Reputation of Astra Revolvers and Pistols?

[Croyance]

Did Astra make reliable, durable pistols and revolvers? Dare I ask for accurate?

[AndyC]

Had an Astra A70 9mmP compact for a few years - very accurate, reliable as hell. I don't much like their revolvers, although that's just me.

[usp9]

Carried an Astra Constable for many years. It was reliable and quite accurate. Sold it to a friend and have regreted doing so.:banghead: It was a better gun than the Bersa Thunder I just sold and do not regret selling.

[Leonovicz]

I've heard that FN once marketed a revolver called the Barracuda that was little more than a rebranded Astra revolver. If FN were willing to place their name behind an Astra product, I would take it that it's at least functional, if not higher grade.

[ABTOMAT]

IIRC the 'cuda wasn't a rebranded Astra.

[Crosshair]

I LOVE my 3" Astra .357. Best $200 I ever spent.:cool: This was my first handgun and it has been reliable as a brick.

Here is a pic.

http://gra.midco.net/5937/Random%20Images/Astra357small.jpg

[tarrigoni]

I loved the A70 I had. Dead nuts accurate. I need to get another

[Croyance]

The funny thing about the FN Barracuda (the real reason I am asking this question) is that every picture of the Astra .357 Magnum looks exactly like it, down to the grips.

Crosshair, have you tried other grips on that Astra? I found the FN Barracuda takes k-frame speedloaders. The screw placement for the grips looks a little displaced in comparison to the S&W, but I could be wrong.

[mnrivrat]

Owned a couple Astra pistols ; A70 , and a A75 Inox

Both great guns - reliable , well finished , and accurate . Sad that they are no longer in business.

[Mooseman]

I have an Astra .44 mag. Well finished and very accurate. I just wish there were aftermarket grips for it.:)

[Nimble1]

Have put thousands of rounds through mine since new...just don't dry fire without a snapcap. Had to replace a firing pin but still love the gun. Used to carry, its a chunk but shoots great.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d119/Nimble1/IMG_0709.jpg

[Gunz]

It seems Crosshair's gun is a vintage, indeed. It has adjustable sights, and medallions on the grips. For $200, it must have been in the 80s.

It is great to hear about his experience with the accuracy and performance. A run of 3in fixed sights FN Barracudas are on the market for around $300-340 without the 9mm cylinder.

How likely is one to find a Smith wiht a 3in barrel, pinned and recessed gun , wtih removal crane at the push of a button, and a nice tight lockup?

For under $350?

I really have a fondness for my Cuda (the gun, not the car).

[Croyance]

Well since S&W has no removable crane models I know of, none. That is a feature I really like for cleaning, btw.
Edited to say: Quickly removable like the Beretta slide.

So you have good experience with your Barracuda? I guess I'm getting one if it is still there. I might get a fiber optic front sight put in later, the front sight is pinned I think.
Have you tried any holsters for this?

I thought Astra merged with another Spanish gun manufacturer?

[Mooseman]

I think your thinking of LLama but I could be wrong. That would be cool news though.:)

[Crosshair]

Gunz
It seems Crosshair's gun is a vintage, indeed. It has adjustable sights, and medallions on the grips. For $200, it must have been in the 80s.
I bought the gun right after I turned 21, one year ago.:D

[106rr]

In the late fifties they marketed a 22 lr called the Astra Cadix. Anyone have one of those?
I think the Astra 38spec 3" was used as a CC police service revolver in Spain during the sixties and seventies.

[Waywardmonk]

I had a nice A-100 that never gave me any problems. Yet another in a too long list of " why did I sell it? "

[Grump]

My A-80 broke. Repeatedly. The promise of an all-steel "poor man's SIG" was unfulfilled.

It was a bad surface hardening treatment. First the slide stop lever, where your thumb goes. Functioned but you couldn't manually engage or disengage any more. Replaced it with a spare from a .45 ACP parts kit I had. That one lasted. Then the dismount lever broke, and all I was doing was firing it!!!:uhoh: Not that much recoil stress on a part not moved during the firing cycle! :fire: It was the pressed-on lever part that you manipulate, not the important cylindrical part that holds things together. Also replaced with the spare, that lasted maybe another 800 rounds. See end of story.

Then the part of the slide that covers the recoil spring cracked. It's silver-soldered in, like Llama's are, but the STEEL is what failed.:fire: :fire: I succumbed and bought a new slide assembly.

Thought life was good, then the ejector BENT!!!:cuss: :fire: :cuss: Bent it back but never trusted it again.

I sold it and never looked back.

[Myself]

I thought Astra merged with another Spanish gun manufacturer?

Astra merged with Star and both are gone.

I had a A-75 in 40 S&W that I had very good luck with.

[bpisler]

I owned a few astra semi-autos over the
years.All seemed to be well made and
accurate enough but the A-75's are dang
heavy for their size.

[Phantom Warrior]

My best friend had an Astra knock off of a SIG 226 for a while. The darn thing WOULDN'T jam, no matter how hard he tried. He didn't have it for too long though, so I can't provide any long term details.

[Deanimator]

An Army buddy had an A-80 in .45acp. It was an accurate, reliable pistol, albeit a light one, with a lot of recoil when using hot loads.

[Grump]

I forgot to add the rest of why that A-80 made me so mad.

It was dead-nuts reliable both in the original 9mm and with the .45 ACP top end.

It was also plenty accurate--2 inch 5-round groups at 25 yards with any decent ammo, again in both calibers.

[bluto]

I have an Astra Constable that is a terrific little .380. Reliable and accurate. Very concealable. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend picking one up if there are any still to be found on the used market.

The fixed barrel makes it a very good shooter. I just took mine to the range last week and had no trouble putting 2 magazines, 14 shots, into just over 3" at 15 yards. I also like the DA/SA capability. The DA pull on mine is pretty smooth. The only thing I'd change is the grips.

[Ala Dan]

I too briefly owned one of their 3.5" barrel .357 magnums many years ago
and it performed well; with a heavy double-action trigger pull, and not as
nicely finished as Smith's model 27's.:eek: :D