Reassembly Tips:
When replacing the hammer in the frame, use a drift to compress the hammer spring and follower, and hold it in place with a small screwdriver inserted in the hole in the left of the frame below the hammer pin hole. After the hammer is in place and the pin installed, cock the hammer and remove the screwdriver.
When replacing the firing pin in the 22-caliber version, be sure it is oriented properly for the retaining cross-pin to engage the notch in the firing pin.
Astra 400
Similar/Identical Pattern Guns
The same basic assembly/disassembly steps for the Astra 400 also apply to the following guns:
Astra Model 300
Astra Model 600
| Data: | Astra Model 400 |
| Origin: | Spain |
| Manufacturer: | Esperanza y Unceta. Guernica |
| Cartridge: | 9mm Bergmann-Bayard (9mm Largo) |
| Magazine capacity: | 8 rounds |
| Overall length: |
8 |
| Height: |
5 |
| Barrel length: |
5 |
| Weight: |
33 |
The Model 400 is also called the Model 1921, after the year of its adoption for use by the Spanish military. A shorter version, the Model 600, was chambered for the 9mm Luger round, and a smaller pistol, the Model 300, was made in 380 ACP and 32 ACP chamberings. The Model 600 and Model 300 had a different magazine catch, but they are otherwise mechanically identical to the Model 400 and the same general instructions apply.
Field Strip:
1. With the hammer down and the magazine removed, use a strong thumbnail or some other non-marring tool to depress the collar that surrounds the barrel at the muzzle. While holding the collar in, turn the knurled bushing at the front of the slide until the recoil spring forces the bushing and collar out toward the front. CAUTION:The Model 400 has an extremely strong recoil spring, so keep a firm grip on the bushing as it is turned, aim it away from the face, and ease it out of the slide.
2. Turn the barrel back to original position, and pull it forward out of the slide.
3. Move the slide all the way to the rear, then move it forward while pushing the safety-lever upward toward the rear, to the on-safe position. The inner arm of the safety-lever will catch and hold the slide in the position shown.
4. Turn the barrel to the left (front view) as far as it will go.
5. Pull the slide to the rear to clear the safety, or manually turn the safety down to the off-safe position, and run the slide assembly forward off the frame. Turn the barrel until its retaining lugs are visible at the underside of the slide, and remove it toward the front. Gun is now field-stripped.
Astra 400 field-stripped
Detail Strip:
6. On the 22 version, use a small screwdriver to put out the shaped head of the extractor pivot, releasing the extractor and its spring. The 25-caliber version has a vertical roll pin for an extractor pivot, and this is driven straight downward to remove.
7. The firing pin on the 22 version is retained by a slanting cross-pin, its outer head visible here on the left rear of the slide.
8. After removing the grip panels, cock the hammer and insert a small tool into the hole on the left side of the frame, just below the rear tip of the trigger bar. Restrain the hammer, pull the trigger to release it, and let it down slowly. If the tool has been inserted to the proper length, the hammer spring and plunger will be trapped in the frame and tension on the hammer relieved. The hammer pivot can be drifted out the right and the hammer removed from the top of the frame. Note that the right end of the hammer pivot pin is also the base for the slide hold-open spring, and this spring can also be removed in this operation. To remove the mainspring and plunger, insert a tool into the top of the frame to bear firmly on the plunger, depress it slightly, and remove the keeper tool from the hole on the left side. CAUTION:The spring is under tension. Use care, and ease the spring and plunger out for removal toward the top of the frame.
9. With the safety-lever in the off-safe position, remove it by simply pushing it toward the left side and taking it out of the frame. CAUTION:As the safety is taken out, its spring and plunger will be released from a vertical hole in the top right of the frame. Hold a fingertip over the hole to restrain them, as shown, then remove them from the frame.
10. With a small screwdriver, pry out the pin at the lower rear of the trigger and remove it toward the left. This will release the magazine safety and its spring to
