Astra 250 .38 Spl What can you tell me about it?

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Pond James Pond

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Astra 680 .38 Spl What can you tell me about it?

One of these revolvers has turned up online, here and at a good price.

The picture in the ad is actually a picture from another site, so I can't be sure that the picture and the one on sale are exactly the same, but assuming they are, what's to know about this little 5 shot wheel gun?
 
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I saw the gun in the flesh today. It is an Astra 680, 6 shot .38Spl.

It is a bit old with a little ding to the front sight, and the wooden handle is a bit chipped on a corner, but otherwise the little beast looks really tight. No endshake or side shake in the cylinder when locked up. Very smooth trigger in DA and SA.

All in all a nice little piece.

Unless anyone has some horrible stories to tell me, I will probably have a snub by tomorrow night!!
 
The bonus here is that it did seem really tight: much more so than the little , €200 Taurus 85 I had considered earlier.

On top of that, being part of a deceased gentleman's estate, it is being sold very cheap: half the price of the next cheapest revolvers. It would cost me less than €100!!

That is worth a punt, for me. If it is no good, I can just use it as a range gun to practice with, or reload for, once I have all my kit!!
 
I shot a 680 the other night and it was a fantastic little gun. Tight lock-up and good trigger.

I don't know if it was the grip angle or the stocks on the gun (looked like Pachmayr compacts with an Astra medallion) but the gun pointed very well of me.
 
Well, now it is mine. I even found 3 snap-caps for it, so an evening of dryfiring lies ahead!!

I am really pleased. I had applied for a revolver buying licence when I had seen a nice Model 85 flush-hammered snubbie. I'd also been toying with a much more expensive S&W. Both seemed like a compromise to me. The former on dubious quality and the latter on price and location.

So in the end, I bought neither. And, weeks later, out of the blue, this little gem turns up for half the price of the Taurus and a third of that of the Model 60!

It feels really tight, and sure, has a really smooth DA trigger pull. SA feels like butter on a hot pan. Looking forward to trying it out. I'll have to wait a couple of weeks, but it'll be worth the wait, I'm sure!!!

Cue boyish grin!!:D:D:D
 
Patience,young Jedi. Like I said before you never know when you're going to come accross that good deal. Sounds like you saved some money and hope it works out for you. Maybe need to run standard 38 spl I don't know about running +p through it. Congrats.
 
Those Astra revolvers were pretty good guns, but they never really caught on, maybe due to the horrible reputation Spanish revolvers had in the US from before WWII. The only drawback to buying one today is that the company is out of business, so they have no "home" for parts and service.

Jim
 
Patience,young Jedi.
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Wise words, indeed! It really paid off. Good gun or not, right now it just feels like this was the right choice. I've just stripped it, pulled the grip, side plate and cylinder off and given everything a cleaned, scrub and lube. Looks good and revolves well. What more can I ask from a revolver? And it is a 6 shot. I may make new grips for it as the originals are big for the gun. With smaller ones, it will be shorter in height as well as length as my Glock, and only marginally wider.

I also compared it side to side with my Redhawk. :eek: My goodness, that Ruger makes the .38 look like a little toy. I never reallised how huge the Redhawk was!!!:D

so they have no "home" for parts
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Well, I cross that bridge as and when. Being a S&W cloney type, some bits may have crossover.

Otherwise, they'll have to be machined from scratch... How hard can it be?:p

One happy bunny in Europe!! (I like snubbies, in case you weren't sure!!)
 
I may make new grips for it as the originals are big for the gun. With smaller ones, it will be shorter in height as well as length as my Glock, and only marginally wider.
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Since they are too big and you mentioned they are in kind of rough shape maybe you could sand them down to size refinish them. After they are sanded down to the right size a finer grain of sand paper to smooth them out and some sort of finish would give you good as new grips.

Also looking at pics of the revolver it looks so close to a S&W where I bet S&W grips would work on it.
 
Since they are too big and you mentioned they are in kind of rough shape maybe you could sand them down to size refinish them.
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That is a very good idea, and one I'll consider.

It's just that I do feel a bit bad about taking a saw and sander to original grips. Somehow feels wrong....:o

Something to ponder on...
 
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