[BoneDigger]

A local guy is looking to sell a stainless (?) Astra A-70 for $175. It looks to be in good condition. It is a .40 caliber. I realize parts must be obtained through EAA at this point, and that is no fun.

Are the Astra pistols any good? Any experience with the A-70? Is this an OK price?

Todd

[GrandmasterB]

I have no experience with the .40, but have shot an Astra A70 in 9mm. It is the perfect size for 9mm and the gun was accurate for self defense purposes and reliable. I think they are well made and easy to conceal.

Parts will likely be a problem as will magazines, but at that price, I would be hard-pressed to pass it up.

[rbernie]

The Astra A70 is a very nice SA pistol - very ergonomic and compact. Parts can be had if you need 'em. I paid $275 for mine in carbon steel, and I should not have - they commonly retail for $225-$250 in 80% shape, from what I can tell. A price of $175 for a 40S&W version in SS (I didn't know they made SS - it may be nickel plated carbon steel) is a superb deal if the pistol is in good shape.

Mine (9mm version) broke a firing pin and needed a replacement. Evidently this was a known flaw, because somewhere in the lifespan of the pistols' manufacture Astra increased the FP diameter. Of course, mine broke because it was the smaller diameter. And, of course, only the large diameter FPs are still available from EAA. I had to drill the breech face FP hole out to accept the larger FP - it was really kind of a pain but it was ultimately repairable. Other than that, I really enjoyed the pistol.

I wound up selling it and buying a CZ PCR instead, because I decided that I wanted an alloy frame in such a compact pistol. But the CZ40P (equivilent size/chambering of the A70 but with an alloy frame) will set you back another $150 on top of the $175...

CDNN used to blow out A70 mags pretty regularly - you might want to check with 'em to see if they still have some.

[armoredman]

I carried an A-70 back in the day, good pistola. If I found one that cheap out here, I'd snag it.