I 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 be fine after a little sear clean-up. Cylinder lock-up exhibits utterly no movement at the 'moment of firing' position or 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 scat and SCUBA equipment would be needed for anything more. It still 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.

We don't really see very many Astras up here in the Hinterland. Usually only the semi-autos show up and not very frequently. A fella just has to like the Colt round in a manly sized revolver.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

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.

Shoot.

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". Same load, 8.5 grains of Universal with a Lee 452-255-RF sized to 0.454" I believe the old revolver will shoot.

Results look good to me, and so does the Astra. I foresee lots of fun

Under the grips. There is a ring the trigger spring hooks into. By moving the spring's end to another hole in the ring it adjusts the trigger pull.

Reloading this winter.

Nm

850 to 925 fps on 4-6 inch revolvers. the 8.5 grains of Universal load I mentioned is listed in the 3rd Edition of Metallic Cartridge Reloading, page 326. It was tested at 14,200 CUP with a 250 grain jacketed bullet. I substitute a 255 grain lead.

Nm