Astra .44 Mag 2.5" - Experiences? Should I Buy It?

[The Mighty Beagle]

Hello.

I have been looking for a big-bore (preferably .44 mag.) beater gun for holster carrying around our property and overall just to plink with. Trouble is, I've only got $300 and that's not enough to get me what I want, which is a useable double-action revolver. I was hoping for a beat-up S&W 24, for example. Even a Taurus 431 would be nice, but no luck.

Today the local pawn shop had one of these Astra snubbies for $185 in decent condition. The finish has seen some wear (I assume holster) and there are a few tiny dings or pits, which may have actually been crud, I'm not sure. Overall, it just seemed like the gun had been carried alot, telling me that someone liked it pretty well and that it may have been a good gun.


Mechanically, the gun seems quite nice though, having an excellent trigger pull and locking up pretty well on each chamber. Not bank-vault tight, but tighter than a new Taurus .38 I was looking at.

Only real problem I saw was that the front sight ramp was loose and could be wiggled a little bit, despite having two pins attaching it to the barrel. It looked like the kind of thing I could fix by taking a brass punch to the pin heads, should it become a problem.

All in all, I really liked it and thought it would be perfect for what I want. And I wouldn't break the bank, either.

What kind of guns were these?
Is Astra still around for service?
What kind of accuracy should I expect?
Do they have problems or durability issues?
What was your experience with it?
What kind of resale value?

I realize that probably not many people on here have had this model, so feel free to comment on your Astra gun.

Thank you.

P.S. Unless I hear any bad reports, I'm probably gonna go back and pick it up tomorrow.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I'm guessing it's a Terminator. Blue book list at $250 in good cond. When I was a wee lad I had a Astra Cadet 22 rattling around in my tackle box. Never failed to fire, but was never what you would call functionally accurate. Usually took at least 3 shots to dispatch a snake or some other creepy crawly. But it was a pretty old revolver, and I wasn't as good a shot then. I do have an Astra 400 in the safe, but I'd be afraid to shoot that one, definately seen better days. Not sure on how well they made the big bores, but the price sounds about right.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

I really only have experience with one of their autos, an A-70 I think. It was a very nicely-made gun that never jammed. No, the problem was that I literally couldn't get it to group on paper. In all fairness, I bought it right after .40 S&W came out, and at the time just figured they didn't have the correct chamber dimensions or something. I would try another Astra, though maybe I should have learned more from this experience.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Ok, after more research it seems it was a 2.75" barrel ... but if it was a "TERMINATOR" model it did not say so.

It's too bad nobody knows much about this gun.
I can't find any info on the 'net and there aren't any on the auction sites to look at.

 

[Okiecruffler]

The only 44 with a 2.75'' barrel I can find in my books is the Terminator, but the only 22revolver I can find is a Cadix and I'm almost certain mine was a cadet. But I've slept since then, not to mention a few other things that don't promote good memory recall.

FWIW, Apparently they were made from 1980-87, in blued or stainless. They also made a longer barreled version (6 or 8.5 inch) in 41, 44 and 45acp.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Thanks for the info, Okie.

FYI to anyone also interested in these guns ...

I got to thinking about obtaining parts in case I'd ever have to repair it.

I've searched all night and found only some exploded diagrams of the Astra Mdl. 44. They aren't much use though since nobody online has any parts for these revolvers. You know you're in trouble when Gun Parts Corp. doesn't have it.

Looks like a big thumbs down on the Astra .44 Terminator.

 

[citizen]

Had one. Terminator; that is. Came with rubber grips when new. Belched fire like a cannon. Cracked the rear sight. Sold it for about $175. Nice piece, if you can live with it. Still got .44mag ammo left. Shot well, kept on paper. Functioned fine. REAL heavy for a carry piece. That's why it's gone.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Thanks for the info, Citizen.

Would the thing be able to get 3" or 4" groups at 15 yds?
Any fliers?

I'm still kinda undecided ... I called about 25 pawn shops in my area, and there is a dearth of USED big-bore double action revolvers to choose from, and no company really makes what I'm looking for anymore.

 

[citizen]

Small groups???? I dunno...... I DID qualify with it, though. Given enough time and effort on hold; I suppose it's possible. Heavy, and recoil even with the rubber grips was significant. Not a "belly gun"; more like a "belly cannon". Tough follow-up, re-acquiring sight picture. But a FUN gun nonetheless; though I consider it inappropriate for quick shot placement.

 

[JShirley]

Feel free to use .44 Special for controllable defensive use.

I had an Astra double-action auto some years ago. Sold it for no particular reason, but it always worked.