Alex Johnson
New member
I recently purchased an Astra Model 200 which looks like a pretty good clone of the Colt Pocket pistols chambered for 25 auto. I've been shooting it with Blazer ammo and suddenly started having problems with it. The slide is locking up when it slams home. The only way you can get the slide to work is to push it back with a brass punch (I've been damm careful to check that there was nothing in the chamber when I've done this little manuver). It only seems to be sticking for the first 3/8" of travel and than it works fine. It still fires fine (as it seems the cartridge delivers sufficient pressure to unstick the slide (though I don't think I'll shoot it anymore until I work out this problem). I dismantled the pistol and it funtions fine when the barrel isn't in place. I can't see any rub spots on the barrel and I've checked the extractor for intereference and come up empty handed. I honestly am stumped by this problem. I am coming to the conclusion that I have a problem with the spring, but it doesn't seem to support the fact that the slide works fine when the barrel isn't in place. Anybody have any ideas?