Steyr M-a1???

[xjrat]

Hey Hey Hey!
My wife and I are in the market for a handgun. It will be our first. We have 2 rifles and a collectible Colt .38 revolver that doesn't get used much. I have a lot of shooting experience with rifles and pretty good with other handguns. But it has been awhile since I have been able to shoot newer ones. My wife has some rifle experience (M16's She's in the Air National Guard) but only one time with a handgun.
This new gun will have to be an all around gun because it has taken me a while to save up for it, so it will be awhile before I can get another one.
I am interested in the Steyr M-A1 in .40 I have read about them. I held one at a gun show but that is it. I want to shoot one but don't know if I will be able to before I buy. I haven't had a chance to get the wife to hold it yet so I am not sure about that aspect yet. I like the ergonomics and the feel of it I even like the sites. I need info from you guys about Steyr or what would be equivalent.
I do have a few concerns though.
1. My wife is small at only 5' she also has small hands. So will that be to much for her(I don't like 9mm, I would rather have .45 but I know that is out of the question). I want her to enjoy shooting as well.
2. Reliability, Is the parts and service good. Will it last a long time How many rounds in its life. As everyone says about GLOCK you can drop it in the mud, run it over, strap dynamite to it and blow it up and it will still shoot.
3. After market, are there accessories readily available? I like the idea of the .22lr conversion for the glock to be able to shoot inexpensive rounds just for targets. ( My wife got to shoot one like that and loved it).

So who owns them or what can you recommend that is equivalent.
thanks for the help

 

[cirrus]

hey xj,

i live in ventura also. i don't know how familiar you are with the area but shooters paradise in oxnard has a number of handguns you can rent and use in their indoor range for trial. i am not 100% sure if they have a steyr for rent but they do have one for sale in their display case (along with many others). check in. they may very well have one for rental use that i overlooked.

on the web:

www.shootersparadiseoxnard.com

for disclosure purposes, i am in no way affiliated with them- just a satisfied customer.

 

[xjrat]

Thanks I used to go there all the time I had a member ship about 8 years ago but haven't had much time since. I did go there about 2 months ago but didn't know about Steyr yet. I will call them tomorrow. email me and we'll go shoot sometime. [email protected]

 

[cirrus]

sounds good. i'm very new to shooting but just picked up an xd 9 there- waiting period is over on thanksgiving . i need a shooting buddy. i narrowed my choices to the XD 9 and the Steyr before i bought but went with the XD, for no partcular reason. i'd still love to shoot one. ojai valley surplus has an MA 1 also and their price was a bit lower than SP. can't remember the caliber, however.

mike

 

[xjrat]

Hello Anyone??? Styer, any actually have one? Any one else please comment or answer my ?'s. Did I ask anything wrong? Does anyone like me? Is this how you treat all the new guys? Ya thats it you just want me to think that and then I will get a million responses, so many in fact that my brain will explode with the GREAT wealth of knowledge from this group!!!

 

[BlkHawk73]

Did you actually try doingt a search on this model? I tried a search here using your title and got a bunch of threads regarding this model.

 

[don95sml]

Hey, we're not such bad folks here. I suspect that the reason you haven't had many responses is that there are not a lot of Steyr users out there. You might get more info on www.steyrclub.com . It appears to me that Steyr is gradually increasing their info and support in the US market. I attended the NRA exhibits in Milwaukee earlier this year, and the M9A1 was the only handgun in the show that really impressed me. It just feels so good in the hand, and I was thinking of trying one in IDPA matches. However, the magazine release button is difficult for me to reach with my right thumb (and it cannot be moved to the right side for possible operation with a right hand trigger finger), and I also have read reports that the mag well is not shaped for speedy insertion of a new mag. So now I seem to be favoring the S&W M&P as my next purchase. But you may well prefer the Steyr. Good luck in your search.

 

[10-Ring]

I've shot the Steyr and was impressed...nice trigger, nice accuracy. The thing I didn't like were the sights...might just take some rounds to get used to them.....

 

[infrangible]

I have an Steyr M40, and I love it. I have shot a few glocks in my time, and I have to say, I perfer the Steyr. I have found it very reliable. Not quite the huge aftermarket that there is for the glock, but there are a few folks out there making holsters for the steyr(Blade-tech, Fist, a few others). Also a company called IGB (impulse Gun Barrels) that make a 357 Sig. conversion barrel, and a carbine kit for the steyr. here is good informative review on the steyr M series: http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/review/steyr40.htm

Also, as someone else has suggested Steyrclub.com is also a great resource for information.

 

[sigma 40ve]

First Steyr I bought was a brand new M9, my wife "took" it from me. Now it's hers. This past August I went out and bought a used M40. Really like it. FWIW, I prefer the 40 over the 9mm.