Astra 600/43
- Thread starter JDCOOP57
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Jim Watson
Member
Considering that the Astra is a straight blowback action, depending only on the mass of the slide and the strength of the springs to contain the chamber pressure, I would not do it.
Also considering that a "perfect condition" Astra 600/43 is worth a good deal of money to collectors of WWII gear, I would not want to beat it up with hot loads. Lee Jurras once pressure tested several lots of WWII surplus German ammunition. Although corner cutting in wartime with ersatz bullets and cheap powder gave impressive muzzle flash and report, the chamber pressures were no higher than contemporary commercial loads.
Also considering that a "perfect condition" Astra 600/43 is worth a good deal of money to collectors of WWII gear, I would not want to beat it up with hot loads. Lee Jurras once pressure tested several lots of WWII surplus German ammunition. Although corner cutting in wartime with ersatz bullets and cheap powder gave impressive muzzle flash and report, the chamber pressures were no higher than contemporary commercial loads.
The question isn't whether a Model 600 will handle modern U.S. made +P ammunition, which is ballistically similar to the hotter European 9mm loads, the gun will probably handle the stuff, the question is why you would subject a collectable example of a handgun to undue wear and strain?
If you want to shoot it, my suggestion is to stick to milder ammunition and enjoy the pistol for what it is, a shootable example of a collectable handgun.
If you want to shoot it, my suggestion is to stick to milder ammunition and enjoy the pistol for what it is, a shootable example of a collectable handgun.
BTW, this thread made me realize that when I recently shot my 600/43 I had forgotten to install the new recoil spring that I had picked up from Wolff Spring. Possibly a new spring will tame the recoil a bit.
I think Onmilo has it exactly right, stick with mild to normal strength ammo. The 600 may have been chambered for 9mm for WWII German use, but the gun was originally designed for 9mm Largo, a lower pressure round than 9mm Luger.
BTW, as you probably know the 600 was a shortened version of the 9mm Largo 400 intended for German use in 1944. My understanding is that most of the 600's being shipped into Germany in 1944 were intercepted at the German border by the allies and then distributed to the German police and border patrol after WWII. My gun, like many, was distributed by Interarms.
Astra 600/43 (9mm)
Astra 400 (9mm Largo)
I think Onmilo has it exactly right, stick with mild to normal strength ammo. The 600 may have been chambered for 9mm for WWII German use, but the gun was originally designed for 9mm Largo, a lower pressure round than 9mm Luger.
BTW, as you probably know the 600 was a shortened version of the 9mm Largo 400 intended for German use in 1944. My understanding is that most of the 600's being shipped into Germany in 1944 were intercepted at the German border by the allies and then distributed to the German police and border patrol after WWII. My gun, like many, was distributed by Interarms.
Astra 600/43 (9mm)
Astra 400 (9mm Largo)
bannockburn
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JDCOOP57
I had an Astra Model 600 many years ago. Without question, it was a rather painful experience as that gun was brutal on both my hand and wrist. Usually two boxes of ammo was my limit. I wouldn't even want to contemplate +P loads through that gun.
I had an Astra Model 600 many years ago. Without question, it was a rather painful experience as that gun was brutal on both my hand and wrist. Usually two boxes of ammo was my limit. I wouldn't even want to contemplate +P loads through that gun.
astra mod 600/43
I have recently received a astra mod 600/43 for repair. The gun was fired and its last round is jammed. The slide will move only about haftway back. Unable to remove the barrel and slide (field strip) to free the round. Is there another way that I can free the round? Could you help me with is problem. Thank you.
I have recently received a astra mod 600/43 for repair. The gun was fired and its last round is jammed. The slide will move only about haftway back. Unable to remove the barrel and slide (field strip) to free the round. Is there another way that I can free the round? Could you help me with is problem. Thank you.
If (and only if) the last round is expended you might try inserting a wood dowel from the muzzle end and give it light tap to try and loosen up whatever is stuck. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what could be causing a jam like that. I'll pull my 600 this evening and have a look see at where a hang-up could be.
Storm: -hard to said what caused the jam, the owner said he was buying -subject to a fix. so here i am trying to unjam the gun. I was looking at the possibily of removing the pin from under the grips (the pin that has the wire clip on it) - too see if that would free the slide, however if removing the pin did not allow the slide to move and free the shell, reinstalling the pin would be almost inpossibile. your thoughts ?
If the slide will return to full battery, see if you can unlock the barrel bushing and remove it and the recoil spring.
