Rubber_Duck
Member
I never buy anything without researching, but I made an impulse buy and I hope I don't regret it. I picked up an Astra A-100 in .40 S&W with 4 13-round mags and 2 10-rounders for a three Benjamins even. I swore I would never own a .40 S&W because I'm a 9mm and .45 ACP guy, I just don't care for the snappy recoil of the .40 or the reduced capacity. That being said, the magazine capacity/accessories/price ratio was so attractive that I got over my dislike for the caliber and decided to take this one home, no chance to research it before buying as this was a gun show find, so I was hoping I wasn't buying a lemon. Here are the pics:
Some quick research tells me it's a Spanish clone of a Sig Sauer P228 and for the most part they are well-regarded as far as Sig clones go. However, the magazines, or any other parts won't interchange with a genuine P228, so it isn't an exact clone. Also some P228 holsters will fit it but not sure which ones, probably a trial-and-error sort of thing. The trigger guard shape is different so that will affect holster fit depending on the holster. The double action trigger stroke is long and smooth with some noticeable stacking just before the break. The single action trigger is average in pull weight with a clean break but has a lot of over-travel and a somewhat long reset. The sights are of the 3-white-dot variety and the rear one is windage adjustable via a small screw. The feed ramp is polished and the barrel already throated for JHP ammo. It has a ring-type hammer that looks neat as well.
I'm very familiar with the Sig P22x series pistols (the West German-made P226 is my favorite pistol of all time). One notable difference is that the Astra is an all-steel gun versus the classic Sigs which have alloy frames. So it is quite hefty for its size. Also, the takedown lever is on the opposite side. Otherwise takedown is identical, with the recoil spring being captive.
I took this pistol to the range this morning for an informal test fire using 100 rounds of Tula 180gr FMJ and 50 rounds of Federal 180gr FMJ, in that order. The pistol fed, fired, extracted, and ejected every round except one of the Tula that got hung up on the feed ramp about halfway through the 2nd box. Not sure if it was the ammo or that particular magazine but I will mark the magazines to keep track of which ones provide any problems in the future, if any.
I was shooting a foot low at 15 yards for the first couple of magazines using the six o'clock hold that I'm use to but when placing the front dot over the entire target I was much closer to POA but still a few inches low. I may try different bullet weights but it it my understanding that lighter bullets shoot will shoot lower. Another theory is I may be jerking the gun down in anticipation of the severe muzzle flip, despite the hefty weight of the steel frame, so I'm definitely reminded that this is a .40. I hope this pistol proves as reliable as the P22x series it emulates.
So does anyone have any experience with this pistol? How hard is it to get parts? I turned down a Star Model BM that someone tried to sell me for $200 because research showed parts were non-existent and I'd be SOL if anything broke. So am I in the same boat here with the Astra? Opinions/experiences?
This was sort of a review but I just wanted to share my thoughts on a neat bargain gun that doesn't feel cheap at all.
So I'm left with a couple questions that I can't seem to find the answer for (my Google-fu is weak):
-Will thousands of dry-firings damage anything like a firing pin stop pin? Am I SOL for parts?
-How do I determine the manufacture date?
Some quick research tells me it's a Spanish clone of a Sig Sauer P228 and for the most part they are well-regarded as far as Sig clones go. However, the magazines, or any other parts won't interchange with a genuine P228, so it isn't an exact clone. Also some P228 holsters will fit it but not sure which ones, probably a trial-and-error sort of thing. The trigger guard shape is different so that will affect holster fit depending on the holster. The double action trigger stroke is long and smooth with some noticeable stacking just before the break. The single action trigger is average in pull weight with a clean break but has a lot of over-travel and a somewhat long reset. The sights are of the 3-white-dot variety and the rear one is windage adjustable via a small screw. The feed ramp is polished and the barrel already throated for JHP ammo. It has a ring-type hammer that looks neat as well.
I'm very familiar with the Sig P22x series pistols (the West German-made P226 is my favorite pistol of all time). One notable difference is that the Astra is an all-steel gun versus the classic Sigs which have alloy frames. So it is quite hefty for its size. Also, the takedown lever is on the opposite side. Otherwise takedown is identical, with the recoil spring being captive.
I took this pistol to the range this morning for an informal test fire using 100 rounds of Tula 180gr FMJ and 50 rounds of Federal 180gr FMJ, in that order. The pistol fed, fired, extracted, and ejected every round except one of the Tula that got hung up on the feed ramp about halfway through the 2nd box. Not sure if it was the ammo or that particular magazine but I will mark the magazines to keep track of which ones provide any problems in the future, if any.
I was shooting a foot low at 15 yards for the first couple of magazines using the six o'clock hold that I'm use to but when placing the front dot over the entire target I was much closer to POA but still a few inches low. I may try different bullet weights but it it my understanding that lighter bullets shoot will shoot lower. Another theory is I may be jerking the gun down in anticipation of the severe muzzle flip, despite the hefty weight of the steel frame, so I'm definitely reminded that this is a .40. I hope this pistol proves as reliable as the P22x series it emulates.
So does anyone have any experience with this pistol? How hard is it to get parts? I turned down a Star Model BM that someone tried to sell me for $200 because research showed parts were non-existent and I'd be SOL if anything broke. So am I in the same boat here with the Astra? Opinions/experiences?
This was sort of a review but I just wanted to share my thoughts on a neat bargain gun that doesn't feel cheap at all.
So I'm left with a couple questions that I can't seem to find the answer for (my Google-fu is weak):
-Will thousands of dry-firings damage anything like a firing pin stop pin? Am I SOL for parts?
-How do I determine the manufacture date?
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