Astra Constable A-60
Astra-Unceta y Cia · Pistol · Discontinued · 1980
Also known as: Astra A-60, Astra Model A-60, Constable A-60
Overview
The Astra Constable A-60 is a blowback-operated, double-action semi-automatic pistol chambered in .380 ACP, manufactured by the Spanish firm Astra-Unceta y Cia. A high-capacity redevelopment of the earlier Astra Constable, the A-60 pairs a Walther PP-style fixed-barrel blowback design with a wider frame housing a 13-round double-stack magazine, unusually large for a compact .380 of its era. It was marketed for police, self-defense and concealed-carry use, and was widely imported into the United States by Interarms in both blued and nickel finishes.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 720 g (25.4 oz) |
| Overall Length | 168 mm (6.61") |
| Barrel Length | 89 mm (3.50") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 13 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 291 m/s (955 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 261 J (193 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Plastic |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .380 ACP · primary — also known as .380 Auto, 9x17mm, 9mm Kurz, 9mm Short
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Decocker
- Features: Fixed Barrel, Double Stack Magazine, Fixed Front Sight, Adjustable Rear Sight, Nickel Finish Option
Production
Production years: 1980-1997
Produced by Astra-Unceta y Cia in Guernica, Spain; distributed in the US by Interarms.
Origin
Country of origin: Spain
Discontinued: 1997
Notes
The A-60 distinguishes itself from the standard single-stack Constable chiefly through its 13-round double-column magazine. Genitron lists an alternate production window; most sources place manufacture in the 1980s through the mid-1990s.
Background
The A-60 was Astra's answer to demand for a compact European-style .380 with more than the usual six or seven rounds, squeezing a 13-round double-stack magazine into a Walther PP-derived package.