[Hackworth92FS]

Hello. I was just wondering if anyone on the board owns a Steyr M series 9mm pistol. I'm very interested in how they compare to a Glock 17. Several Steyr pistols are listed on Gunbroker.com for a very cheap price. What pistol would be the better buy?

[tetchaje1]

Depends on your application, hand size, personal preference, etc...

Glock 17 pros:
Every dealer this side of the moon has one and is familiar with them.
High-capacity mags are still available.
Durable, Reliable, Accurate.
Factory support is immediately available here in the US if you need it.
Short trigger reset.

Steyr M9 pros:
Better ergonomics.
Lower bore axis.
Manual Safety.
Quality sights (i.e. not cheap plastic)
Durable, reliable, accurate.
Crisp trigger with short reset (much better than Glock trigger)

Glock 17 cons:
The ergonomics of a brick.
Spongy trigger.
Cheap sights.
Non-recall recalls and BF sellouts.

Steyr M9 cons:
Spare parts currently have to come out of Canada.
No high-capacity mags.
Trapezoidal sights are not for everybody (I like 'em).
You have to deal with angry THR'ers who claim (wrongfully) that the gun is a SA timebomb... ;)

[arinvolvo]

SteyrM all the way....Fit and finish is better than the glock IMHO...and the price is way better....Also I like the idea of having a manual safety....

Also the Steyr is probably the most natural pointing handgun I have ever fired...

I was cutting a hole in the 10 ring the first time I ever shot it.

[Gary G23]

You can use S&W Sigma hi-caps in the Steyr if you cut a new mag catch notch in them.

[Hackworth92FS]

Do you htink both guns are equal in reliability? I'm looking for a gun that has the legendary reliability of the Glock 17. And what is meant by a SA timebomb waiting to happen? If I go the Steyr M9 route, I can save almost $150. But will I be getting a pistol as good as a Glock?

[Cawdor]

I had an M9. I had numerous at least 10 failures to extract the spent case in 1,700 rounds. I sent the gun to GSI for service; the problem persisted. The gun also liked to bounce cases off the top of my head.

I bought a G34 last year. 1,200 rounds: no problems.

I don't think Steyr has a U.S. importer for its pistols, so warranty service may not be available.

[Boats]

The only M9 worth having is made by Beretta.:D

[Hackworth92FS]

I agree with you on that Boats. The Beretta 92FS is a very impressive weapon. I would know because I own one. Maybe I should just get what I pay for in regards to the Beretta and purchase a Glock. I've always wanted a gun that can be used as a hammer, sand shovel, and also ice pick.

[tetchaje1]

Looks like Cawdor got himself a lemon. I've never had any failures of any kind out of either of my Steyrs (M40 & M9). I will admit that I have had an occasional shell casing bounce off of my head.

Personally, I would go for the Steyr as they point naturally and actually have some ergonomic consideration put into the design.

The "SA timebomb" remark was a joke. The firing mechanism of the Steyr is a unique DAO-like design. The sear requires two distinct axes of movement in order for the weapon to fire. These actions are very short (both less than 2mm) so some people on these forums get all testy and label the gun as SA. Also, the gun has a firing pin block, as opposed to a plunger-type firing pin safety. If you get butterflies over not having a plunger in your slide, you might want to look elsewhere. The firing pin stop is 533 times stronger than the force that is put on it during a normal firing sequence (source: Dr. Friedrich Aigner, Steyr Chief Design Engineer), so it will never break, but some people get the willies over the design.

(Do a search on TFL re: the Steyr and its firing mechanism under the usernames Twoblink and Tetchaje and you will have pages of this debate folded out in front of you. Then you can choose for yourself.)

[Hackworth92FS]

All of you have been very helpful in your replies and I thank you. My main concern in purchasing this pistol is its reliability. Will I sacrifice reliability for a cheap price. And is it on par with a Glock in regards to extensive torture tests, etc. This gun seems like a sound alternative to a Glock/Walther/Springfiled XD-9, but is it really worth it?

