Astra 44 Mag

[skidder]

I recently picked up an Astra 44 Mag. The side plate says "Astra" Spain "Interarms" Alexandria, Virginia.

The gun appears to be in good condition. It reminds me of a 629 I once had. Any information about this gun would be appreciated. The quality seems to be pretty good.

 

[TennJed]

Nice looking gun. It reminds me of a Ruger Security Six. The cylinder release is in a different spot, but the trigger guard, half lug, and the target grips look at lot alike

 

[skidder]

Yes it does. Man that is a sweet lookin six.

 

[TennJed]

Congrats on the 44. I have no personal experience with them, but I have always heard good things about Astra. I would not hesitate to get one

 

[Gordon]

An excellent gun! For heavy use it will not hold up as well as a Model 29 and there is no factory repair and parts are some what hard to get. I had a Terminator snub model for a few years and fired a few hundred full power loads thru it no problem. Traded it for a Mad Dog knife worth $4-500 THEN. BTW Pachmeyer grips for the Model 29 fit mine (which was round butt)

 

[Walkalong]

All I know about them is how nice mine is. I liked it so much that when a .357 came available at a good price I bought it, and it shoots great too.

 

[amd6547]

I had an Astra 44mag years ago that I bought new at a local gun shop. Mine was blued with a six inch barrel.
I probably put about 400rds through it. Eventually, it developed a carry-up issue, not rolling the cylinder fully into lockup.
I learned quite a lot from that Astra, though. I learned that the 44mag in a six inch barrel is very accurate.
When I hauled it with me on a backpack trip in Pennsylvania, where I was assured black bears were on the prowl for unsuspecting backpackers, I learned I didn't really want to haul a six inch 44mag with 30rds of ammo up and down steep PA hills with all the other unnecessary stuff I had on that first trip.

Astra made good guns. You may not be aware that you can adjust the trigger pull by taking off the grips and rotating the ring that the hammer spring sits in.

 

[skidder]

thanks amd6547. I did not know that.

I just removed the grip panels and I see what you're are talking about. The ring has four different spring heights. Thanks bud, a good thing to know.

 

[TennJed]

thanks amd6547. I did not know that.

I just removed the grip panels and I see what you're are talking about. The ring has four different spring heights. Thanks bud, a good thing to know.

That would be a good feature for modern revolvers to do. You listening Ruger, Smith, & Taurus?