Astra Constable .22LR- Picture added

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nutsforsmiths

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I just purchased an Astra Constable chambered in .22LR. It in excellent shape and looks like it was made in the early 1980s. It also came with 2 magazines.

I have not yet fired the pistols, but have heard good things about them and that they are made well. I know that parts might be hard to find for Astra's, just like it is for certain Star pistols, since both companies went out of business in the 1990s.

Here is a quick picture I took of the Constable.

nutsforsmiths-albums-my-photos-picture13332-astra-constable-22lr.jpg


I would like to hear from others who have experience with the Constable.

Thanks.
 
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As far as I know, various Basque armorers put together a small shop in the Basque Country (North of Spain) to manufacture replacement parts for Astar, Star and in lesser degree Gabilondo & Co. (Llama).

A friend of mine who lives in Bilbao told me so, he is a former cop near Bilbao so I think he knows what he is talking about.

I´ve seen in Bobs gun parts and Numrich that they carry parts for the Astra brand.

From my experience Astra and Star produce quality guns. The Constable is based in the Walther PP and PPK pistols and I´ve heard good comments on both brands.
 
Decent pistols. They were very popular when the Walthers were hard to get and very expensive back then,,especially in 22.

I'd advise not to dry fire them,,but that advise I give on most any firearm anyway.
Rimfires especially though as they can cause chamber damage if not set up right and firing pins are often crazy designs that break more easily.
The Constable doesn't suffer the latter though and is a straight cylindrical design that can be made by most anyone w/a metal lathe and the old broken part to copy.

There are 2 different thumbsafetys ,,the 'old style' & 'new style'. designations IIRC. But to tell you the truth I can't remember what the difference was!

Can be ammo choosy, but that goes for any semi auto. Some eat everything.
The small adj rear sight comes in damaged sometimes,,not the guns fault but a heavy handed owner. It's a simple little 2 screw adj thing but can't take a fall and battering some give it.

Factory magazines are crazy expensive for the Constable in all calibers. The .22 cal versions usually drag a few extra dollars away from the customer if they're in real need and the vendor senses it.
After market mags are around but I don't have any experience with them.

Add Numrich to the list of sometimes having parts available for the Constable.
 
I would happily buy one if I could get it at a reasonable price. I have handled a few but never fired one. They are reputed to be pretty decent guns as far as I have heard.
 
I have a Constable Sport in .22LR and it is very accurate. It is more accurate than my Walther PP Sport. I have found, in the Interarms package, factory .22LR magazines for $50 to $70 on the famous auction site. Both the Blue and Chrome ones. Had an unfired Chrome .22LR Constable in the box for a while but traded it for another FN.
I only shoot Winchester T-22 in them. Great pistols!
 
I own one and use it. So far 3 possoms. 1 coon, 1 snake, several feral critters all messing with our chickens.

Likes high speed ammo, shoots standard speed with an ocassional jam but his may be the ammo.

Very accurate.

Mine fell out of my rear jeans pocket while bush hogging. My 3020 John Deere ran over it. Looked for it off and on for several days. Found it pancaked into soft dirt. Cleaned the dirt out and it shot fine, from a rest head shot a snake at approx 20 yards.

I would like to find another magazine. I carry it on the farm constantly.

For those who've never held one it is machined metal. Excellent fit, nice finish and blue. To me the quality exceeds the monetary value.
 
Model70hunter, you are correct about the fit and finish, It is very nice. I once owned a Star PD pistol and it too had a great fit and finish to it.

I do own a Walter PPK/s 22LR made in 1975, so I will have to take it out to the range as a pair and see how they compare. I also might have to bring a long the Beretta Model 70s that I own too. Make it a European 22 semi-auto pistol trip!
 
I got this one, used, about 2 years ago. It seems to shoot anything but the really odd bullet shapes, and it is really accurate and reliable...



IMO, the pistol is very well built, but then I am a big fan of Spanish - handguns. It is one of 2 .22lr pocket pistols that are reliable enough that I would carry it. The other is a S&W 2213, and I have one of those, too.

VERY nice gun. Don't dry fire it, but I doubt you would break anything else...

ADDED-IF you can find Federal Auto Match .22LR ammo, my ASTRA Constable will feed those all day long. Very accurate standard velocity ammo...
 
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There should be a proof marking of 3 stampings somewhere on the frame. Commonly called the 'Triad'

Most likely under the left grip on a later mfg pistol like this one.
The date code/year of proof is a letter,,letter & number,,or combination of.
Usually w/a (*) above the mark.

The other markings are the particular Spanish proof house and the Spanish AutoPistol Proof mark.

Sometimes a bit hard to read but you can figure them out with a little close looking and maybe a magnifying glass.

Here's a link to the codes from a STAR pistol site (all the same codes).
Some good info on these sometimes confusing proof markings too.

Star Firearms: Dating your Star Pistol with Proofmarks


Nice Astra pistols. Very well made and often over looked.
 
Astra Constable

I had one in the 80s, along with every other 22 auto in 32 frame
size. I didn't have a Walther, but it shot and functioned better
than Beretta. Was looking for perfect gun to carry while fishing
working, ect. Couldn't put down my M-34. It didn't like Rem
Yellow Jacket,other than that no complaints. Very well built gun.
I have 2. Mags, not for sale, May pick up another one some day.
 
Drm50 said:
I had one in the 80s, along with every other 22 auto in 32 frame
size. I didn't have a Walther, but it shot and functioned better
than Beretta. Was looking for perfect gun to carry while fishing
working, ect. Couldn't put down my M-34. It didn't like Rem
Yellow Jacket,other than that no complaints. Very well built gun.
I have 2. Mags, not for sale, May pick up another one some day.
Click to expand...


:mad: not even 1? :)
 
I just picked up a Constable today in 22lr. Came with the box, papers, and 2 mags.

Took it to the range and ran 100 rounds on MiniMags through it this afternoon. Very smooth, very accurate, no jams or problems.

It appears to be very well made and put together.

It even gave me a Walther-like case of slide bite!

Serial # is: 1056xxx. Anyone have an idea of date of manufacture?

Thanks!
 
I have a Constable in 380. Fires great. A word of warning!!! If you take it apart to clean be very careful if the spring in the slide lock. Very small has a tendency to fly away. If you loose it you are SOL. The chances of finding a replacement are slim and none. I have lost a couple over the years. I bought the last two Nurmrich had. On your diagram its a little V shaped spring.
 
ADDED...just bought 2 original mags for the .22 Constable on eBay...close to $80, but they are there if you have the money
 
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