9mm Steyr??

[The Grand Inquisitor]

I've seen ads for 9mm Steyr ammo (mostly from Hornady's new line of hard to fine cartridges like the WWI Jap cartridges and Carcano stuff...) and I was wondering if anyone could tell me about this round. I've looked around and haven't found too much about it except that it seems to be popular in some older custom 1911's.

About the only thing I know about it is that it isn't one of Steyr's new creations (like their new flechette ammo) so I'm assuming it must be pretty old - any info would be much appreciated.


I'm a Steyr nut and I'm always excited to learn something new about anything Steyr.

 

[Nashmack]

IIRC inquisitor, 9MM Steyr was the round the Steyr-Hahn pistol fired (model 1912?) This pistol was used by the Dual Monarchy (Austria-Hungary) and by the Czech Legion after they killed their officers and fled to Russia, although in the case of the Czechs they lost touch with the ammo supply rather rapidly.

IIRC a number of the Steyr-Hahn pistols were also purchased and issued by Chile. This was an autoloading pistol in the same general configuration as current autoloaders (gripframe, reciprocating slide fully enclosing the barrel while in battery, exposed hammer, etc) however it did not have a detatchable mag. Loading was accomplished by means of a 10 round stripper clip, inserted through the ejection port.

**edited to add** http://www.gunsworld.com/world/steyr1912_us.html Theres some general info on the Steyr 1912, along with a nifty picture. I'm looking for the specs on the ammo right now.

**edited again to add yet more** 9MM Steyr is 9x23, same as a 9 Largo, but it's loaded hotter. Velocities and muzzle energy are comparable to 9 Parabellum.

 

[jacobtowne]

It was the standard Austrian military cartridge for the Model 1912 Steyr-Hahn pistol, the standard issue sidearm of the Austrian army during WWI.
Size is 9mm x 22.7mm. slightly shorter than the 9mm Bergmann-Bayard cartridge ( which is also known as the 9mm Largo in Spain).
JT

 

[jonnyc]

To add...
the round is nominally a 9x23, but it is not inter-changable with 9x23 Largo, Bergmann, ACP, SUPER, DILLON, etc. Some later 9mm Steyr pistos were actually chambered in 9mm Para.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

Thanks for the quick reply guys.


It's interesting that neither the 9mm Steyr or Largo have really survived the 9mm para - as far as I can tell, both a good, if a little old, rounds that could still probably hold their own if they were reworked a little bit by modern ammo experts.

I think Sarco is selling some old Spainsh Star pistols in 9mm Largo right now for like $250. I was thinking about getting one, but I've read that the quality isn't all that good and reloading for such an obscure round would be more expenive than it's worth for me at the moment.

 

[Nashmack]

Johnnyc, it should be interchangeable in a properly functioning Astra 400.

 

[Nashmack]

Previous post retracted, 9 Steyr will chamber but produces too much pressure for the 400's design.

 

[jacobtowne]

Don't know about Star, but Astra Unceta designed a pistol for the 9mm Bayard cartridge, the M400, which was accepted by the Spanish military as the M1921.
JT

 

[Nashmack]

That's the one that I was talking about.

 

[candr44]

My Steyer-Hahn will chamber some 9 largo ammo. I fired a few rounds of Spanish Santa Barbara through it but quit using it after I saw the bulging primers. The firing pins have been known to come flying back on these guns.

Cartridges of the World has information on the Steyer round. Fiocchi also loads for this caliber but I have yet to find any. I have yet to find any Steyer ammo at all.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

Like I said before, the only place I have ever see 9mm Steyr ammo is in an ad for Hornady's new line. I can't imagine that there is a huge market for it.

If I remember correctly, it was $20 for 25 rounds. Way too much for regular shooting, but I guess it would be worth it if you came across a 9mm Steyr pistol in good shootable condition for cheap...