Astra 600: Ugly, or Retro Cool?

Isn't that a 9mm Largo?
Those Astra's is oogly!

The pix looks like an Astra 400. The 600 had a shorter barrel.

Nice old pistols.

Certaindeaf said:

Isn't that a 9mm Largo?
Those Astra's is oogly!

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The Astra 600 was chambered 9x19. The Astra 400 was chambered in 9 Largo.

Not quite as nice looking as a Browing 1922, but still very good looking.

I agree. I think they are great looking and it is on my "someday I'll have one" list.

I like the ole' stovepipe barrel. If I came across 9x17 or 9x19 at fair price I would certainly look closely at it. I'm not prepared to say it would get past my "doorstep" but it would get examined.

I have had this Astra 400 9mm Largo for a bit over 20 years and it has been a fun shooter.
Spare magazines are somewhat harder to find for the 9X19 Model 600 pistols but can be located for fairly reasonable prices.

Sharps

I had an Astra 600 as one of my first semi-autos. Ugly? Well let's just say it was ruggedly handsome, but visually challenged in a rather functional way. Kind of like the girl on a blind date who was best described to you as "having a great personality".

And while it was incredibly accurate and super reliable, I would never consider it a fun range gun. After 100 or so rounds it just became too painful to continue shooting it. The web of my shooting hand would hurt for days afterwards and it would take nearly a week before I was able to shoot again. So the Astra 600 to me was a good gun but not necessarily a good gun design.

Mine says .38/9mmlargo so after a wolfe + P spring job a tried some non +p .38 super in it. Kicks like a Largo and I chronographed 50 fps difference in favor of the .38 super.

So fugly it's cute. Just like an inbred cousin. One of the standard bg guns in the original Mission Impossible series. It is an iconic cold war gun. I've got my eye on the .380 model for a shooter to add to my collection. Just for s&g.

We'll say it has character - not pretty, not really ugly, certainly not forgettable like so many modern guns. I love guns with character...

Let me ask you this -- when you went to your 50th High School reunion, had the ugliest girl in class turned into a beauty?

I vote Retro Cool all the way.

I vote "Retro Ugly"

Dr.Rob said:

Taking them apart I hear it a tad.. exciting.

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Actually, taking the Astra 400 and 600 apart is is not difficult or exciting if you know the procedure.

Disassembly is not intuitively obvious so the uninformed can get a surprise.

Just not pretty

Very retro cool. I bought one through mail order many years ago when you could still do that sort of thing, then foolishly sold it. Now whenever I attend gun shows I am on the lookout for another 600 at the right price.

Those Astra's is oogly!

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+1 and a big laugh for the way you said it.

Ugly, and poor ergonomics. And I own one also.

Kinda like a moped... Fun to ride/shoot but I wouldn't want my friends to see me doing it.

Pretty hideous. Can't really put it any other way and not have a mod chew me out.