My new Steyr-Mannlicher M1905!

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Ian

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I found myself a very pretty Steyr-Mannlicher M1905 at a gun show a month ago, got stripper clips in from Sarco last week, and some Argentine ammo yesterday. Now I just have to wait another 10 days before I have a chance to hit the range to try it out!

I'm more excited about this pistol than I have been about any other new gun in quite a while. I really like the looks, and it feels really good in the hand. Based on some limited testing, the clips seem to load pretty smoothly, unlike many clip-fed pistols. The ammo feeds cleanly into the mag, without needing a bunch of cajoling and without cartridges popping out of the clip halfway down. Best of all, and by what must be total accident for a military handgun this old, I can actually operate the safety catch easily and effectively from my left-handed firing grip. If it shoots as nicely as it handles, I will totally be finding a good leatherworker to make a custom OWB holster to carry it and a clip of spare ammo. I will SO wear this to fancy parties! :p

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Sweet!
I need to find one of those while I still have a C&R. I have a soft spot for such firearms.

Do post a range report after you give that beauty a spin.
 
I envy you Ian! I could kick myself for not buying one of those years ago. Yours is a pistol that has incredible character and charisma as a historical piece and fun you shoot gun. You are very fortunate.:)

It may also be a "Back to the Future" pistol if we ever lose the right to own detachable box magazine pistols.:(
 
"Based on some limited testing, the clips seem to load pretty smoothly, unlike many clip-fed pistols. The ammo feeds cleanly into the mag, without needing a bunch of cajoling and without cartridges popping out of the clip halfway down."
I'll just assume you're referring to the Steyr-Hahn? (I'll let you guess why I assume that :banghead:)

Very cool pistol. My Hahn has tons of character, and this one even more so. I may have to start looking for one of these if they are a legitimately good pistol (the Hahn is actually a pretty good platform itself, just needs stiffer clips* and a new sear/spring).

May I ask where in the holy hell you managed to find 9mm Steyr? I had to make due with 9mm Largo, which, while it works ("works" being a highly relative term in this case) was the crappiest milsurp I've ever heard of. Duds, hang fires, split cases, loose primers --the works. Didn't fit the clips or extractor as well as the real thing, either, but that's not the gun's fault. Supposedly Starline 38 Super Comp can used to load for these; the brass, not the load data, of course.

*My clips are straight and 8 rounds, yours are bent. I will assume that the two guns probably don't have incompatible clips, so the 10-ers you have may work better. I'll have to hit up Sarco.

TCB
 
"Based on some limited testing, the clips seem to load pretty smoothly, unlike many clip-fed pistols. The ammo feeds cleanly into the mag, without needing a bunch of cajoling and without cartridges popping out of the clip halfway down."
I'll just assume you're referring to the Steyr-Hahn? (I'll let you guess why I assume that )

Very cool pistol. My Hahn has tons of character, and this one even more so. I may have to start looking for one of these if they are a legitimately good pistol (the Hahn is actually a pretty good platform itself, just needs stiffer clips* and a new sear/spring).

May I ask where in the holy hell you managed to find 9mm Steyr? I had to make due with 9mm Largo, which, while it works ("works" being a highly relative term in this case) was the crappiest milsurp I've ever heard of. Duds, hang fires, split cases, loose primers --the works. Didn't fit the clips or extractor as well as the real thing, either, but that's not the gun's fault. Supposedly Starline 38 Super Comp can used to load for these; the brass, not the load data, of course.

*My clips are straight and 8 rounds, yours are bent. I will assume that the two guns probably don't have incompatible clips, so the 10-ers you have may work better. I'll have to hit up Sarco.

TCB
Fiocchi still makes 9mm Steyr in its "obsolete" line of cartridges. However I don't know if it's available in the US market. Yes, 38 Super Comp brass are the way to go if you reload but probably even regular 38 Super brass can work.
The OP pistol is chambered for 7.65mmx21 Mannlicher (7.63 Mannlicher) according to the box in the pic he posted.
 
Barnbwt - the Steyr 1905 and Steyr 1912 are totally different guns. I do have a 1912, and finding ammo for it is tricky as well. I've found a couple boxes from collectible ammo dealers, and also have some Spanish 9mm Largo surplus. The Largo is definitely hotter, and I'm not sure how much of it I really want to shoot through the Steyr. Clips for the 1912 are the straight ones you referred to, and mine aren't very cooperative. Need to clean them up and practice more, to see if I can get the reloading process down better. Dropping to 6 or 7 rounds would probably help.
 
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