Astra 600/43

[Mustang]

I glommed an Astra 600/43 at an on-line auction recently. It is at my FFL's right now, undergoing the 10 day "cooling off period"

There were a large number of Astra pistols at the auction, including 600's, 400's, 300's, and various others.

Would have liked to get a few of the others, but was stymied by the California "1 hand gun every 30 day" rule.







Better pics and a range report when I can.

[2meterB]

Very cool! Grats on the space gun.

[Mustang]

Very cool! Grats on the space gun.

Thanks. The 400's went for noticeably less that the 600's...but then you have to have a supply of 9mm largo

[Flyin Brian]

I've seen those around but never played with one. I hope you write up a review when you get it to the range! FB

[Mustang]

Thanks, Brian.

My son has been after me to get one of these for several years now.

A few years ago they sold a bunch of these at an on-line auction, including a few that were NIB, for cheap. Been looking for one at a low price ever since.

[aghauler]

I glommed an Astra 600/43 at an on-line auction recently. It is at my FFL's right now, undergoing the 10 day "cooling off period"

There were a large number of Astra pistols at the auction, including 600's, 400's, 300's, and various others.

Would have liked to get a few of the others, but was stymied by the California "1 hand gun every 30 day" rule.







Better pics and a range report when I can.

Use caution when doing your take down if you haven't done one of these before. Do not put your face inline with the front of the slide when releasing the recoil spring, they do take off on occasion, ask me how I know.

They say an empty 50cal cartridge is the ideal tool to depress the that ring thing in the end of the slide to release tension on the lock ring.

Congrats, nice pistol. FYI in was Proofed in 1945.

[nick]

Would have liked to get a few of the others, but was stymied by the California "1 hand gun every 30 day" rule.

If you have an 03 FFL, and since these are C&Rs, you can have them shipped to an out-of-state FFL and go and pick them up there in person.

[Enfield47]

Congrats, they sure are interesting looking pistols.

[Eddie1965]

I have a 400 and love it! I'm planning to get a 600 next and eventually a 300. Great gun OP.

[Capybara]

Welcome to the club. Yours is prettier than mine. Great shooter, surprising amount of recoil for such a heavy gun shooting a relatively tame round like 9mm. PITA to field strip and put back together, more difficult than a 1911 and a bit tricky to get right. Really fun pistols with an interesting history. Very well made, typical German over-engineering as far as design. Referred to as "the pipe wrench" for the obvious reason.

[aghauler]

Capy:

Everything you said but I refer to them as a "waterpipe with a handle"

[Mustang]

Use caution when doing your take down if you haven't done one of these before. Do not put your face inline with the front of the slide when releasing the recoil spring, they do take off on occasion, ask me how I know.

They say an empty 50cal cartridge is the ideal tool to depress the that ring thing in the end of the slide to release tension on the lock ring.

Congrats, nice pistol. FYI in was Proofed in 1945.

Thanks, aghauler. I'll use caution when stripping this baby.

Is there a website that features info on these pistols?

[Mustang]

If you have an 03 FFL, and since these are C&Rs, you can have them shipped to an out-of-state FFL and go and pick them up there in person.

Thanks, Nick.

A few years ago I let my 03 expire because it seemed useless after the new law kicked in 1/1/2014.

I hadn't given much thought to having guns shipped to Nevada, which I live near and frequently visit, and picking them up there. I think Outdoor Sports in Reno does those kinds of transactions.

I guess that would get around the 1 in 30 day DROS restriction.

The COE used to work as a work around for the 1 in 30 day restriction. Not sure if it still does.

[DirtyRussianAmmo]

Cool-looking gun, congrats. Reminds me vaguely of a Browning Buck Mark.

[TRAP55]

Thanks, aghauler. I'll use caution when stripping this baby.

Is there a website that features info on these pistols?

Steve, I have a link for a manual somewhere if I can find it again. In the meantime here's a schematic:

http://stevespages.com/ipb-astra-400.html

Can't find the link, but I think there's one in here:

http://www.9mmlargo.com/400/