[spacemanspiff]

i've pushed over 2000 rounds through my steyr m9, and have had two malfunctions. first was about 200 rounds through the first session, so it was either just breaking in or needed to be cleaned. i put another 1400 rounds through it with no problems.

then i chose to replace the recoil spring/guide rod on the m9 at the same time i was forced to replace the recoil/guide rod for the M40 (faulty from factory, would fail to go into battery) (sent email to aigner at steyr and he sent me two replacement parts). since replacing the guide rod in the m9 i've put about 400 more rounds through, and theres been one failure to fire, ammo was the likely culprit there.

long story short, i'm fully confident in my m9. i'm still warming up to the m40, so long as it continues to go into battery. the odd thing is the m40 would feed JHP's smoothly. it was FMJ that it had problems with, and i tried three different brands of ammo, in various weights.

even if you want the m9 just for plinking its a fun shooter. my hands have a tough time with glocks, but the m9 seems to fit like a glove for me.

[Leibster]

If you want a Glock with improved ergonomics, consider the XD. It's cheaper (you mentioned price as a concern), it points great, the trigger is WAAY better, and it has metal sights.

--Leibster

[tetchaje1]

Ditto what Leibster stated about the XD as another option. I've read that many people absolutely swear by them, though I've never shot one myself.

I would have no qualms about buying another Steyr (probably an S357... :evil: ) when the opportunity presents itself and I have more money...

[Hackworth92FS]

I have not been impressed with the XD-9. I've fired several at the range and among friends. I consider it sub-par compared to the Glock 17s I've fired.

[arinvolvo]

1500 rounds through the Steyr M9...From the NEW US importer (Zanders) and not ONE malfunction....Ultra reliable...even with crappy winchester white box ammo.

The steyr is a newer gun...so many of people's experiences with them are from the steyrs "growing pains" phase...but rest assured, that all bugs have been worked out, and the pistol performs much better than the Glock AND the XD as far as accuracy and ergonomics.

Dont get me wrong...I like the XD...and I may purchase one in 40...but I like the M9 better than the XD 9.

[BLiTzNicK]

I'd get one of these.

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=125039

[Boats]

A picture really is worth a thousand words!

"The Glock 17--Rated "T" for Teen.":evil: Buy one today and join the ballistically fingerprinted hordes.

[arinvolvo]

Id get one of these...Oh wait...I did...oh, and that is MINE. :p

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=125186

[twoblink]

There are two sides to the Steyr "safety" arguement..

I seem to represent a big part of the "Steyrs are safe because I understand how the safety system works on it" camp.

Glocks are a brick in the hand. Triggers are spongy, and the mag release will make your hands bleed if you are left-handed. (Trust me, nothing is more embarrassing then being called off the line because you are BLEEDING ALL OVER).

The are also sellouts..

That said, if you need accessories, then go glock. there is nothing that is not made for the glock. Bladetech will custom make you a Kydex holster for a Steyr.

I've had 3 non-fires in my Steyr after about 5K rounds.. One was bad ammo (The Ficocchi was bulged and it was stuck so far in barrel and so tight, I needed pliers and help to get it out... Not Steyr's fault, bad ammo) The other was a bullet rim chipped, and a piece of brass wedged in the railing.

The third time, my springs got too soft.. Started having battery lock problems.. Time for a new spring.. Which the good German doctor did send to Oleg ( as my gun is currently being baby sat by Oleg and Betty)

The XD's bore axis is VERY HIGH compared to the Steyr...

I'd go Steyr.. Or a used glock... in that order... don't buy a new glock, them sellouts...

