S&W Mod 60

Ridgeline · June 25th, 2008, 09:12 PM

Ok, Ok I know that I should know this, but let me ask the experts here anyway. My wife will sometime carry an older model S&W mod 60 in .38 Special. My question is based on this handgun... will it handle +P ammo or even hotter without a problem, or maybe simply using this round for defensive only and using standand target rounds on the range? This weapon is like new stainless with very comfortable custom grips. So, what do y'all think?

QKShooter · June 25th, 2008, 10:02 PM

One of the best articles on the subject regarding answering your exact question can be found right here...CLICK HERE

G&A writer Petty really did his "homework" on this one and the article is pretty outstanding concerning "real world" answers.

frankmako · June 25th, 2008, 10:23 PM

i carry duty issue hydro shock +p+ in my model 60. yes you can use it. do i shoot lots of it? no i don't,,just some to get a hand on what it will do. i have seen some guys shoot our 50 round q-course with the +p+ with out any problems. i shoot 148 gr wad cutter on q-day in my model 60,,,no reason to wear out my hands.

Bline · June 26th, 2008, 08:27 AM

Had a friend with the same question. I told him to call S&W. He did and they told him if it was manufactured post '96 it would handle +P. Give them a call with the serial of the said snubby and they'll let you know if it's ok or not. I aslo told him that one wheel of +P won't kill it just don't practice with +P. I know a lot of folks who plink with light loads and carry +P "just in case".

Andy W. · June 26th, 2008, 08:52 AM

From the link above:

Quote:

Interestingly, Colt small-frame revolvers have always been approved for +Ps

I have read the exact opposite of this in several articles.

Captain Crunch · June 26th, 2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy W.

From the link above:

Interestingly, Colt small-frame revolvers have always been approved for +Ps

I have read the exact opposite of this in several articles.

That statement should be qualified somewhat.

Third Generation Colt D-frame revolvers (Detective Special, Cobra & Agent with shrouded ejector rods) were +P rated, although I still recommend caution when using +P ammo in the alloy framed Cobra & Agent.

First and second generation Colt D-frames were not +P rated.

QKShooter · June 26th, 2008, 11:48 AM

After all is said and done it is very much wiser to practice with loads that at least closely approximate what you daily carry and that has nothing much to do with if any specific firearm can physically handle +P or not.

NY27 · June 26th, 2008, 11:00 PM

A model 60 was my very first handgun. I used to practice with standard loads and carry +p.

AzQkr · June 27th, 2008, 12:05 AM

I know of one 60-1 [ made about 1974 ] whose cylinder was punched out to accept 357 shells back in 77-78.

Prim [ that was his nickname ] shot standard velocity 38's for practice and finished each session with 5 rds of the 357's. He did that with much consternation from all of the investigators shooting with him, but the gun held through several years of this before we went different paths.

I don't suggest it, but that gun held with higher pressures than a 38+p. That 60-1 from the late 70's was not rated for .38+p, let alone 357's.

Just some reference on the subject for others to ponder relative pressures in these model 60's.

Brownie

MNBurl · June 27th, 2008, 12:15 AM

I like my Model 60 no dash. It can handle +P no problem.

It is a classic Smith and one that she should continue to use and carry.

June 25th, 2008, 09:12 PM	#1
Ridgeline Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,020	S&W Mod 60 Ok, Ok I know that I should know this, but let me ask the experts here anyway. My wife will sometime carry an older model S&W mod 60 in .38 Special. My question is based on this handgun... will it handle +P ammo or even hotter without a problem, or maybe simply using this round for defensive only and using standand target rounds on the range? This weapon is like new stainless with very comfortable custom grips. So, what do y'all think? __________________ "Eternity is Too Long to be Wrong" Texas CHL Instructor & Holder Life Member NRA Member TSRA

June 25th, 2008, 10:02 PM	#2
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Runthegun, USA Posts: 19,135	One of the best articles on the subject regarding answering your exact question can be found right here...CLICK HERE G&A writer Petty really did his "homework" on this one and the article is pretty outstanding concerning "real world" answers. __________________ http://obamacrimes.com/ Read about Berg V. Obama Certificate Of Live Birth analysis http://obamacrimes.com/index.php/com...lysis-part-one

June 25th, 2008, 10:23 PM	#3
frankmako Distinguished Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 1,880	i carry duty issue hydro shock +p+ in my model 60. yes you can use it. do i shoot lots of it? no i don't,,just some to get a hand on what it will do. i have seen some guys shoot our 50 round q-course with the +p+ with out any problems. i shoot 148 gr wad cutter on q-day in my model 60,,,no reason to wear out my hands. __________________ An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

June 26th, 2008, 08:27 AM	#4
Bline Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 206	Had a friend with the same question. I told him to call S&W. He did and they told him if it was manufactured post '96 it would handle +P. Give them a call with the serial of the said snubby and they'll let you know if it's ok or not. I aslo told him that one wheel of +P won't kill it just don't practice with +P. I know a lot of folks who plink with light loads and carry +P "just in case". __________________ In God we trust, everyone else keep your hands where I can see them. Rights are like muscles: If you don't excersise them they slowly disappear.

June 26th, 2008, 11:48 AM	#7
QKShooter Assistant Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Runthegun, USA Posts: 19,135	After all is said and done it is very much wiser to practice with loads that at least closely approximate what you daily carry and that has nothing much to do with if any specific firearm can physically handle +P or not. __________________ http://obamacrimes.com/ Read about Berg V. Obama Certificate Of Live Birth analysis http://obamacrimes.com/index.php/com...lysis-part-one

June 26th, 2008, 11:00 PM	#8
NY27 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NY Posts: 871	A model 60 was my very first handgun. I used to practice with standard loads and carry +p. __________________ It is better to have your gun and not need it, than to need it and not have it. McCain/Palin 2008 - NObama

June 27th, 2008, 12:05 AM	#9
AzQkr Distinguished Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In the Superstitions Posts: 1,269	I know of one 60-1 [ made about 1974 ] whose cylinder was punched out to accept 357 shells back in 77-78. Prim [ that was his nickname ] shot standard velocity 38's for practice and finished each session with 5 rds of the 357's. He did that with much consternation from all of the investigators shooting with him, but the gun held through several years of this before we went different paths. I don't suggest it, but that gun held with higher pressures than a 38+p. That 60-1 from the late 70's was not rated for .38+p, let alone 357's. Just some reference on the subject for others to ponder relative pressures in these model 60's. Brownie __________________ The mind is the limiting factor http://www.threatfocused.com/forums/index.php

June 27th, 2008, 12:15 AM	#10
MNBurl Distinguished Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,822	I like my Model 60 no dash. It can handle +P no problem. It is a classic Smith and one that she should continue to use and carry. __________________ MNBurl Side Guard Holsters "If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking" - George S. Patton.

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