Astra Police- Now in .357 magnum!

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

The Astra Police was available in .38 Special, .357 Magnum and 9mm Luger. Mine is a .38, and I've looked high and low for a .357 cylinder to no avail. I did find a fellow who worked for Astra in the 80's when these were made, and he said to just rechamber it for .357 Magnum; the material and condition of all the cylinders was the same, the only difference was the chambering, and it was a common modification. I kept that in mind, and when I ran across a .357 Magnum chambering die for $30 I snagged it. It arrived today, and I stuck it in a t-handle and carefully reamed the chambers to accept the longer cartridge. It was pretty easy, and now a gun that was a bit of a fifth wheel has a whole new place and utility. It's always been a sweet shooter, and I'm looking forward to taking it to the range this coming week.

*Yes, with minor cosmetic changes FN sold this as the Barracuda, the only revolver they have ever offered!

 

[bannockburn]

Tinker

I remember back in the late '70s a nearby department store use to carry Astra revolvers in their sporting goods department. Didn't know a whole lot about them having been a S&W and Colt fan at that point in time. Could see the obvious similarities to S&Ws but didn't quite have the same overall fit and finish. Since I wasn't making all that much money back then and my gun budget was rather tight I passed on the Astras and stayed with my favorites though the .357 model with a 4" barrel was mighty tempting!

 

[Tallball]

Those are nice revolvers!

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[The Evangelist Cowboy]

I remember Astra. The only revolver I am interested in them for is the one that George Clooney carried in from dusk til dawn, I believe it was a .44 caliber revolver called the terminator.