[Gary G23]

My M357 has been 100% reliable. The M40 I used to have was about 98% reliable. I've never tried the M9. The Steyr definitely does have the advantage in the bore axis department. My M357 kicks a LOT less than any other 357 I've owned (Glock, HK, Sig) due to the lower bore axis.
That being said I also think the SA XD should be a consideration. I own a XD-40 and like it a lot. It has been 100% reliable and is currently my carry gun. I'm planning on getting a 9mm and a 357 soon.

[Tamara]

Buy one today and join the ballistically fingerprinted hordes.

Can you tell me what brand of pistol doesn't come with a spent shell case? I've seen them in Taurus, Springfield, HK, SIG, Smith, Walther, Ruger and others.

I've lost complete track of who I'm supposed to be boycotting.

[Handy]

I had thought the included shell casing is for the states that require them for the purchase of a gun. No casing, no sale.

If the casing is still in the box when you buy it, that means no gov. agency has it, so what's the problem?

[Boats]

I'd advise starting with this. (http://www.atf.treas.gov/press/speech/fy00/040700ggdsymposium.htm)

Are there other firearms manufacturers participating in NIBIN/IBIS by imaging a fired case from each firearm they sell? I don't know, but I do know that if there are, none of them are stupid enough to crow about it.

EXCERPT:

Computer technology has also advanced the art of ballistics comparisons. Before computers ballistics experts could compare the shell casings or projectiles from a suspected weapon to evidence recovered at a crime scene. But this is painstaking process and it was not realistic that a recovered firearm could be test fired and manually compared against every piece of ballistics evidence recovered from every crime.

Today computers can do just that. A computer can't make the ultimate call, but they can narrow the work down to a point where manual examination is feasible. ATF is now making this computer technology available to police authorities around the country through the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (NIBIN). This network is a joint effort between ATF and the FBI to provide the latest technology to our state and local partners. Under this arrangement ATF will be responsible for the ballistics technology and the FBI will provide the computer network that will join the state and local systems together. Currently this provides a valuable tool for law enforcement authorities that will allow us to associate a suspect or a firearm with seemingly unrelated crimes. The future of this technology offers even greater potential. ATF is currently conducting a pilot project with Glock, wherein they will capture digital image a test fire shell casing for [each] handgun they manufacture. That image will be associated with the serial number of the firearm in a computer database. Later if a shell casing is recovered at a crime scene it could be compared against the Glock database. This comparison could lead to the identification of the exact weapon that fired the round. Without ever recovering a firearm ATF could then trace the weapon used in the crime.

[Handy]

Did not know that. More good reason to buy an older Glock.

[sturmruger]

I love my Steyr Collection. I would recomend the Steyr. You just can't beat the price on these guns right now. CDNN is selling them for as low as $289 if you buy 5. I wish I had that kind of cash laying around. I think I would buy 5 and just leave them in their case unfired. Someday they will be worth allot more. The only downside right now is the lack of any way to get warranty work done. I am sure that will be remedied in the near future. Great guns, great price, and a great choice.

Do a search for "S40". I had a post a while back with a bunch of pictures if you are interested in seeing the differant guns.

[Kahr carrier]

I like the Glock 17 myself .They are very reliable ,look at the torture tests that Glock themselves has put them through to prove a point they have a 17s at the factory with over a 100,000 rounds thru them. And if you buy the special cups you can shoot them under water. I cant comment on the Steyr because I havent tried one.:)

[DTOM]

I've bought two handguns in the last 2 months. My Glock did not include a fire cartridge with the gun, but my Springfield XD did. I was told by my FFL guy that the cartridge casing was required, if the gun was sold in MA or MD.

[sonoranjack]

I carry a second gen Glock 17 that I've owned for 10 years. My other pistol is a HK USP9c which is a little over a year old having been made in 01. I bought the HK used in Jul 02. The owner choose a Glock 21 over the HK. Well the HK is for sale. I want a third gen Glock 17 which will replace my second gen G17 as my carry pistol. I don't think I've ever seen a Steyr much less shot 1. But a Glock beats every other pistol made, except a 1911.