Astra 600/43 Questions

[Redcoat3340]

Purchased an Astra 600/43 to help fill my "collection" of German police pistols.

It was in fair condition, about what the pic looked like, but I was hoping it would be better....ya get what ya pay for, I guess.

I have a couple of questions:

a. the trigger is semi-awful. Anyone have any experience making them better? I'm going to give it to my smith and ask him to do a total tear-down and cleaning then some polishing on the trigger parts.

b. In terms of buying spare parts, such as are available, what usually breaks on these? Ejectors? Springs? Wonder if anyone has a complete spring kit to replace everything? or just I just get every spring Numich has in stock and have smith replace them when he puts it all back together.

c. I'm not sure these have any "collectors" value, aside for folks like me who collect German police pistols or WWII guns or Astras or Spanish guns. (This has no Nazi marks.) So I'm wondering if it's worth the $$ to have it refinished...IF AND ONLY IF I can get the trigger to a place where it's shootable at more than 5 yards.

Range report next week...but maybe later, probably not 'till after I get it cleaned up. (I did a field strip and cleaned what I could, but this baby needs a total overhaul.)

 

[Walt Sherrill]

c. I'm not sure these have any "collectors" value, aside for folks like me who collect German police pistols or WWII guns or Astras or Spanish guns. (This has no Nazi marks.) So I'm wondering if it's worth the $$ to have it refinished...

If it was a "collectible," -- as might be the case if there were Waffenampts or other unique military markings, you probably would NOT want to have it refinished.

Since it's a arguably a shooter -- trigger pull issues eventually resolved -- refinishing it adds little NET value: refinishing will cost you more than you'll increase its resale value. If refinished, however, you'll have a gun that is more eye-appealing for you. IS THAT of value to you? Only you can answer that question. .(It can probably be refinished locally (or within driving distance) meaning you won't have to pay the outrageous FedEx or UPS "air" shipping costs.

Have you visited any of the C&R sites looking for this sort of feedback?

 

[bannockburn]

Redcoat3340

As I recall my Astra Model 600 had a fairly decent trigger so not much help there. It was my first gun and since back then there was very little to go on in terms of detail stripping the gun (believe me I had a hard enough time just getting it field stripped and put back together again!), that it was never going to happen. Mine had a fairly decent finish to it; would probably rate it around 85% to 90% condition (mostly some holster wear on the slide), and since I had so little money into it I didn't consider having it refinished (probably would have cost more than the gun was worth). I would definitely recommend a Wolff Gunsprings Service Pak so that you can eventually replace all of the springs in the gun when the time comes.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

One of the few handguns that required a bumper jack when installing the recoil spring and slide.

 

[bannockburn]

Walt Sherrill

One of the few handguns that required a bumper jack when installing the recoil spring and slide.

And Heaven help you if you lost control of that recoil spring before it was locked back into place!

 

[drk1]

It has been my experience that unless someone has already tried to "work" on the trigger and screwed it up, there isn't much that you can do to make it better. The overall design of the pistol is such that it really isn't going to be very accurate no matter what you do to it, which is why you'll probably never see an "accurized" Astra 600 or 400 or 300. With regard to collectibility, there is some value there. There used to be an Astra Collectors Club, but I have heard anything about it in years. The only people who I knew as active members have long since passed. Dr. Antaris is the authority on them and he still comes to the OGCA shows but his interests seem to be elsewhere. I do recommend his book, if you haven't gotten one already. If you are going to focus on police pistols, what about using the money you'd spend on refinishing your pistol and getting a police marked holster to go with it? That might be the most productive (and potentially profitable) way to increase the value of the pistol. If you check around, police marked Astra pistol holsters turn up now and then and generally aren't too expensive. Even a Spanish Astra police holster will add some value to your pistol and they often come with a shoulder strap that looks a little like a "Sam Brown" belt, but the German marked holster would add more value. Keep us posted and share some photos if you have it refinished or add a holster. Thanks again for posting.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

My 400 has a pretty good trigger as is, but it's pre-war so mebbe got a little more attention in the fitting-up room. As to parts... if you intend to shoot it more than occasionally, you might consider replacing the old original, tired recoil spring with one of these: www.gunsprings.com/ASTRA/600/cID1/mID9/dID28

 

[tark]

I've got a nice 600 and that is the book you might have trouble finding. It isn't cheap. Wolff has all the springs you need. Replacing the recoil spring is a must. Especially on an older gun. As it has been mentioned, it can literally be dangerous to disassemble the gun if you're not careful. If that barrel bushing gets away from you, that recoil spring can propel it thirty feet away, into the weeds! Or give you a nasty bruise. If it were to hit you in the eye, you might loose the eye. Replacing the hammer spring is a whore's nightmare. I did it once, I don't remember how, and I don't want to remember. The good news is that this spring doesn't really wear out all that much. It is very stiff and it undergoes very little compression during use.

The serial # stamped on the barrel is not visible on the later guns. It is on the bottom of the chamber area.

These are robust pistols, generally, and hold up well. The extractors almost never break, but the extractor spring is somewhat small and weak. But any small and stiff little coil spring that fits into the hole will work. The firing pin is a two piece affair. The forward piece is the actual firing pin and It holds up well. The piece behind it, the piece the hammer actually hits, can break if the gun is dry fired very much. Simple solution? After you have cleared the gun, take a plain wooden pencil with an eraser and slip it in the barrel eraser end first. when you dry fire the gun it will cushion the blow. A poor man's snap cap !

