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Semi-automatic pistol From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Astra Model 900 is one of many Spanish copies of the German Mauser C96 semi-automatic pistol. It shares the same caliber, magazine capacity, and holster type and is generally very similar to the German handgun.
Astra Model 900 | |
---|---|
Type | Semi-automatic pistol Machine pistol (Astra Model 902 and Astra Model 904) |
Place of origin | Kingdom of Spain |
Service history | |
In service | 1927–1945 |
Used by | See Users |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Astra-Unceta y Cia SA |
No. built | 35,076 (all versions) |
Variants | 900, 901, 902, 903, 904 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 1.275 kg (Astra 903) |
Length | 308 mm (Astra 903) |
Barrel length | 160 mm (Astra 903) |
Height | 150 mm (Astra 903) |
Cartridge | 7.63×25mm Mauser 9mm Largo |
Caliber | 7.63mm 9mm |
Muzzle velocity | 461.28 m/s (1,513.4 ft/s) |
Maximum firing range | 1,000 m (1,100 yd) |
Feed system | 10, 20 round box magazine |
Sights | Iron |
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (November 2014) |
The Spanish gunmaker Astra-Unceta y Cia began producing a copy of the Mauser C.96 in 1927[1] that was externally similar to the C96 (including the presence of a detachable shoulder stock/holster) but with non-interlocking internal parts. It was produced until 1941, with a production hiatus in 1937 and 1938, and a final batch assembled from spare parts in 1951.[2]
The Spanish copies of the C96 were generally intended for export to China,[2] but after the commencement of the Sino-Japanese war, the remaining Astra 900s were used in the Spanish Civil War, and numbers were also sold to Germany in the period 1940–1943.[2]
The Basque-manufactured Astra-Unceta y Cia SA Astra 901 is a compact machine pistol, with a magazine capacity of 10 7.63×25mm Mauser cartridges, which is a considerably smaller capacity than is standard for a machine pistol. The next model, the Astra 902, was provided with a fixed magazine of 20 cartridges and a lengthened barrel, and Astra 903 had a removable magazine instead of the usual fixed one. Astra later added a mechanism to slow the rate of fire and make the gun more manageable (to an extent) when being fired on full-auto or burst modes, calling this the Model 904.
The Model 904 is comparable to the German Mauser M712 'Schnellfeuer' Broomhandle pistols, having a detachable magazine, automatic fire capabilities, and general appearance.
The Astra Model 904 was produced in a 9mm Largo variant, the Astra Model 904E, which was identical to the Model 904 in all other respects.
The following models were made by Astra:[1][3]
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