bluto
Member
I took my old Astra Constable .380 to the range today. Along came one magazine that had been loaded some months ago with commercial ammo (I forget what, but probably PMC or Federal) and a new box of PMC. I inserted the full mag of older ammo and the first 3 shots were fine, but the fourth was a squib. Sort of a *pop* - *fizz*. First one I've ever had. With caution, I waited 30 seconds to see what else might happen, dropped the magazine, pulled the slide (which moved smoothly) and looked at the empty chamber. I took out my Streamlight Keymate Flashlight and carefully angled it down the barrel. No light coming through.
When I got home, I disassembled the pistol, wrapped some felt over a long screwdriver and tapped out the bullet. At least I think that's what was blocking the barrel. Somehow, whatever was in there fell out, missed the table top (because of the way I was holding the frame and barrel) landed on the carpet and neither my wife nor I were able to find it. It's weird.
Anyway, I cleaned the pistol, checked the barrel for bulges (none), examined the bore and rifling (still looking excellent) and tried to reassemble the pistol by putting the slide back on the frame as I have done countless times. It wouldn't sit right so I finally gave it a push to seat it. The slide moved forward and there it wants to stay. And I mean STAY. With mighty effort I pulled it back to expose the chamber, but it won't budge now. I suspect that something else was broken and is interfering with the slide operation, but who knows? I may try and fix it sometime down the road, but it's old, inexpensive, and no longer trustworthy. The darn thing is, I just went to the gun show and bought several boxes of .380 at $20/50 rds. and the Astra Constable was my only pistol in that caliber. Guess I'll have to look for another .380.
When I got home, I disassembled the pistol, wrapped some felt over a long screwdriver and tapped out the bullet. At least I think that's what was blocking the barrel. Somehow, whatever was in there fell out, missed the table top (because of the way I was holding the frame and barrel) landed on the carpet and neither my wife nor I were able to find it. It's weird.
Anyway, I cleaned the pistol, checked the barrel for bulges (none), examined the bore and rifling (still looking excellent) and tried to reassemble the pistol by putting the slide back on the frame as I have done countless times. It wouldn't sit right so I finally gave it a push to seat it. The slide moved forward and there it wants to stay. And I mean STAY. With mighty effort I pulled it back to expose the chamber, but it won't budge now. I suspect that something else was broken and is interfering with the slide operation, but who knows? I may try and fix it sometime down the road, but it's old, inexpensive, and no longer trustworthy. The darn thing is, I just went to the gun show and bought several boxes of .380 at $20/50 rds. and the Astra Constable was my only pistol in that caliber. Guess I'll have to look for another .380.
