What About This .44 Mag?

[Confederate]

Does anyone either have an Astra .44 magnum, or have any experience with them? I've had this stainless one for years and don't know whether to keep it and shoot it or sell it. On the plus side, it's very tight, has a pinned barrel and recessed chambers and it might have some sort of collector's value one day. On the other hand, I may not be able to get much for it now and it seems like it would be a good shooter.

Haven't met too many people who had experiences with Astras. Seems many of the Astra revolvers in its earlier days were butt ugly. I've seen some of their other .44s and they were ugly, too. This one, however, is gorgeous.

Thanks for any info!

 

[Ron James]

You already own it, shoot it and enjoy it. By the time it has any collectors value the world will have turned cold and dark.

 

[Eightball]

Sell it to me. I'll give you $100 for it

I've got a buddy with one, he loves it. It's no S&W, but pretty durned close; and waht a price they sell for! He uses his as a truck gun, mainly, so take that FWIW.

 

[Cromlech]

That's quite a handsome gun.

 

[Confederate]

Thanks. I've heard from others that it's quite robust. When I busted the hammer of a Virginia Dragoon, an Interarms guy showed me a bunch of the Astra .44s that had had the daylights shot out of them. They were dirty looking where the powder hadn't been cleaned away, but they were still tight and still going strong.

Wish I could find some grips for the Astra. (Wonder if a 629 grip would work?) Eightball, ask your buddy whether he uses the stock grips or other types.

 

[10-Ring]

I wouldn't be so concerned about who made it more than how well it shoots...enjoy that gun of yours!

 

[Eightball]

He still uses the stock grips; I've seen the firearm in question. Thought it was well made, but I didn't get to shoot it to test anything. Kinda hard to legally shoot a truck gun in a parking lot .

 

[4fingermick]

I think you'll have to wait a long time before you make any money on it unless you find an Astra collector who wanted exactly that one.

A new S&W revolver cost about $AU1000 here and good used ones sell for $450 for theold ones and up to $7-800 for real good ones. I have never seen and Astra constable (357) until recently and I found two believe it or not. I wanted a 4" revolver for a short barreled match we have here. They are both mint. One was $AU175 and the other was $200. I bought the dearer one because he let me lay by it (financially embarrased at the time). They are generally reasonable guns, but not worth much. I migt go back and buy the other one as well, to use as gun tinkering / tuning practice. At that price, it is no big deal if I make a mistake.

 

[Mooseman]

I've had a blued Astra 44 mag for years. Very nice to shoot. The aftermarket grips made for the smith won't fit it. They fit the frame but the connecting screw won't work. I was able to put a set of pachmayr(sp?) grips on mine by gluing and clamping it.

 

[rtl]

Agree with others, since you won't get a lot for it in trade you might as well enjoy it. Those are stout little buggers, I'd be surprised if you have any problems with it.

 

[dogngun]

You probably wouldn't get $200 for it if you sold it to a dealer. It works well, and you like it. Keep it.
I have an "off brand" .44 magnum SAA, made by JP Sauer in the 1960's. It's very big, re-blued, worth nothing to a dealer or a collector. It is reliable, accurate, tight as a drum, and very strong. It's not for sale.
I use it when the weather is too bad for my "good" guns to be outside.

Your Astra will never be a collectable, but it will always be a usable, working gun that you don't have to worry about. It might someday save your life.


Mark