, and no hammer to snag on my pockets.
I also feel that the double action only provides a level of trigger control over a cocked single action if/when I get hit with an adreneline dump during a confrontation. I use .38 special Federal Hydra Shok 110grain JHP's on Bianchi Speed Strips with an Uncle Mike's IWB holster (or just a pocket) for daily carry. Right now it has Pachmayr overmolded rubber grips, but I just ordered a set of LG-205 Crimson Trace laser grips for a more compact, less binding set of carry grips.
-Beantown