These guns do not have good triggers and there is little that can be done to improve things. Part of the problem lies with the strong hammer springs these guns have. You MUST NOT attempt to lighten the trigger pull by trimming this spring. It is there for a reason. The heavy weight of the spring helps the hammer to resist being cocked, which is one of the ways this gun can get away with firing such a powerful round in a straight blow back action. Rack the slide with the hammer down, then rack it again with the hammer already cocked. See what I mean? Big difference in resistance!

Probably best to stay away from the +P stuff. It might be OK, but why subject a 70 year old gun to extra stresses? Hope you're not planning on re-loading for it. The squirt gun Astras are about the only auto pistols I know of that will throw their empties almost as far as they throw their bullets.

Lastly, since your gun has no Nazi markings, I suggest you do whatever the hell you want to with it. and enjoy.....enjoy.....enjoy.

 

[Monac]

Dr. Antares has done a new version of his Astra book. It is at least 3 times as thick as the original, and is illustrated in color. It is also expensive, and may tell you more than you want to know, so the first edition may be a better value.

https://www.amazon.com/Firearms-Sel...&qid=1516685220&sr=8-3&keywords=astra+pistols

Amazon also has an e-book about Astra pistols for $3. I don't know anything about it, and I am not familiar with the author, Mike Francis:

https://www.amazon.com/Astra-Pistol...&qid=1516685220&sr=8-2&keywords=astra+pistols

 

[Jim K]

I will add a note to Tark's response. If you use a pencil eraser to cushion a firing pin when dry firing, be careful where you point the gun. That pencil will come flying out point first and fast enough to do serious damage to someone's eye.

I strongly suggest NOT removing the little "L" pins that hold the extractor and firing pin. Those parts rarely need replacement and If (maybe I should say "when") the short "L" side of the pin breaks, it cannot be removed since the holes are blind.

Jim

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I don't find the trigger on mine to be objectionable at all, but the gun, while reliable, ain't terribly accurate. A fun plinker for occasional use- but the real joy in this gun is looking at it more than shooting it. The finish on mine is easily 90% and the machining and workmanship is top rate old-world craft.
I would definitely refinish it if that will enhance your appreciation of this guns quality, unique design, and fine lines, but no, it won't really increase its value.

 

[tark]

I don't find the trigger on mine to be objectionable at all, but the gun, while reliable, ain't terribly accurate.

That has been my experience, too. They also have an unusually harsh recoil, considering the power of the cartridge. Probably the result of the blow back design. The 400 is even more objectionable in this regards.

 

[bannockburn]

tark

They also have an unusually harsh recoil, considering the power of the cartridge. Probably the result of the blow back design.

Most definitely and that was my chief objection to the gun, that the recoil was so painful after shooting it for awhile that it didn't really matter how good or bad the trigger was or how tiny the sights were to try and see. You just wanted to put the gun down and soak your hand and wrist in a bucket of ice water and pretty much call it a day!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

tark



Most definitely and that was my chief objection to the gun, that the recoil was so painful after shooting it for awhile that it didn't really matter how good or bad the trigger was or how tiny the sights were to try and see. You just wanted to put the gun down and soak your hand and wrist in a bucket of ice water and pretty much call it a day!

Sounds like that one needed new springs! Honestly the recoil on mine is less snappy than a 9mm HiPoint (also a straight blowback). I wouldn't want to try the .45 HiPoint.....

 

[bannockburn]

NIGHTLORD40K

Sounds like that one needed new springs!

Don't think so as the gun functioned 100% with any ammo and appeared to have been shot very little when I acquired it. It just beat up the web of my hand like no other handgun ever has in all the years I have been shooting.

 

[tark]

Sounds like that one needed new springs!

My 600 is a 98% gun, which is why I rarely shoot it. The recoil spring is the same length as a new spring. It still kicks like a mule, relatively speaking.

Don't think so as the gun functioned 100% with any ammo

My 400 will feed 148 grain wadcutters, seated near flush with the mouth of the case, and every hollowpoint I have ever loaded for it. I load the wadcutters over three grains of bullseye and put a worn out recoil spring in the gun. The gun goes "POP" the empties dribble out the side and the kids love it. I also load 158 grain semi-wadcutters.

My point being; I have never owned any pistol that will come close to my 400s ability to feed anything you stuff in the magazine. I haven't tried this with the 600. My 300 refuses to feed anything but hardball.

Go figure!

 

[Col. Harrumph]

By gum, by dagnab, I'm going to try that. Thanks, Tark!

 

[BSA1]

Field strip the gun and try soaking it for several days in a large bucket of Ed's Red. Pull the frame out occasionally, give it good brushing with a soft toothbrush and then let it soak some more. Some of the old oil and grease may have turned to varnish and soaking them for several days will help to dissolve it. I have changed the trigger pull on some old guns from awful to acceptable this way on guns that I did not want to try to disassemble.

 

[tark]

By gum, by dagnab, I'm going to try that. Thanks, Tark!

If you don't have an old, worn out spring you can get a new spring from Wolff and then trim the old one a coil at a time until the gun functions with the light load. 158 gr semi wadcutters also work well. The slightly oversize lead bullets squeeze down to .355 with no problems.

It makes for some fun shooting and the gun doesn't throw the empties half a mile! My 400 will accept Super cases without trimming the semi-rim. If yours won't, chuck the case hand tight in an electric drill and hold the rim against a mill file while turning is slowly. ( clockwise ) Do it gently, it doesn't take much effort. A little practice will have you doing fifty cases in a half hour or so.