S&W M60 as a first handgun?

[Dees]

I'm seriously considering getting a S&W M60 as my first handgun this year. I'm trying to take out a few birds with just one stone with this one and want to see what you guys think. I will be learning to shoot with this gun and since .38 ammo is cheap I'll be able to shoot a lot for a small amount of money. This could also be my first carry gun since it's so small as well as a house gun. The gun seems to be great for these purposes, the only thing that concerns me is shooting it a lot. I guesstimate that I'd put around 100 rds a week through the gun, so about 1200-1500 rds of .38 spl a year (I'll most likely be using WWB 130gr FMJ). I know it's a light load and the gun is all steel, but can the small J-frames handle that? I would imagine that they could handle 1200-1500 rds, which is just a year or so of shooting, but can they handle several years of that? Can I expect to put 10,000 of .38 spl through the M60 without problems? Do you guys think that it would make a good first gun? Anything you would like to add or recommend? Thanks for the help,

Dylan

 

[MrMurphy]

It'll take 200-300 rounds of live fire and the equivalent in dry-fire to get good with the DA trigger.

I recommend, of all the J-frames, the 640 or 642 Airweight as a good all-around gun.

However, they're not the best starter pieces (short sight radius, not much in the way of sights). You can do it, but it'll take a bit more work. I taught a reporter I worked with how to shoot pistols with an S&W 649-2 (the Bodyguard shrouded hammer model J-frame) and within 75 rounds he could rapid-fire five rounds double action only at 15 yards and hit right where he wanted.

So it can be done.

 

[NEtracker]

I've found that for a beginner, a 4 inch 686 balances well, is easy to learn with, and easy to become accurate with. (CCW, a bit large & heavy for that. House gun, exc)

 

[tbeb]

(Are you talking about the newer Model 60 which is a .357 magnum or the older Model 60 which is a .38 special?) Other choices that may be a little big for CCW, but if you can carry one, I'd look for a nice used S&W Model 15 (.38 special) with a 2" barrel, or a nice used S&W Model 19 or 66 (.357 magnum) with a 2 1/2" barrel. All three have adjustable rear sights. I suggest these because I think they're easier to shoot than a Smith & Wesson "J" frame.

 

[Dees]

Yes, I'm refering to the new .357 mag model. I know there are better guns to learn with, but like I said, I'd like to kill two birds with one stone; a gun to learn with and a gun to carry all in one.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd recommend buying a .22 as a first hand gun: it's a lot less expensive to shoot, and a lot easier to develop good marksmanship skills.

If you shoot a few hundred rounds a week, the .22 will pay for itself in a year in reduced ammunition costs alone.

The model 60 is an excellent little gun, but not ideal for developing top level accuracy.

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

60 & 66

I have carried a 60 off duty and wore a 4 inch 66 as an officer, I feel you are better off learning to shoot with a 4 inch Smith of the available models as it takes a lot of practice to shoot a 2 inch well.

However my first Smith was a one inch barrel 22 revolver and it took an awful lot of practice to shoot it well but I did in time as a teenager.

Fitz Retired
LEO Firearms Instructor

 

[Marshall]

It really depends on you. If you're "gun inclined" you'll find it a nice little gun, if not, you'll want to sell it because or the recoil and accuracy. I have a New Model 60 and I love it. I shoot with it for the fun of it and use it as one of my carry pieces but recoil doesn't bother me yet and I've been shooting all kinds of guns since I was 9 or 10. However, it will indeed tell you when you pull the trigger.

You have to learn to shoot any gun you get so I don't buy into the get "this" gun first, "that" gun second strategy too much, it has merit though in cases. I know one dude that bought a snubby as his first gun years ago, to this day it's the only gun he has ever owned and he can shoot your eyes out with it. He was also the kind of guy that was "gun inclined" as I mentioned, just takes practice, as anything does!

Back to the M60 .357 mag. it's a nice little gun, good weight for the cartridge yet not too heavy to carry easily. They're made well, shoot as accurately as you can shoot with them and have a nice trigger out of the box.

 

[Sprout]

Which M60 are you thinking about? The 2" or 3"?

Personally, I think that the 2" fixed sights are nearly invisible in all but the best light (although my girlfriend seemed to have no problem, so ymmv). I think that the 3" with the adjustable sights would make a much better all-around gun. It only weighs 1.5 oz more.

Try them both. Also try the 2.5" M66. If you still want the 2" 60, I'd seriously consider a pair of lasergrips.

 

[Dees]

Well, I was thinking 2", but I suppose the 3" would carry about the same and would be a better gun to learn with...

And the M66 is a K-frame correct? I think it would be a bit too fat for IWB carry.

 

[JNewell]

Echoing Sprout's comments, I'd say that the 3" barrel version would be a lot better to learn with. The longer sight radius, better sight picture, and adjustability of the sights will all contribute to better/happier shooting experiences. The itty-bitty fixed "gutter" sights and short radius of the 2" gun will be more of a limitation to overcome than a tool to learn with. YMMV...

BTW, you can probably expect the thing to outlast you on a diet of .38 Specials, even +P loads...

 

[thatguy]

Longevity would not be a problem for a steel framed pistol using standard pressure ammo. I would stay away from alloy as they are carry a lot and shoot a little guns. You may find the small gun not pleasurable to shoot a lot, but then again maybe you will.