Astra 400 Question
I read somewhere that this pistol is capable of chambering a variety of 9mm rounds. Looking into one and wondered if this is true. Most spanish pistols fo the era are in 9mm largo, but is this is true would shoot 9mm parabellum
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this pistol will chamber and fire several different 9 mm cartridges but that doesn't mean you should do this. the only thing that will hold a 9mm luger cart. against the breech face is the extractor, if this is weak or slips you could blow a primer. the .38 super may chamber and fire but is way over powed for this pistol (straight blow back). 9mm largo ammo is available as well as cases for reloading, play it safe and only use this. 0 -
I have one that fires Standard 9 mm ammo,BUT I bought a spacer that you put in the chamber (with Lock-Tite) to make up the length differences between the Standard 9mm and the 9mm Largo.I would not think of doing it any other way.[:)] 
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DO NOT use standard 9x19 (9mm Luger, etc.) in any of these Astra 400's. They are a blowback design and are not made to handle the pressures that these other cartridges develope. 0 -
Hey ATF where did you get that spacer. I did some looking into the blowback system and the spring is unusually stiff in it to allow it to be safe with 9mm largo and parabellum. 0 -
ASTRA 400
ESPERANZA Y UNCETA
GUERNICA SPAIN
this was the 1st of the "tubular" ASTRA pistols derived from the CAMPO GIRO design. the slide is tubular and the BBL seats into the frame by 3 lugs beneath the breech, much as in the BROWNING MODEL 1903 design. a coaxial recoil spring surrounds the BBL and is retained by a muzzle bushing. the rear portion of the slide acts as a breechblock; there is an internal hammer and a grip saftey.
the "400" is remarkable for 2 things. in the 1st place, this is a blowback automatic chambered for the 9MM LARGO cartridge, probably the most powerful cartridge ever used in a blowback design. it succeeds by using a heavy slide and strong recoil and hammer springs, facts that become readily apparent when pulling back the slide in order to chamber a round.
the second unusual feature is that although chambered for the 9MM LARGO cartridge, IT WILL ALSO CHAMBER AND FIRE THE 9MM PARABELLUM, 9MM STEYR, 9MM BROWNING LONG, .38 SUPER AUTO, AND .38 ACP CARTRIDGES. this point is frequently a scource of dispute, since shooters often try to prove or disprove the point and can run into trouble, notably with the 9MM PARABELLUM cartridge. in this connection, certain points must be made clear. 1st, the pistols in question are often elderly and somewhat worn, wich upsets the critical dimensions of the chamber; and secondly, it must be remembered that not only do different manufacturerers adopt slightly different dimensional tolorances for there cartridge, but also that these dimensions can drift "within tolerances" from batch to batch. anyone contomplating firing 9MM PARABELLUM ammunition in particular in an ASTRA would be well advised to test a variety of brands, and take extra saftey precautions.
such a wide acceptance of ammunition types was intended solely as an emergancy war time contigincy procedure, so that a soldier might not be unable to use his firearm when 9MM LARGO ammo was not available. it is not the manufacturers recomendation to use these other cartridges as a regular practice. using .38 SUPER AUTO should be particulary discourages, as high pressure invariably blows out the caps and deforms the cases.
this should settle this debate once and for all, and is based on the best, factual data available to me.
best regards, mike.
What other dungeon is so dark as ones own heart, what jailer so inexorable as ones own mind.
contact me at the shop at waltsgun@aol.com best regards, mike.0 -
I agree Mike,I use only 9mm reloads in mine that are on the mild side. [^] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Wehrmacht_45
Hey ATF where did you get that spacer. I did some looking into the blowback system and the spring is unusually stiff in it to allow it to be safe with 9mm largo and parabellum.
Drop me an e-mail and I'll send you his name and address.I tried to get his phone number in the Super Pages but there is none listed under his name.
He used to advertise in either the Gun List or The Shotgun News.The date on the envelope is April 1st 1994 quite a while ago.I only bought one and a friend that ran a machine shop made me a dozen.
I used to install them in either the Astra 400 or the Star Super and never had a complaint. [:)]0
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