Astra Model 600 straight-blowback 9x19mm!

[Jim Watson]

I know CIP is transnational and consistent now, but in the day of that Astra, most countries had their own proof law and test standards. Belgium set a lot of the early standards, German proof law was modeled on the Belgian with local "refinements" like marking rifle barrels with the gauge value. Spain was a latecomer, they didn't have regularized proof for years after.

It amazed me how late a first proof with black powder hung on.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Slovak proof marks on my Grand Power Q100.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I know CIP is transnational and consistent now, but in the day of that Astra, most countries had their own proof law and test standards. Belgium set a lot of the early standards, German proof law was modeled on the Belgian with local "refinements" like marking rifle barrels with the gauge value. Spain was a latecomer, they didn't have regularized proof for years after.

It amazed me how late a first proof with black powder hung on.

Yes, it seems that the mutual recognition beetween CIP States begins only in 1969.

 

[jmohme]

I like it!
Grip angle is kind of odd though. Reminds me of a carpenters square, but I still like and want one now.

 

[Gordon]

The 9x21 IMI was NOT the cartridge I fired in my 600 Astra in the 90s ! I was 9x21 older Geco or RWS as I remember and was no hotter than 9x19 115 grain ball by chronograph ! IThis is first time I have heard of 9x21 IMI ! I have known many years that European law in some countries required non military cartridges and I think the 9x21 was used in pre WW2 unusual pistols .

 

[5-SHOTS]

The 9x21 IMI was NOT the cartridge I fired in my 600 Astra in the 90s ! I was 9x21 older Geco or RWS as I remember and was no hotter than 9x19 115 grain ball by chronograph ! IThis is first time I have heard of 9x21 IMI ! I have known many years that European law in some countries required non military cartridges and I think the 9x21 was used in pre WW2 unusual pistols .

I believe instead that they were 9x21 IMI caliber factory cartridges almost certainly produced for the Italian market. In fact, Italy is certainly the largest consumer (and producer?) of 9x21 IMI cartridges. In the nineties sport shooting and 9x21 IMI pistol ownership was not so widespread in Italy so it is possible that Geco and RWS produced these cartridges to be sold in Italy but the Italian market was unable to absorb them so some of them ended up in the USA. In fact, I remember that the Geco and RWS cartridges were much more expensive than the Fiocchi. Probably Geco and RWS didn't use IMI in their boxes because in the end IMI was a "competitor" (or they had to pay rights to write IMI in their boxes?). And yes, 9x21 is not hotter than 9x19 by CIP standards, they are the same (even if the case is 2mm longer, the OAL is also virtually the same).

Over the years many old pistols have been rechambered to be sold in Italy in the 9x21 IMI caliber, including many Astra 400, Steyr, Luger, etc., and all of them had to pass the 3055 bar cartridge test.

 

[Jim Watson]

Over the years many old pistols have been rechambered to be sold in Italy in the 9x21 IMI caliber, including many Astra 400, Steyr,

That seems like a good trick considering that Astra 400 and Steyr 1912 are 9x23 (and not the same 9x23.)
What did they do, bush the chamber?

 

[5-SHOTS]

That seems like a good trick considering that Astra 400 and Steyr 1912 are 9x23 (and not the same 9x23.)
What did they do, bush the chamber?

I don't know exactly the details but I seem to have read that a ring was inserted inside the chamber, by interference, to reduce the length of the chamber.

This is one of them. They call it Steyr 1916 but of course it is a Steyr 1912 manufactured in 1916:
http://www.armeriaroma.com/armi-corte-usato/18498-pistola-steyr-1916-cal-9x21-matr-39er-01282.html

I think that only examples with no collectible value have been converted in this way to make them attractive to those who want to shoot easily available cartridges with them. Obviously no collector would want them.

 

[Jim Watson]

Ah, got it. Nonte described the method.
I assume that is what was done to kludge 1903 9mm Browning Long to .380 for sale to gullible colonials.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I like it!
Grip angle is kind of odd though. Reminds me of a carpenters square, but I still like and want one now.

Spanish troops called the Astra "The Pipe Wrench" because they thought it resembled a wrench locked onto a pipe.

 

[Gordon]

Well I just discovered that 9mm Browning long (9x20) fits shoots and extracts in the 600 ! I knew .380 did not ! I got alot of 9mm Browning long a while back, I bought 480 rounds of Swedish surplus and had 4 boxes of PPU since I converted my 1907 Model Swede back to 9mm long , cause it was so dismal as a .380 !

 

[Jim Watson]

I remember when 1903 9mm BL barrels were available but by then the price of the converted guns had gotten high enough that reconverting one was priced out of Fun Factor.

 

[Gordon]

I remember when 1903 9mm BL barrels were available but by then the price of the converted guns had gotten high enough that reconverting one was priced out of Fun Factor.

I bought a couple on Ebay a couple years back , with the original longer recoil spring. I have an extra if you want it. It is nice I can convert back to .380. I would get a malf with .380 averaging one per magazine in .380 , with all but the old Geco .380 which did run better. However I only have a box of that left and am keeping it for other old European .380s.

 

[Jim Watson]

Thanks, but I am pretty much out of the Kewl Gunz Acqisition era.
But I think I will get out the 1903 Colt .32.

 

[Milkmaster]

Bought my Astra 600/43 last year for a song. Built in 1944, it was nasty and needed a new firing pin. Disassembled it and put it in my sonic cleaner for a good scrubbing. Installed the new firing pin along with complete reassembly and lubrication. Running 2 boxes of standard 115 grain 9mm Luger plinking ammo has been flawless so far . Good conversation piece. I seldom shoot it unless a friend asks about it etc. Nice old gun that serves a purpose I think