Astra 400 - info? testimonials?

[Oyeboten]

I recently bought an older Astra 400 Pistol.

I am curious to hear from others who own and shoot them.


May one use .38 ACP Ammunition in lieu of the 9mm Largo/Bayard?


Are these understood to be reliable Arms of good design, and good Steel?

It certainly appears to be high quality in every way, in examining it, the tolerances, fit and finish, everything seems very well done.


Any pet Loads for these from those of you who do re-Loading?


Are they known to feed and manage 158 Grain .357 Semi-Wadcutters well? ( as the old COLT .38 Autos typically would? )


Any favorite Links to 'Take Down' or other edifying schematics?


Thanks!

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

First, let's remember that this is a straight BLOWBACK action, so don't go too heavy on ammo or reloading, meaning, NO .38 SUPER! You CAN use .38 ACP, which is a lot lighter than Super, but finding a good souce for 9mm Largo ammo would be better. It CAN shoot a variety of lesser powered rounds, as is rumored, but not advisable. I had a Model 400 years ago, and it was a very well built gun. Butt ugly, but beauty is in the eyes, etc. I later got a Model 600 (9mm Luger) for the very reason ammo is easier to find, it is designed for it, and because is WAS so ugly, it was a great converation piece at the range. They work fine with the proper ammo, and are surprisigly accurate for a military gun. Do NOT use a pair of pliers, etc; it can be taken down quite easily without tools, as I recall. You can spot the "boogered" ones by the teeth marks on the barrel, where it is serrated, after drawing the slide back, and sometimes on the barrel bushing. I don't have a link; perhaps someone else will chime in or point you too a site for disassembly instructions, tips, etc. Grips and mags can be hard to get, as with any gun not made since WWII(?). I believe this gun was designed in 1921...and interestingly, used in the movie "Miller's Crossing", one of the few movies that I can remember that this distinctive pistol had a role in. The bore size is 9mm (.355), and probably not a good idea to use .357 bullets for loading, since that will drive pressures up in this old, lower pressure gun.

 

[Oyeboten]

Hi SharpDressedMan,


Thank you for the info!


I will see about getting some 9MM Largo.

I used to do a lot of re-Loading for a Colt 'Sporting Model' .38 Automatic, and, I believe the pressures and overall are about the same between it and the 9mm Largo/Bergman.

Of course both were intended for mostly using Hardball, where the pressure spikes a great deal more than it does if squeezing down a Lead Bullet a couple thousandths, so, I doubt any worries need be felt on that score, so long as Loadings are appropriate of course.

I have heard that in many cases, Pistols chambered for the 9mm Largo/Bayard will also accept the .38 ACP Cartridge, but, I have never tried it, and I would want to see that the Extractor would not mind or be strained.

Yes, indeed, ".38 Super" is a different Animal for sure!

Being I believe, around 35,000 pis, verses, the roughly 26,000 psi of the .38 ACP and 9mm Largo Cartridges.

Recoil Spring or Slide retraction gesture, does seem a mite more stout on the Astra 400, than on the Colt 'Sporting Model' of .38 ACP, owing I suppose to their respective kinds of Actions.


Really, I ought to just go and find a source of 9mm Largo Brass, and just load my own, since I prefer Lead Bullets, of whatever shape, to the Hardball anyway, and I doubt any sources would have 9mm Largo in 'Lead', any more than they would for the .38 ACP anymore.

So...yeah, just the Brass would suit me I think, if you or anyone knows of any good sources?


Thanks so much!


What fun...

 

[Onmilo]

The 1921/400 can shoot .38 acp non +P ammo if the chamber is marked 9mm/.38
The Spanish Military are marked 9mm and the breechface is not relieved like the commercial guns for the semi rimmed .38 acp, however, some Military guns shoot the .38 acp just fine, some don't function well with the stuff.

The old belief the guns were designed to function with all kinds of 9mm ammunition is, for the most part, incorrect.
I can get a Beretta M9 to function, sort of with .380 acp, does that mean it was designed to do so?

NEVER use 9X23 cartridge cases or ammunition in an Astra 400,
The brass is thicker which means higher pressures with what may be safe level reloads in .38 Super brass and the factory loaded cartridges are WAY over safe pressure levels the Astra was designed for.

The Military and commercial Astra 400 can use 9mm Largo, 9mm Bergmann Bayard, and 9mm Steyr, dimensionally these cartridges are nearly identical, as far as 9mm Luger, .380acp, etc., I don't recommend the practice.

If the chamber is marked 9mm/.38 you can add .38 acp and as the Steyr and Bergmann Bayard cartridges, if you can find them.

There are still plentiful stocks of surplus 9mm Largo available and I suggest this ammo is what you choose.

.38 Super brass can be handloaded to function in the Astra.
I use a mid level 9mm Luger powder selection with 124 and/or 130 FMJ bullets with excellent function and accuracy.
My gun is a Commercial with the 9mm/.38 chamber marking.HTH

 

[Oyeboten]

Thanks Onmilo,



How does one tell if one has a Military or Commercial Model?


Anyway, I will be seeing if I can find some reloadable 9 mm Largo/Bergman Bayard/Steyr Brass, and, just Load my own.


And or, I will read up upon the specifications for the .38 ACP vis-a-vie the 9mm Largo et al, to see what difference there is in the anuar ejection ring aspect which could effect the comfort of the ejector, and or just impirically see by chambering and ejecting empty .38 ACP Cases.

I just do not happen to have ny .38 Largo et al to compare directly to .38 ACP.


I have tons of .38 ACP Brass, so if it would function well, it would be convenient for me to make use of it.


Do you know of any links to sites which would show serial Numbering and year Manufactured?

 

[Oyeboten]

Thanks Onmilo,



How does one tell if one has a Military or Commercial Model?


Anyway, I will be seeing if I can find some reloadable 9 mm Largo/Bergman Bayard/Steyr Brass, and, just Load my own.


Do you know of any links to sites which would show serial Numbering and year Manufactured?

 

[Jim K]

If the slide will close on .38 ACP, you can use it or equivalent loads in a .38 Super case, .38 ACP being harder to find than 9mm Largo.

THe takedown trick is simple. Look at the front and you will see the barrel surrounded by a thin ring, then a thick knurled ring. The thin ring is the barrel bushing. Using a non-marring tool, push it back into the slide until it is even with the front of the thick ring, which is the barrel bushing lock. You can then turn the barrel bushing lock. Be careful and keep the bushing and lock under control or you will be hunting them; they can fly a long way, and can be dangerous.

Jim

 

[bubba15301]

starline has 9 largo brass

 

[Oyeboten]

Thanks Jim! I will try the field strip later tonight... and lightly clean and Oil all well.


Thanks Bubba15301..!

'Starline' - good to know, and will be my choice for the Brass.

 

[Onmilo]

Commercial guns have the 9mm/.38 chamber mark.
Military guns have a 9 m/m chamber mark only.

Commercial guns are also usually stamped SPAIN on left rear of frame. HTH