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Joined: Mar 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,544 Likes: 2 |
I just picked up a near-new 6" Astra in 45 Colt. The DA pull on this revolver rivals my late nickel 29. The SA has a little creep but will doubtless be fine after a little sear clean-up. This revolver's cylinder lock-up exhibits utterly no movement at the 'moment of firing' position or even with the hammer at full cock. I ran three cylinders of my basic 45 Colt load (8.5 Universal/255 RNFP) through it, to get a feel for it. Function is perfect DA or SA and it left deep, centered hits in fired primers. I didn't shoot long as we just fertilized the range pasture with turkey do-do and SCUBA equipment would be needed for anything more. Even under harsh conditions it managed a six shot, 3" 25 yard group on the steel plate with some overlapping bullet splashes. I'm going to have some fun with this one. ![[Linked Image]](http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2016-12-03-12.44.07-768x543.jpg)
Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 73,096
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 73,096 |
George Orwell was a Prophet, not a novelist. Read 1984 and then look around you!
Old cat turd!
"Some men just need killing." ~ Clay Allison.
I am too old to fight but I can still pull a trigger. ~ Me
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
I just picked up a near-new 6" Astra in 45 Colt. The DA pull on this revolver rivals my late nickel 29. The SA has a little creep but will doubtless be fine after a little sear clean-up. This revolver's cylinder lock-up exhibits utterly no movement at the 'moment of firing' position or even with the hammer at full cock. I ran three cylinders of my basic 45 Colt load (8.5 Universal/255 RNFP) through it, to get a feel for it. Function is perfect DA or SA and it left deep, centered hits in fired primers. I didn't shoot long as we just fertilized the range pasture with turkey do-do and SCUBA equipment would be needed for anything more. Even under harsh conditions it managed a six shot, 3" 25 yard group on the steel plate with some overlapping bullet splashes. I'm going to have some fun with this one. In the early nineties, I had one of those in stainless in 44 Mag. I kinda wish I still had it. I think it would make the top thirty guns I wish I had back.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,544 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,544 Likes: 2 |
Thanks guys. I gutted it out today, polished the DA bearing surfaces and cleaned up a substantial burr that was on the single action sear point of the trigger. The gun was dry inside so it got scrubbed & oiled, too. The cylinder was sluggish so I cleaned & polished the arbor, while I had the cylinder out.
My trigger scale only goes to 8 pounds so I can't measure the DA pull, but I'm guessing it about 10 pounds- and it is really slick now. The SA trigger finished at 4 pounds and is as crisp as any S&W I ever owned.
Bore appears to be 0.454 and cylinder throats are YUGE at a uniform 0.458"... at least I won't need this one reamed, LOL.
Last edited by SargeMO; 12/04/16.
Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,544 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
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I got it pretty well dialed in this afternoon. 6 shots at 25 yards including one vertical sight adjustment. All six went into 2 1/2" and the five, fired after the adjustment, spanned 1 3/4". The load is 8.5 grains of Universal with a Lee 452-255-RF sized to 0.454" I believe the old revolver will shoot. ![[Linked Image]](http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x187/SargeMO/2016-12-04%2015.39.52_zpsbcq9wyzd.jpg)
Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,116 Likes: 8
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,116 Likes: 8 |
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 132,008 Likes: 59
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 132,008 Likes: 59 |
Looks like a Smith & Wesson clone. How much?
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Joined: Nov 2006
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,835 Likes: 3 |
Thanks guys. I gutted it out today, polished the DA bearing surfaces and cleaned up a substantial burr that was on the single action sear point of the trigger. The gun was dry inside so it got scrubbed & oiled, too. The cylinder was sluggish so I cleaned & polished the arbor, while I had the cylinder out.
My trigger scale only goes to 8 pounds so I can't measure the DA pull, but I'm guessing it about 10 pounds- and it is really slick now. The SA trigger finished at 4 pounds and is as crisp as any S&W I ever owned.
Bore appears to be 0.0454 and cylinder throats are YUGE at a uniform 0.458"... at least I won't need this one reamed, LOL. Zeroes getting away from you, Sarge, or is that a super tight bore? 
Mathew 22: 37-39
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Joined: Mar 2008
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
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You'd hate me if I told you TRH. I've got an old retired Naval officer pal, who is the Bruce Lee of internet auctions. He makes ridiculously low bids on 'no reserve' auctions and catches a few while everyone else watches the Super Bowl, etc.
This was one such steal and one of several identical Astra 45 Colts he'd acquired, so he let me have it for what he had in it. Dirt cheap would be no exaggeration.
Better to ask what they're selling for now and the answer is 'quite a bit less than the S&W they copied'.
Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,728 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,728 Likes: 6 |
How durable are these revolvers?
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,544 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,544 Likes: 2 |
Zeroes getting away from you, Sarge, or is that a super tight bore? LMFAO... it makes 'em shoot harder  Edited- and thank you for the heads-up.
Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,544 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
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How durable are these revolvers? I've seen several posters mention one or another old Astra 357 or 44 they've been 'shooting for 10 years' etc with no problems. So I reckon they're pretty durable and they need to be- because parts are only available wherever you can find them. Edited to add: I have a fair amount of experience working on name brand revolvers; what I saw inside this one looked top notch.
Last edited by SargeMO; 12/04/16.
Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,243 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,243 Likes: 2 |
I had one of them in 44 Mag 30 years ago. Bought it in Atlanta in 1985, shot a hog with it in Troup County, and traded it toward a 54 caliber T/C Hawkins in 1986.
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Joined: Dec 2013
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,743 Likes: 25 |
Nice pick, Sarge. Enjoy. You've got a good friend there, indeed.
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want. Rehabilitation is way overrated. Orwell wasn't wrong. GOA member disappointed NRA member 24HCF SEARCH
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,544 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
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Thanks guys... I am really surprised at the revolver's accuracy potential. I surfed the web for a couple of hours looking for 25-50 yards accuracy results, load development etc. for the Astra 44 or 45 Colt; found next to nothing.
Truthfully, I bought it for a project gun. For a good long time, I've wanted a 4" DA 45 Colt for a woods beater. A 25-5 or Mountain Gun would be top pick but at today's prices, I have had to sacrifice other guns I intend to keep.
The Astra may get shortened before I'm done with it. As to load development, I'm going to mic around the cylinder and see how it compares to a 25-5. If it checks out, a large meplat 275-300 grain cast bullet at 1000 fps is all I'm going to ask of it. The vast majority of what it'll see is described in Post 1 of this thread.
Last edited by SargeMO; 12/07/16.
Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284 |
There is one just like yours on GunBroker right now for $450, with bids ending in a couple of days.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 54,284
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2005
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 79,321 Likes: 2 |
I had forgotten all about those old Astra revolvers. I've always thought a S&W 25 would be a good revolver to keep close at hand around the house, but their prices have gotten a bit steep.
A .452", 300 grain full wadcutter at about 750 fps sounds like something that would make a goblin go to Plan "B" real quick.
I'm going to have to keep an eye out for one of those Astra .45's.
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