Astra 357 Police

Astra-Unceta y Cia · Revolver · Discontinued · 1980

Also known as: Astra .357 Police, 357 Police

Overview

The Astra 357 Police is a compact double-action/single-action revolver chambered in .357 Magnum, produced in Spain by Astra-Unceta y Cia. Introduced around 1980 as a short-barreled member of the Astra .357 family, it carries a 77 mm (3-inch) barrel and a six-round swing-out cylinder, making it well suited to plainclothes and duty carry. Compared with the earlier Astra .357, the Police model was fitted with a reinforced hammer and a smoothed-off front sight to reduce snagging on a fast draw. The short barrel produces a pronounced muzzle blast given the potent .357 Magnum cartridge, and the DA/SA lockwork allows both a long self-cocking double-action pull and a light single-action release after manually cocking the exposed hammer.

Specifications

Weight (empty)	1040 g (36.7 oz)
Overall Length	212 mm (8.35")
Barrel Length	77 mm (3.03")
Action Type	Double Action Revolver
Firing Mechanism	Double Action Single Action
Trigger Type	Double Action
Magazine Capacity	6 rounds
Magazine Type	Rotary
Effective Range	40 m (44 yd)
Barrel Rifling	Right Hand
Number of Grooves	6
Frame Material	Steel
Barrel Material	Steel
Stock Material	Wood
Finish	Blued

Calibers

.357 Magnum · primary — also known as .357 Mag, .357 S&W Magnum, 9x33mmR

Features

Firing modes: Repeating
Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
Features: Swing Out Cylinder, Short Barrel, Exposed Hammer, Fixed Sights, Smoothed Front Sight, Reinforced Hammer

Production

Production years: 1980-1990s

Origin

Country of origin: Spain

Notes

Short-barrel Police variant of the Astra .357 revolver line; production began around 1980. Factory finish typically blued steel with wood grips.

Background

Marketed to police and security users, the 3-inch Police model added a beefed-up hammer and a rounded, snag-free front sight so the snub-nosed .357 could be drawn cleanly from a holster or coat pocket.