This should take the tension off the slide and you may be able to tap it back enough using a piece of softwood and a rubber mallet to turn and free the barrel from the frame.
Once that is done, you should be able to tap the slide and barrel free from the slide then move the barrel far enough forward in the slide to access the offending cartridge case and dislodge it. HTH
This should take the tension off the slide and you may be able to tap it back enough using a piece of softwood and a rubber mallet to turn and free the barrel from the frame.
Once that is done, you should be able to tap the slide and barrel free from the slide then move the barrel far enough forward in the slide to access the offending cartridge case and dislodge it. HTH
Exactly my thought as well. Once you get that muzzle cap off the whole thing should loosen up considerably. That recoil spring is under quite a lot of pressure. Watch out when the cap comes off as that spring will launch into orbit.
Myles
Member
If this helps, here is a disassembly guide: http://www.marstar.ca/AssemblyAstra.htm
And an exploded parts view: http://stevespages.com/ipb-astra-400.html
I know I had a bear of a time with my 600 the first time - I wish I had these back then.
And an exploded parts view: http://stevespages.com/ipb-astra-400.html
I know I had a bear of a time with my 600 the first time - I wish I had these back then.
Only thing I can come up with since we are unable to inspect the gun is the firing pin has punched through the primer and become wedged in the primer pocket flash hole or the hammer has sheared the half cock or full cock notch and become wedged up in the slide recess, if this is the case, you may be able to insert a brass or nylon wedge into the rear of the slide to manipulate the hammer down into the frame while having a helper push back on the slide to free it.
If the firing pin is wedged, the retainer pins will be blocked by the frame so you may have to use a solid brass rod inserted down the barrel and into the expended case, be sure to use a rod smaller than 9mm/.38 to keep it from becoming wedged in the expended case,,, whack on the rod while keeping the barrel pulled forward and this should drive the slide back and access the ejection port.
Be sure to restrain the front of the barrel in a well padded vice when you do this to prevent battering or shearing the barrel lugs.
If you get this far, you should be able to lever the case off the firing pin.HTH
If the firing pin is wedged, the retainer pins will be blocked by the frame so you may have to use a solid brass rod inserted down the barrel and into the expended case, be sure to use a rod smaller than 9mm/.38 to keep it from becoming wedged in the expended case,,, whack on the rod while keeping the barrel pulled forward and this should drive the slide back and access the ejection port.
Be sure to restrain the front of the barrel in a well padded vice when you do this to prevent battering or shearing the barrel lugs.
If you get this far, you should be able to lever the case off the firing pin.HTH
Bosmith, I have pulled my 600 and 400 (both pretty much the same, as with my 3000) and can't figure out what your problem could be. I think Onmilo has the best solution pegged, but if this is buy pending a fix I can understand your caution. Please let us know how it comes out.
At least in pulling my Astras I have re-discovered guns that I love owning and shooting, even if the 400/600 is a brute. BTW, the 600 has quite an interesting history behind it.
Just as a side note, my smith carries his 400 concealed carry! He's big enough to pull it off
Gotta love that. This thread also got me to pull my two Steyr-Hahn 1911s, one of them refinished by said smith in a great way. They also will now see some range time.
At least in pulling my Astras I have re-discovered guns that I love owning and shooting, even if the 400/600 is a brute. BTW, the 600 has quite an interesting history behind it.
Just as a side note, my smith carries his 400 concealed carry! He's big enough to pull it off
Gotta love that. This thread also got me to pull my two Steyr-Hahn 1911s, one of them refinished by said smith in a great way. They also will now see some range time.Hey guys, I put a small piece of 3/4 PVC pipe on the muzzle end of the barrel and tapped it with a hammer and was able to eject the round. After completly disassembling, cleaning and reassembling - the slide moves okay with a quick pull and release. However with a slow pull on the slide I feel a drag about half way back. This may have been the cause of the jam. I am looking into that drag issue now. Your thoughts???
since you didn't mention a pierced primer and did mention this stoppage occurred on the last round and you did mention getting drag on the slide to frame fit with an empty pistol and didn't mention the slide lock holding the slide back, i would look at a malfunctioning slide lock as the possible problem.
Onmilo- as i stated earlier in my post-the gun i received was JAM meaning no movement in the slide, a fired round meaning a pierced primer ... and only when i freed the JAM was i able to find a drag on the slide. Thanks for your HELP <??<?<??<?
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