Smith & Wesson, Model 60
 

I have an opportunity to buy this gun from a friend. I am a female, and I have been looking for something strictly for personal protection. The simplicity appeals to me. Any feedback, suggestions, pros and cons are appreciated. Price is $400.00.

$400 is not a bad price...provided the pistol is newish and in good condition. They have been making that model with relatively few changes since the 1960's...you may end up with a 40 year old pistol which is OK, but the price is a bit steep in that instance.

A common concern among female revolver users is that the reach for the trigger is too long for someone with less-than-large hands as well as the difficulty of manipulating a double action trigger in an effective and accurate way.

You may have no trouble, but make sure the pistol feels comfortable in your hand and after unloading it (I don't mean to patronize, but this is the internet) dry-fire it a couple time both with the hammer cocked and with the hammer down double-action. Remember that if you have to use it for self defense double action is probably all you will have time for.

I don't know what calibers the pistol was offered in, but FWIW without getting into another caliber debate make sure it isn't something exotic....38 Special and .357 Magnum are the gold-standards for revolvers. I personally woudl rather have a .357 because it can also shoot .38 special cartridges (which have less recoil and are cheaper).


Bear in mind that you can get a good 9mm autoloading pistol for less than 500 dollars brand new these days. You may want to at least consider that as an option, some of the new ones are quite small and easy-to carry.

I agree. I'm female, I prefer a 9mm... even the Glock 17 we had was a little big for my hands. I'm holding out for a Walther PPK because it fits me and I found a few for under $500. I like the autoloading and the portability of the 9mms for my littler hands and ease of shooting. But try out the S&W a bit. I'd recommend taking it to a firing range and see how it works, if you have that option. Your gun needs to feel like a part of you.

If you decide you want to look at other options there are plenty of people on this board who will be more than happy to help guide you through the proccess of choosing a weapon that is appropriate for your needs.

I've been carrying a model 60 six or seven years now, usually in a low budget plastic paddle holster, sometimes in various pockets.

The only problem I've ever encountered is remembering to unload it and clean out the pocket lint now and then.

I've had three Model 60's and still have the Model 36 I'd carry when I went backpacking in High School. J-Frame S&Ws are accurate and reliable once you get used to the recoil and sights. They're easier to load than autos (no filiing magazines and racking slides) and if you pull the hammer back for a single action shot, the trigger is not too bad. The only maintenance needed is to wipe the lint out of the barrel once in awhile. The downside...if you're a bad shot, you only have five chances.

I totally missed this thread. WTF is wrong with me?

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Wow, $400 is a good price for a lightly used S&W snubbie. Consider how much S&W advertises it for! Hah!

I'd go for it. It's a solid gun, good for your needs. And it turns out I've got one around here somewhere. Pictures - GO!

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The S&W 60 is built on the compact "J" frame, the smallest frame S&W uses for revolvers. It's a small piece with a good heft to it, as it constructed entirely of stainless steel. It's chambered in .357 Magnum caliber, capable of handling the lighter .38 Special round as well. It has a short barrel (2" or 3" is common) and a short ejector rod inside a full lug shroud. Sights are fixed and tiny (2"). Gripframe allows for a short (middle and ring finger) grip or a full size grip (all fingers), as seen in the photos below.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...efSpecial2.jpg

The J-frame holds 5 rounds of .357 / .38 ammunition. This keeps the cylinder diameter smaller, useful for concealed carry. The grip can be replaced with everything from narrow slabs of wood to big cushy rubber, whatever you find most comfortable. This makes the revolver popular for those with smaller hands. Automatics, such as a 9mm, generally have a fixed grip size due to their magazine.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...efSpecial3.jpg

Size comparison between the S&W 60 and the Beretta M9, the standard issue sidearm of the US military.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...efSpecial4.jpg

In comparison the clunky Beretta M9, the S&W 60 is petite. Notice the difference in distance between the front of the trigger and the top backside of the grip (where the web of the hand would go) on the two pistols. Also remember that the revolver can be fired from single action (by cocking the hammer first), reducing the lengthy harder trigger pull from a deliberate squeeze to a sneeze.

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Revolvers are ideal for home defense because they are simple and reliable... and thus safe. The ya-can't-lose-it cylinder acts both as the chamber and magazine. There is no mystery to revolvers... and they're as safe a design as you can get: pushing a button and swinging out the cylinder both prevents the gun from firing and allows you to instantly inspect, load, or empty the ammunition.

You can fire a revolver quickly under stress because it has no safety mechanisms to manipulate aside from the long double action trigger pull. Revolvers do not malfunction from common user errors such as failure to maintain a rigid grip while firing ("limp wristing"). Revolvers are free of autoloader and magazine related issues such as failure to seat / lock (magazine falls out), failure to feed (round into chamber), double feed (two rounds at the same time), failure to extract/eject (bang followed by a jam), etc. Hell, you can fire a revolver multiple times while it positioned in a jacket pocket or concealed inside a purse, something that cannot be expected from an automatic.

The biggest hurdle any novice encounters when using a double action revolver is trigger pull. Getting comfortable with the "long pull" (rotates the cylinder and fires the gun all in one motion) is absolutely crucial to real life defend-yo-self accuracy. There is a definite point in the long double action trigger pull where the cylinder rotates, locks up, and leaves you with that (almost) single action sneeze to send a round off. Dry fire practice (firing the gun unloaded, getting used to the breaking point on the long trigger pull) should be drilled repeatedly. Practice it at the target range between live rounds, you'll see if you're jerking and flinching. Practice "Russian Roulette" loading the revolver (putting only a few rounds in randomly) and you'll notice jerking and flinching for sure while you're target shooting. Experience and repeated practice will help eliminate this and you'll grow accustomed to the trigger pull and the bang.

The S&W 60, with .357 Magnum ammunition, is a stout little beast. It'll roar and spit fire. Not recommended for a novice. Loaded with .38 Special ammunition, however, it is very manageable. The heavier all-steel gun handles better than its lighter aluminum counterparts (i.e. S&W 37).

Revolvers, in my opinion, are ideal personal protection firearms for those who will only have one gun in their life. The S&W 60 would be well-suited for a female-sized novice in search of a bedside table piece. It should suit your hand and your need for a-gun-that-goes-bang just fine.

Also: You may want to PM TFP user PonyPotato. She has girl-sized girl hands and a S&W J-frame.

Hope this has been helpful. I'm far from the most knowledgeable here at TFP.

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Blegch. I've got one. I'd recommend avoiding the .380 caliber and opt for the new Walther PPS because it is skinny (single stack mag) and available in full-size 9mm. While the PPK is an compact, accurate, and fun gun... it's wimpy and a total three-handed bitch to clear should it jam.

I believe there is a recall out on Walther PPKs anyway. S&W is taking them back for some reason, I forget why.