Astra Constable .22 - The Firearms Forum

Shep · 11-16-2011, 04:30 PM

Took a couple of .22 out in the back yard for a little after work plinking.
Had been quite a while since I had fired the little Astra. Will have to include it more often on my plinking outings. For a little inexpensive pistol, it really is a nice shooter.

raven818 · 11-16-2011, 05:47 PM

Looks a bit Bond-ish..PPK. He did carry the Walther, right?

Shep · 11-16-2011, 05:57 PM

The Astra is Walther PPK copy with a few changes. Not as well fitted and finished as a Walther, but not nearly as expensive either.

raven818 · 11-16-2011, 06:58 PM

One of my wife's hand guns is a Firestorm .380. Very similar in looks. I don't know what anybody's opinion of the gun is, but it's never misfired or had any issues.

Hang on to it, I think it's a neat looking little plinker.

Bobitis · 11-16-2011, 07:32 PM

I have a .380 and it shoots well.

It's hard to dig up stuff on the internet about them. At one time I was able to find that the 380 was the issue sidearm for many agencies in europe.

I'm keeping mine. It fits in my pocket, medium wt., and handles well. Finding ammo can be iffy at times.

Rhuga · 11-17-2011, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raven818

Looks a bit Bond-ish..PPK. He did carry the Walther, right?

Yes, Bond used the Baretta .32 semi-auto for about the first 6 or 7 movies. Then they made him start carrying the PPK. But I don't know the caliber. Even Chas. Bronson as Paul Kersey in "Death Wish" used a .32 revolver and very effectively.

Oneida Steve · 11-17-2011, 08:52 PM

I once owned a Constable in .22 caliber that was nickel (possibly chrome) plated and engraved. It worked flawlessly with the right ammo.

The Astra Constable became a popular pistol in the late 1960's after the Gun Control Act of 1968 had banned the importation of the PPK. The Astra met the new size regulations but the Walther did not. We didn't start to see PPK pistols again until Walther started making them in the USA.

11-16-2011, 04:30 PM	#1
Shep V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 216	Astra Constable .22 Took a couple of .22 out in the back yard for a little after work plinking. Had been quite a while since I had fired the little Astra. Will have to include it more often on my plinking outings. For a little inexpensive pistol, it really is a nice shooter. __________________ Wisdom does not come with age. It`s just that as you get older you become physically less capable of acting stupid. -->

11-16-2011, 05:47 PM	#2
raven818 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Jax, Fl. Contributor Posts: 4,423	Re: Astra Constable .22 Looks a bit Bond-ish..PPK. He did carry the Walther, right? __________________ Firearms and Salt Water Fishing Retired 42 Years LEO

11-16-2011, 05:57 PM	#3
Shep V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 216	Re: Astra Constable .22 The Astra is Walther PPK copy with a few changes. Not as well fitted and finished as a Walther, but not nearly as expensive either. __________________ Wisdom does not come with age. It`s just that as you get older you become physically less capable of acting stupid.

11-16-2011, 06:58 PM	#4
raven818 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Jax, Fl. Contributor Posts: 4,423	Re: Astra Constable .22 One of my wife's hand guns is a Firestorm .380. Very similar in looks. I don't know what anybody's opinion of the gun is, but it's never misfired or had any issues. Hang on to it, I think it's a neat looking little plinker. __________________ Firearms and Salt Water Fishing Retired 42 Years LEO

11-16-2011, 07:32 PM	#5
Bobitis Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 6,612	Re: Astra Constable .22 I have a .380 and it shoots well. It's hard to dig up stuff on the internet about them. At one time I was able to find that the 380 was the issue sidearm for many agencies in europe. I'm keeping mine. It fits in my pocket, medium wt., and handles well. Finding ammo can be iffy at times. __________________ ^.^ A point in every direction is the same as having no point at all

11-17-2011, 08:52 PM	#7
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: Astra Constable .22 I once owned a Constable in .22 caliber that was nickel (possibly chrome) plated and engraved. It worked flawlessly with the right ammo. The Astra Constable became a popular pistol in the late 1960's after the Gun Control Act of 1968 had banned the importation of the PPK. The Astra met the new size regulations but the Walther did not. We didn't start to see PPK pistols again until Walther started making them in the USA.