The Model 610 is back with a 4-inch barrel and a 6.5-inch barrel. (Photo: Smith & Wesson)
Smith & Wesson is reintroducing their Model 610 N-Frame double-action revolver in two brightly-polished stainless steel offerings. The Moldel 610 is chambered for 10mm Auto and is now available with a 4-inch barrel or a 6.5-inch barrel.
The 10mm Auto cartridge, when loaded to its full potential, pushes the limits of what conventional self-loading pistols can handle. But Smith & Wesson’s N-Frame is more than enough to contain the cartridge and it has no problems running the hottest 10mm loads.
And since .40 S&W is based on 10mm Auto, shooters can practice and plink with lower power, lower cost ammo. Both models have cylinders cut for moon clips and each gun comes with three.
Shooters and manufacturers alike are renewing their interest in 10mm. Even though it’s typically an automatic cartridge, its high pressure and high muzzle energy make it suitable for revolvers as well. It’s good to see more options from more manufacturers in both cases.
In addition to 10mm Auto, the Model 610 can fire .40 S&W. (Photo: Smith & Wesson)
“With the recent increase in popularity of the 10mm Auto cartridge, we felt it important to offer a 10mm revolver for personal protection and handgun hunting,” said Smith & Wesson general manager Jan Mladek. “The N-frame revolver has long been a staple in big-bore revolvers, and the 10mm is a natural caliber addition to the line.”
The only real difference between the models is barrel length. Both have 6-shot cylinders, the same glossy finish and full-size synthetic grips. The 4-inch model will be a little easier to handle and carry while the 6.5-inch will have more energy at the muzzle, a longer sight radius and an overall longer effective range.
The Model 610 has regular N-Frame sights with a black blade interchangeable front sight and an adjustable white outline rear sight. Since these are standard N-Frame guns in all other ways the aftermarket, such as different sights, grips and accessories including scope mounts and holsters, is sizeable.
See Also: Smith & Wesson Cranking Out Two Hot New Model 686 Revolvers
Overall these weigh in at 42 and 50 ounces and measure in at 9.5 and 12 inches long for the 4-inch and 6.5-inch versions, respectively. The full-length underlug adds a good amount of mass to help cut recoil.
Both the 4- and 6-inch barrel versions of the Model 610 have a $969 suggested retail price. Typical in-store and online prices for Smith & Wessons are less, but sometimes unusual models like these run closer to their MSRP.
While there are plenty of hot and harder-hitting revolver cartridges on the market, the Model 610 is a fun and practical way to shoot 10mm. Whether the Model 610 is being used for personal protection, the range or the field, these look up to the task.
Is this thread stillopen. Question on N frames. Personally like the 66 for .357 and 1066 for 10mm Thnks, Thor
I have owned 610s in the past. They were great fun. When I heard that S&W was bringing the 610 back, I ordered both. I picked up the 6.5” gun last week. Still waiting on the 4”. I also have. Couple of Ruger GP100s in 10mm. I shoot a lot of .40S&W in these guns. I don’t currently own a Semiauto in 10mm. I’m waiting for S&W to build either a SW1911 or an M&P in 10mm.
If they want to reintroduce some thing in 10mm how about the 1006, best semi auto in that caliber ever made. And how about the 632 in .327. now There is a revolver I could buy in a second. And lose the stupid lock on their revolvers that’s something I think everyone would like.
Great revolver, I would like S&W to bring back the 940 !
Might be a nice handgun if they would just get rid of the Clinton hole in the side . I have only one with this device. At least I do not care for the hole in the side. Have not purchased any more Smith-Wesson r3evolvers due to this feature. Just how I feel about the hole in the new Smith-Wessons. And yes I have other Smith-Wessons without the hole.
More frágil carbón steel ? Check your facts please.
Unless you all ready have a 10mm auto, what’s the point. The .357 magnum outperforms it and if you want you can get one cut for moon clips.
It’s a small point but since the 10 mm was developed first it’s bad writing to claim it was based on the .40. Also not a great idea to suggest that you should shoot the .40 in a cylinder made for 10mm. Is the cylinder designed to index on the shoulder? There is no rim on this particular cartridge. Please be a bit more careful with the writing in the future.
Well, you got one part right in that the 10mm came first but if you used your eyes you’d clearly see the full moon clip used to hold the rounds in the cylinder. I have had a 610 for over a decade and use 10mm and .40 in it whenever I choose. Maybe educate yourself first before running to the keyboard.
O.M.G, he got half his information wrong. Christ was whipped and crusified for less. I say we half crusify him… and half upside down too cause Christ was mentioned and like Paul said we are undeserving to go out the same way. Oh we could use half nails too with half the rope for strapping. For the kill shot we could stab him only half the spear’s blade and then he’d only die half as quickly. Guess this means we’d safe half the money spent killing him so maybe we could later share half a smoothly together, like half and half. But then we’d have half of nothing, ’m not greedy though so I’ll let you have all that.
Hey thanks for taking the time to point out the copy error. We’re not complete idiots but we do make mistakes, too.
I really do appreciate everyone who got on this.
When? When? When?
The 10MM Auto is NOT based on the 40 S+W (short and weak) . It’s actually the opposite. The 10 Auto was designed for the FBI, but it kicked too much for the smaller agents… Do a little reading it’s actually a bit entertaining.
I will NEVER buy another S&W if it has a Hellary Hole…..JMO!!
I have the similar Kinda Rare Smith& Wesson 646 in a 40 Cal. with the Ti cylinder I’m curious if it would be capable of using the 10 M/M round ?
Shave a few hundredths out of the chambers and it would be a proper .44 mag. Shoot .44 special too. Maybe 10mm is a thing somewhere, but around here, during the last Obama ammo drought, the one thing that was always on the shelf was .40, suggesting that it really wasn’t as popular as the hype would suggest. I tend to think that 10 mm has a similarly small following.
Why doesn’t S&W make it in blue if its make for hunting ???
Stainless is generally a more durable finish for outdoor use.
Blued steel tends to rust more and be more fragile overall.