Update:

Picked it up yesterday morning after working night shift. Initial impression are very good. Lockup is as tight as any Smith revolver tat I own. Timing is on for all chambers. There is a tiny burr on the ejector star that hangs just a little bit on one chamber when dropping the hammer, easily fixed. The grips really do have a large palm swell and flare at the butt and really fill the hand. The gold bead front sight is a welcome addition to the Mountain Gun. I like the flash chrome hammer and trigger, looks a lot like Smiths from years gone past. It does come with 3 moon clips that look lie they're made by TK Custon and not the half moon clips that came with my 625's. The tapered barrel is the traditional 1 piece design and not the two piece that a lot of current production guns have.

Interesting note for Smith & Wesson geekiness, inside the crane the gun is stated 610-4, the -4 signifying an engineering revision. The last of the prelock gun was the -2, the current generation locking guns are -3. I'm wondering if the -4 is indicative of more to come for non locking revolvers. Typically Smith doe not update the dash number for cosmetics, only engineering changes. Harea's hoping...

I really don't have a practical need for this revolver. I have a 629 Mountain Gun that gets the job done with more powerful loads. I have a 3" Ruger GP100 in 10mm that carries much easier. But I absolutely love this gun. I'm justifying it with the logic of shooting big bore N-frames for much less money and recoil than a .44 Magnum.

It almost seems like fate that I got this. I had put my name on the wish list at the dealer for this and a 617 Mountain Gun on the day they were announced. Did not expect to see either one since my name has been on their list for a 686 Mountain Gun for months now. Lost a bit on GunBroker for a 610-2 4" with unfitted barrel on Sunday night by $10. The thought that I'd pick up a Ruger GP100 MatchChampion in 10mm since they just released another manufacturing run. Thought I'd wait until payday on Thursday to order and not put it on the credit card. My dealer called Wednesday night to tell me the 610 Mountain Gun had come in. Almost like it was meant to be.

Original Post:

My dealer called and left a message the Smith & Wesson 610 Mounatin Gun that I was on a waiting list for has arrived in his shop. Unfortunately working tonight and the next 2 nights so I won’t be able to pick it up until Saturday.

I’m just amazed that it is here. Put my name in the day they were announced. Still waiting on my 686 Mountain Gun which I put my name on the list months ago. No real practical need for the 610 I just want it really bad! Haven’t been this excited for a new gun in a long time.

New in the box 610Mountain Gun


610 with my 629 Mountain Gun

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 2000Z-71,

I don’t need one of those but I kind of want one. I have lots of 40 sitting around. I did get the 686MG so I think you will love the 610. Nice pickup.

Congratulations and I’m sure it’s gonna be a winner!

I’ve never been a 10mm guy. I remember being a kid when it was introduced and being enamored and I think the Glock 20/29 are pussycats with the caliber in practice but I’ve just never grown into a 10mm guy.

That said if I were to run out a buy a 10mm today and if there was one to call to me it would be revolver and likely a 610. I dunno why as 10mm makes so much sense in a large semi auto but something about a 10mm wheel gun calls to me far more then a Glock 20.

Enjoy it in good health.

I have the regular 610 in 4” barrel size, and it is absolutely one of my very favorites. Something about 10mm in that size frame that just works really well. Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips also work very well on it.
Enjoy.

I had 610s way back. Didn't have sense enough to keep at least one of them;( Anyway, I think the new 610MG is a neat deal. Over built for 10mm? Yep. But the 610 is unfazed by the heaviest factory or hand loaded ammo, and 10mm recoil is moderated.

I have a 10mm GP100, otherwise I'd likely have a new 610MG already ordered...

These new ones look really nice and I hope to get one. Regret not having bought one of the originals when they first came out in about 1990 or so. Somewhere along the way, S&W offered the 610 with an unfluted cylinder which looked especially neat.

If I could have a custom Model 610 EXACTLY how I want one, it would have a 4" pinned barrel, unfluted cylinder, firing pin in hammer and old style cylinder release.

,

Updated with pics.

How does the 610 handle the rimless cartridge cases?

Will it shoot 40 S&W ammunition?

(Getting interested despite myself. )

It uses full moon clips to hold the groove at the base of the case. Makes for fast reloads and convenient unloading. Can be a PITA to load and unload the moon clips. Hoping my mooning and demooning tools I bought for my 625 work. It will shoot .40 S&W, equivalent to shooting .38 special out of. .357. I know the Ruger GP100’s can be finicky and require a different thickness of moon clips for .40, but I have not heard about this issue with the 610’s.

Those wood grips look and seem great, until you start launching some Underwood 220-grain heaters.
Cushioned rubber grips make it much more pleasant.
Sweet revolver.

If I’m looking at this correctly I find this interesting. My 686 Mountain Gun has the ball detent on the yoke and does NOT have the traditional ejector rod detent. That 610 Mountain Gun has the older traditional detent that holds the ejector rod from the front AND can I assume it also has the yoke ball detent or no?

So does the 610 have both? Does the 629? Even the 617 has the ball detent. Hmmm.

For purely range use you might want to try the RIMZ clips. They are plastic and easy to hand load/unload. I’ve used a few for a 625.

https://www.ezmoonclip.com/page_7.htm


Great looking gun. I love the stocks. No idea how they will feel shooting, but they look great and by God that is part of owning a good revolver.

My 610 does not have the ball detent on the yoke.

Thanks. I thought I knew the answers to my questions, but didn't want to assume.

Anybody have the 629 version to ask the same question?

I assume that the ball detent lockup is stronger than the traditional style ejector rod lockup. Then I wonder why they put it in the pipsqueak 22 and the 357 magnum but apparently not on the 10mm or 44. The 10 and 357 are pretty close in top end pressures so I’m curious as to the why.

Or is my assumption completely wrong and the ball detent yoke lockup not stronger?