Cash-lubricated swap. Worth considering?

P

Pond James Pond

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Ye law sayeth that I can't get another gun without selling one first. My safe is at "carrying capacity" and any new gun will need to come at the loss of another.

Such is life.

As I have previous explained, my carry gun is presently a .38spl snub, largely chosen due to another sterling law they have here, requiring condition 3 carry on all semis.

If swapping and making up the difference with some extra cash were the only way, would you swab a 2" snub (Astra 680) for a 3" S&W .357Mag as a carry gun?
 
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I'd expect to have to provide some cash in a trade like that.

A 3" revolver is going to be a little harder to carry than a 2" snub. The performance benefit (velocity and sight radius increase) going from a 2" to 3" barrel is minimal unless you actually plan to carry it with .357Mag ammo.

As far as the practical difference between .38spl (assuming +P is allowed in the gun) and .357Mag is concerned, it's only going to make a difference if you actually shoot .357Mag in the gun. The cylinder will be a little longer and a little heavier which might make the gun more shootable with .38spl or .38spl +P, but will also make it a little less ideal for carry.

If you really plan to carry .357Mag ammo (and spring for the premium self-defense ammunition) then there will be a performance improvement which is likely significant, but at the cost of significant recoil and blast penalties. With a short barrel gun, I'd stay away from the "bargain" JHP ammo since there's more potential for it not to expand out of the shorter barrel.

Other than personal preference, probably the main reason 3" revolvers are sometimes recommended is that the additional barrel length typically allows the ejection rod to be long enough to fully eject the cartridges. That makes reloading a little faster and less error prone.
 
It would depend on how much money you would have to give in the trade. I carry a Model 66 on a fairly regular basis and ask my wife and friends if they can tell I'm carrying, the answer is always 'No'. I am 6' 1'' and 190 pounds and athletic, that may have something to do with being able to conceal a K frame, but also, I have become a real advocate of 'Mexican carry'.
 
Which S&W model?
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No idea!!

I saw a photo on the ad and recognised it as a S&W. 6-shot with a half lugged barrel. Blued, wooden grip and fixed sights if I recall.

Going by Google images, the model 27 looks closer to what I saw.

I'd expect to have to provide some cash in a trade like that.
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It would depend on how much money you would have to give in the trade.
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About €200, perhaps €150 on top of the Astra. That is assuming I can sell the Astra for about €200. It is worth more in my opinion as it is a nice revolver, but this is a semi-led market and so revolver resale is a little tough. Good if you want to buy, bad if you want to sell. I want to do both!!

I might not carry .357Mag, but have the option to would be great. Other than that it allows me more flexibility in load work-ups and looks good!!
 
I saw a photo on the ad and recognised it as a S&W. 6-shot with a half lugged barrel. Blued, wooden grip and fixed sights if I recall.

Going by Google images, the model 27 looks closer to what I saw.
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The 27 is a full sized N frame, big enough for a 6 shot 45 Colt or 44 Magnum. Awfully big for CC, and AFAIK not made with a 3" barrel, although you should never say never with S&W.

I'd guess that what you saw was a model 13. It's 6 shot, blue, with fixed sights and was readily available in 3". No "half-lug" though. It's made on the much smaller K frame, which would be a better choice for concealing.
 
According to the Standard Catalog of S&W the shortest barrel for a 27 is 3 1/2 inches. Any shorter and the end of the barrel would be shorter than the ejector shroud.

In any case, while a 3.5" 27 would be a very nice gun it's still rather large for CC.
 
Just to clarify, the revolver I saw bore a resemblance to the Model 27, due to the half-lugged barrel. Beyond that I can't say if that is what it was. S&W seem to have more revolvers on the books than Sebastien Chabal has hair....
 
J - frame, yes. Easily concealed, unobtrusive.

Anything else, no. A compromise of weight and size - tends to stay home.

A J -frame will be a 5 round revo.
 
I think the obvious answer is to get a new safe. That's really what the problems is. ;)

The question is hard to answer until you nail down the specific S&W model you're looking at. There's a big difference between a 3.5 inch N frame or 3 inch J frame. Also, what model of Astra are you carrying?

Astra revolvers have a poor reputation here in the US. Parts and service are non-existent. I don't know if you face the same issues where you are.

If the Smith is a J or K frame, I'd go for it. The hardest part about concealing a pistol is grip. Unless you have a boot grip on your Astra, the grips are probably similar. The extra barrel length will be trivial.

The Smith will probably hold up better over the long term, so you can practice more with the gun. A longer barrel will probably be easier to shoot, too. For carry, I would suggest loading .38 spl +p's in it; .357 mag is a handful.

Good luck!

-John
 
I respectfully disagree with Treg. A 2 inch round butt K frame is the same size as a Colt Detective Special, long considered the gold standard of concealed carry. Although I have a 5 shot J frame, I would upgrade to a 2 inch K frame, if I could find a Model 12 airweight in decent condition for a good price.
 
Actually the 2" K frame is slightly larger than the D frame Colt and about the same size as the Astra 680 that the OP has now. Still, if the trade gun is a S&W 3" K frame such as a Model 13, I would opt for the trade provided the cash charge is reasonable. If it was an N frame, I would not choose it for a concealed carry gun. The bulge would be too much when wearing light clothing.
 
I think the obvious answer is to get a new safe. That's really what the problems is.

The question is hard to answer until you nail down the specific S&W model you're looking at. There's a big difference between a 3.5 inch N frame or 3 inch J frame. Also, what model of Astra are you carrying?

Astra revolvers have a poor reputation here in the US. Parts and service are non-existent. I don't know if you face the same issues where you are.
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The safe is not an option. We live in a loft conversion, so all the walls are sloped. Hence there is no place for a 5ft by 2ft by 2ft safe. That is what it would have to be because the law states that for 9 guns or beyond, a strong room must be installed, but a large safe can act as a substitute. So it is either what I have or the strong room stand-in... No go...

I have not read any bad threads about Astra, though. In fact, I am pretty please with its build. Mine is an Astra 680. It aims and shoots well, and is apparently a S&W clone
 
Is this the gun you are thinking about trading up for?

S&W 19 2 1/2" barrel

bill%2019%202.jpg_thumbnail1.jpg


If the gun is indeed a K frame S&W, although it is larger than a J frame, it can still be concealed, and you get the bonus of an extra round.

K frame on the left, J frame on the right.
image004.jpg
 
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