Astra 960 range report.

[38splfan]

Here's the deal.
I'm finally getting the chance to go home (TN) on leave. Since we're flying, I was a little nervous about taking an S&W or Colt on the plane because of what could happen to it. (TSA breakage, loss, damage, etc.) I have flown with guns before and know what "those people" can do (an aluminum case that was brand new on take-off looked like Vietnam surplus on landing )
The solution was simple. Find a sturdy, reliable "crap gun" that would fit the bill, yet not be of high value, so that loss or damage or what have you would not cause me to damage the limbs of TSA agents.
Some GunsAmerica.com searching turned up an Astra 960 .38spl for $100 even. As the dealer was only a two hour drive away, I bit. Picked it up last night and had it out to the range today.
This is a lot of gun for the money, and is without a doubt my new favorite .38. The timing is spot-on, the gap is perfect. Lock-up is tight and the trigger, while a tad heavy, is smooth and solid. No slack or take-up AT ALL. The seller is a certified gunsmith, and all of his work was first rate. The finish is decent, with a little holster wear. The grips are walnut and are solid, comfortable, and very ergonomic.
It does not shave lead as some Astra's are reported to do. It groups well and, with a little tuning of the adjustable rear sight, should pop right on target. 65 rounds this afternoon without any malfuncion, cylinder "stick", or trigger problems. (with cheap-o $6 a box reloads )
Having only a 30 min. shooting window before the range closed, I fired the following.
12 wadcutters for function
12 hollowpoints for function
3 FMJ (leftovers) for funtion
36 wadcutters for accuracy/sight adjustment (enough to get close)

All were 158 grain standard loads, no +P ammo yet.
I am pretty confident with this pistol. It is accurate, comfortable, and rock solid. I have no problems trusting my life to this gun. I'm sure that it will digest limited amounts of +P well enough to be a serviceable carry gun.

The only problem is that I like so much I have to find a different "crap gun"

All 65 rounds were fired at 20 yards. ( The only shooting lane left open) The speedloaders are for a Smith & Wesson Model 10. The holster is a size 2 Uncle Mike's Super Belt Slide. Gun, holster, and speedloaders/case I have about $150 wrapped up in the whole kit 'n kaboodle. Here are the pics.

 

[jonathon]

Looks like my M15

 

[38splfan]

Yup.

Yup.
It is a Smith copy. A very good one at that
The speedloaders and holster are both designed for Smith & Wesson weapons.
The speedloaders for a Model 10, the holster for 4" barrel K and L frames. (sort of a one size fits all )
Functions almost exactly like my Model 29, and feels comfortably familiar in the hand.

 

[dogngun]

38spl fan : I just today saw an Astra .357 magnum, and had kind of made up my mind to buy it. 6", blue, target hammer and trigger, target sights, nice, big walnut grips, locks up absolutely perfect, looks like new, $220.

I think it will be mine.

Mark

 

[38splfan]

Astra .357

A little research turns up that the Astra .357 was sold in two versions. One was marked "Constable" (model name). The other was simply marked ".357 Double Action".
Both are intermediate frame sizes with six shot cylinders.
If they are made anywhere as well as mine, you will not be disappointed. It is a well built and accurate gun.
A litttle fiddling at the range this morning with the adjustable sight and I can now print all of my rounds in a Birchwood Casey 8" orange stick up target pretty regularly.
These things are great. This may even be the gun that starts me in IPSC/IDPA.......

 

[38splfan]

Frame size.

The beauty of having a large frame like this is recoil.
It makes heavy hollowpoints feel like wadcutters, and wadcutters feel like a .22mag.

 

[omegapd]

Is yours built on something similar to an N frame Smith? I'm confused since it takes the K frame Model 10 speedloaders...

Anyway, my local pawn shop has one for 135. I think. I've looked at it a couple times but it's definately not built on a large or N frame scale. It's much smaller- maybe even smaller than the K frame or something similar to what colt made (what was it...a '"D" frame?). Anyway, it's loose as all get out. The main reason I didn't buy it...

The grips are comfortable, though, and the barrel is a 3 inch factory job. Too bad somebody else really loved the thing, too.

 

[38splfan]

A bit of research.....

A bit of research shows that the one at your pawn shark's little shop of horrors is called the "Cadix". It was a small frame .38 only.

Mine is built on a frame similar to the heavy barrel K frames (15, 19, combat masterpeice, etc.)

The Cadix was reported to be of lower quality, and had issues with shaving lead from bad timing.

I would snatch a 960 or one of their .357's for that price, but not the Cadix.