Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Couple of questions on my new SW Mod 60.

Texaseyes
I just bought a Smith and Wesson Model 60. The serial number was checked and it was found that is was manufactured around 1980. It is in the box and looks as if it has never been fired. It is in Stainless. The barrel has stamped on it, ".38 caliber Spl" The newer Model 60's are rated .357.
Does this mean I can fire the .38 Plus P rounds out of it?
Also, how can a gun 20 years old still be "new"?
I paid $200.00 for it, along with a set of earlier wooden grips (it has the rubber grips on it).
Did I pay too much, what should I shoot out of it for defense purposes and how accurate is it at 25 yards?
That may have been more that a 'couple of questions', bear with me, OK?
Thanks.

My aim is to hit what I'm shooting at.
0

Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • wm69
    A 20 year old gun can still be "new" if someone puts it up and never gets around to shooting it. Lot of people will buy a gun for self defence (like a model 60), hunting, or just to have and for whatever reason will never get around to shooting it. As for the +P rounds, shouldn't be a problem in a 60 made in 1980, although I wouldn't use +p rounds exclusively in any gun. $200 sounds like a pretty good deal if it was new, although the model 60's and 36's can be had pretty cheap. Fixed site 2" barrel .38 (i'm assuming it's a 2" although they were made in other lengths) will be hard to hit anything small at any distance, but should be great for a self defense weapon. Get some +P jacketed hollow points. They have all the fancy "self defence" ammo out there now, but if you hit em in the right place they will go down......
    0
  • CFPython
    Down here in Central Fla. an as new Model 60 for 2 bills would be a good deal. A few years back one of the shops down here ended up taking possession of the stock from a dealer that ATF had shut down 10 years prior. It took over 9 years for the court motions and proceedings to get done before the stock was released. They ended up with a large assortment of out of production S&W revolvers new in their boxes. It was like Christmas in July for some of us.
    +P's will be alright in your 60, but take a look at Federal's Nyclad round. They make a 125 gr. hollowpoint at regular .38 pressure that was designed for guns like the Chief's Special.

    The only thing worse than lawbreakers, are lawmakers.
    0
  • colt sr
    Two hundred bucks for a Model 60 was a great deal. Federal also makes a Hydra Shock 110 grain hollowpoint that is not +P. This would be a good round as well as the nyclad 125 grain already mentioned.
    0
  • Contender Man
    You got a good deal. To back that up I'll give ya $225 for it[;)]

    Now to the matter of ammo. I agree w/ others comments about not doing a steady diet of +P, just no point in doing this.

    Decide on the personal defense ammo that you want to use. There's a lot of it out there and it's all good. You'll probably end up w/ a jacketed hollow point in the 110 to 125 grain range.

    Now as far as shooting it ... your going to have to practice. If you do that you can get so you can consistently hit a 6" paper plate at 25 yards. However you have to be patient. You have a short sight radius and basically a combat sight with the grooved frame. This is a fighting gun, not a target piece. Also, the sights may very well be setup of standard 158 gr. 38 spec. loads. With different ammo with the same hold (sight picture) the pistol will shoot to a different point (typically higher or lower, as side to side usually indicates improper trigger pull/ finger positioning). Once you have settled on the ammo, and you should try several types, then through practice learn the proper hold (point of aim) for that load.

    Same applies for your "plinkin" ammo, get some inexpensive 38 semi-wad cutter. Re-manufactured can be had for $5 or less per box of 50. Your point of aim will shift, but, you can easily adjust and just have some fun. Especially if the ammo is light loaded "target" ammo.

    Now go have yourself some fun learning a great lil gun.
    0
  • allechalley
    You probably can shoot +P, but I'd go easy on it as newer pistols were designed with hotter loads in mind and the metallurgy has changed drastically, in particular stainless. Try some .38's, you might find they are a handful as it is. It depends on your sensitivity to recoil. I've found my 60 nice to shoot, very accurate for the range it was meant for, but I guess I never felt more recoil, more muzzle blast was all that necessary. Glasers, Winchester silver tips and the others mentioned above are all dependable, high performance loads. You still have to consistantly hit the mark to do the job.
    0
  • ATF
    The new models aren't just rated for .357 mags they are chambered for it.You should not be able to chamber .357s in your gun they are to long.


    [:)]


    standard.jpg

    Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they
    can in prison?

    ATF,Eagle Guns
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity