38 Year Old S&W Model 60 Snubby and it's Brand New!!!!!

[CDR]

After several months of trying to decide which snubby to go with, today I found a brand new, never fired Smith and Wesson Model 60 stainless steel J frame manufactured in 1969......    I've been waffling for a while now between an Airweight, M&P 340 or 640 snubby for pocket carry.  Not being crazy about the internal lock on the newer Smiths and preferring the older revolvers with no MIM and completely forged parts, I subconsciously have been hoping to find an older model all steel snubby.  To find a brand new, 38 year old Model 60 is more than I could have hoped for.  Walt, you'd love this snubby for sure.  It also came with an aluminum Tyler T grip which looks great with the light colored original S&W wooden grip.

I should have it in about a week as soon as my revised CCW permit arrives with the new revolver and serial number added to the back.  Does anyone know if this snubby is capable of handling occassional .38+P loads or should I stay with solely .38 spl?  I am thinking of practicing with .38 spl and finishing up each practice session with several rounds of .38+P.  I'd probably carry the +P loads if possible.  I just don't want to risk damaging the frame and would want to know for sure before I go the .38+P route.

Thanks.

[WymoreWrangler]

Good luck with such a sweet find...

[norfdet]

it should handle some +p without any problems since it is an all steel gun but just to be safe do what most of us do; practice with standard pressure ammo and carry +p in it and once a year shoot up that 20 rounds box of +p that you have been carrying in it and replace it with new ammo.

[DonWorsham]

... manufactured in 1969......

1969... that was a good year!

[CDR]

it should handle some +p without any problems since it is an all steel gun but just to be safe do what most of us do; practice with standard pressure ammo and carry +p in it and once a year shoot up that 20 rounds box of +p that you have been carrying in it and replace it with new ammo.

That's a good suggestion norfdet....thanks.  I think I'll do just that.  I carry Speer Gold Dot JHP 135gr. .38+P currently in my 686 so I will probably stay with that for the 60.  I may try some of the new Speer Gold Dot 135 gr. short barrel version which I hear good things about.  Any recommendations on a good defensive round to carry in a Model 60?

Regards

[Sponsor]

[CDR]

1969... that was a good year!

You kiddin........I'm a Mets and Jets fan.....AND.......I got my Schwinn Apple Krate in 1969.  It was a GREAT year!!!!!!   The Apple Krate, by the way, cost $89.99 back then...........I sure wish I had it now.  A snubby and an Apple Krate is a powerful combination.

[DonWorsham]

Schwinn Apple Krate in 1969.   A snubby and an Apple Krate is a powerful combination.

Perhaps this will help... http://search.ebay.com/apple-krate

[CDR]

Perhaps this will help... http://search.ebay.com/apple-krate

Thanks Don.  I've followed some of these auctions before and they generally wind up costing between $1,500 and $2,000 for a nice example of an Apple Krate.  The spousal unit would not be supportive in this regard as you might imagine.   My friend had an Orange Krate with an "extension fork" that was very cool to say the least.

A vintage Apple Krate with a Barrett mounted on the handle bars...........now THAT would be an interesting vehicle in New York don't you think?.......  

[norfdet]

That's a good suggestion norfdet....thanks.  I think I'll do just that.  I carry Speer Gold Dot JHP 135gr. .38+P currently in my 686 so I will probably stay with that for the 60.  I may try some of the new Speer Gold Dot 135 gr. short barrel version which I hear good things about.  Any recommendations on a good defensive round to carry in a Model 60?

Regards

I carry the Speer GDHP SB ammo in all of my 38's. I think it is a spectaculiar defensive round and if it works great in a snubby why not in a 4" as well? My back-up/off duty gun is a (pre-lock) 638 S&W bodyguard with Crimson Trace LG-405 grips loaded with the Speer GDHP 135+p SB round.

[CDR]

I carry the Speer GDHP SB ammo in all of my 38's. I think it is a spectaculiar defensive round and if it works great in a snubby why not in a 4" as well? My back-up/off duty gun is a (pre-lock) 638 S&W bodyguard with Crimson Trace LG-405 grips loaded with the Speer GDHP 135+p SB round.

I think I'll try some of the Speer Gold Dot short barrel in my 686 as well....thanks for the suggestion.  Any idea what Speer does to the round to modify it for short barrel use?  Do you notice much difference in accuracy between the SB round nd the standard Speer Gold Dots?

Regards