Need help finding a speedloader. S&W owners?

P

Pond James Pond

New member
I own a six-shot Astra 680 snub in .38 spl.

The firm is history and the model not well known.
Finding a speedloader is not easy. However, I do know that Astra based a lot of their revolver designs on S&W.

So. I have measured the distance between the pin strikes on two adjacent snap caps in my 680 cylinder.

The distances are 11.3 mm, or 7/16s of an inch or .44 of an inch.

If any S&W owners out there with six shot .357 or .38s can measure the space between two adjacent cartridges and confirm that the distances are the same, I would like to know the model of your revolver.

With that I can find a corresponding HKS model that will match my own gun and I can order it from Midway Germany!! Problem solved!

Can you help?
 
Looks like the same for my model 10. The six round speed loader for the K frame should work on yours. I use the same 5 round Safariland loader for my


model 36 in 38spl that I use on my SP101 357.
Check with a gun shop to make sure
 
Thanks for the suggestion but trying in the shop is not an option.
That would have been my first choice.

Speedloaders in shops are like hen's teeth around here: no real chance to investigate and experiment. The first chance I'll get to try it out will be when it arrives at home!

Could you run a caliper between two primers in a Model 10 cylinder?

Would you mind letting me know if the measurements are the same as those I posted above?
 
This might help.

wogpotter said:
Not a K-frame, but my Dan Wesson 15-2 takes the 10-A speed-loader so here are some measurements for you.

Cylinder diameter = 1.4765"
Inside spacing between inner walls of opposite chambers = 0.5435"
spacing between adjacent chambers = 0.102" Extractor star NOT included.

The 10-A is not those dimensions because of the need to accommodate the rims, but works perfectly.

I hope this helps a little & if there is any other measurement I can give just let me know.
Click to expand...
 
Pond James Pond

My S&W 66 measures .44 center primer to center primer on chambers next to each other.

Across the Cylinder Center Primer to Center Primer looks like .885.

Bob
 
If you are looking for a good speedloaders that are made closer to you, and much better than the HKS's, try the "Jetloader" made in Austria, or the SL Variant speedloaders made by Longwitz in Germany. The SL Variant speedloaders are the highest quality available.
 
Remember that the HKS speedloader allows for a little slop and hence cartridge wiggle. This allows the cartridges to jiggle their way into the cylinder. Without the play the user would have to line up the cartridges perfectly. I would also go with a speed loader for a S&W M-10.
 
Top of the Baltic and SOL with only a set of calapers instead of the proper size speed loader for you Astra. Did I get that correct? Sounds like a S&W sales pitch starting to take shape.
 
@Viper and Andy!

Thanks fot the measurements: exactly what I needed, and for the manufacturers. I will look those up. If Midway sell them, I will look at what they have, too!
:)
 
Does your Astra have the wood or rubber grips? The rubber grips have a concavity to accommodate a speedloader while the wood ones are traditional.
 
Does your Astra have the wood or rubber grips? The rubber grips have a concavity to accommodate a speedloader while the wood ones are traditional.
Click to expand...

It had large grips originally. I have since fashioned some plain but functional grips that fit the handle of the frame and are therefore about 40% smaller.

I did manage to try a HKS model 10 (not model 10-A)in a shop. That didn't work: it caught on the cylinder release, but not the grips, before the rounds could line up and engage.

I still have to find my calipers to confirm the measurements in earlier posts.
 
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