Michael Tinker Pearce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2016
- Messages
- 1,576
There were a bunch of Astra Police .38 police trade-ins from Spain on the market last years for less than $250 and I snagged one. Glad I did- it's a hell of a good revolver. Roughly L-Frame sized, they have some innovative features, like the user-adjustable trigger and quick-release cylinder. These were offered in .38, .357 and (I'm told) 9mm, so the cylinder could quickly and easily be swapped for a different cartridge. FN offered a version called the Barracuda- the only revolver they have ever sold.
The only real issue with these guns is the lack of aftermarket grips. These were sold last year with an ill-fitting Hogue Monogrip and the wooden grips they were issued with- which were usually rather battered. Mine had been a bit 'Bubba'd' when I got it, with the grip-frame roughly hacked into a round-butt and a set of Pachmyers bolted on. Initially I modified a set of factory grips, but they weren't really satisfactory. I made a set of custom grips, but they weren't' quite right either, so this afternoon I decided to try again.
I had a century-old plank of pre-blight American Chestnut in the shop, and I decided that was just the thing. I had to stabilize a couple of cracks, but what the hell; when you are using an ancient piece of wood from a virtually extinct species you work with what you've got, right? I made a set of grips fit for my hands, so most would find them a bit large.
They are long front-to back, but they're pretty flat, so I can CC the gun without them being too conspicuous. This gun has an exceptionally good DA trigger, and has been very reliable.
The Spanish police fed them a steady diet of Super-Vel +P ammo without ill effect; the gun will actually handle .38/44 loads just fine. I load it with Buffalo Bore 158gr.LSWCHPs for nightstand duty, which feel pretty mild in this gun.
The only real issue with these guns is the lack of aftermarket grips. These were sold last year with an ill-fitting Hogue Monogrip and the wooden grips they were issued with- which were usually rather battered. Mine had been a bit 'Bubba'd' when I got it, with the grip-frame roughly hacked into a round-butt and a set of Pachmyers bolted on. Initially I modified a set of factory grips, but they weren't really satisfactory. I made a set of custom grips, but they weren't' quite right either, so this afternoon I decided to try again.
I had a century-old plank of pre-blight American Chestnut in the shop, and I decided that was just the thing. I had to stabilize a couple of cracks, but what the hell; when you are using an ancient piece of wood from a virtually extinct species you work with what you've got, right? I made a set of grips fit for my hands, so most would find them a bit large.
They are long front-to back, but they're pretty flat, so I can CC the gun without them being too conspicuous. This gun has an exceptionally good DA trigger, and has been very reliable.
The Spanish police fed them a steady diet of Super-Vel +P ammo without ill effect; the gun will actually handle .38/44 loads just fine. I load it with Buffalo Bore 158gr.LSWCHPs for nightstand duty, which feel pretty mild in this gun.
