New version Steyr M40; Short Review.

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petej88

New member
Well, I picked up my 10,000 something serial numbered Steyr M40 yesterday.

GSI is touting it as production ready. After firing 300 rounds through it, I agree. All the initial bugs have been worked out.

With rapid fire, I had a string of four cases in the air, all nicely following each other. Very accurate. Excellent trigger pull. firing pin slams a healthy dent in every primer. No reset problems. Wow. And I haven't even broke the gun in yet.

Everything thing is working great. I'll have to work the M40 a lot harder in the next few weeks to make sure. This is my third M40 and the 10,000 serial number series almost feels like it has been out a couple years now. Those Steyr engineers know their stuff big time.

The recoil spring feels a lot stronger now.

The trigger shape looks a little different. The safety on the trigger seems to stick out a bit more as well.

If I drag my trigger finger across the bottom of the trigger guard (crazy, I know), pushing in the trigger safety takes slightly more effort and you can hear a clicking sound. But after the safety is in, the trigger pull is identical to holding the finger in the middle or upper part of the trigger. The trigger pull consistency throughout the trigger is excellent now.


There were a few other minor internal changes in the 10,000 series, but I don't have permission to mention them here. And of course the beveled ejector port fix is standard now.

If you've been waiting for early model bugs to get worked out (all new guns have 'em), then the wait is over for the Steyr M series.

I don't think there is another gun on the market that can touch the Steyr series pistol in overall ergonomics. If I relate the Steyr pistol to a car, I'd say that it is the manual stick shift version of the so called smart gun, as opposed to the electronic version that could still take many more years to perfect, if it can even be done.
 
It would be nice to hear such positive feedback from more than just one owner of a #10K+ version. THEN, maybe I'll reconsider one.
 
VictorLouis,

I'm with ya on that one. If it makes you feel any better, I wrote the first large Steyr post here exposing some issues at the time. But I'm also interested to hear from other 10000+ owners.
 
While I agree w/ you VictorLouis, pete seems to be the m40's foremost consumer authority as he was the first to post both the positive "&" negative aspects of these pistols, not to mention it appears he has the most hands on experience w/ these guns of anyone this side of Wilhelm Bubits himself.

All the reviews I've read in the gunrags never mentioned the problems that pete brought to our attention,and despite his professed love for the steyr he has been thoroughly subjective in his testing & reviews and I for one appreciate his work!

I prefer the extra features the m-series has to offer over the glocks I currently own.The added safety measures/ fully supp. chamber/even lower bore axis/ and in the hands of this shooter atleast, a better grip and an overall sturdier feel.

Hearing additional feedback would definitely be a plus,as this would further help to prove the new versions reliable and truly problem free.That being said, when it comes to this particular pistol pete's got my ear first!

Stay safe & good shootin'...long shot!
 
Yes, Mylhouse brought me up to speed regarding your efforts after my first reply here. Thank You. I held back from buying one after stumbling across one of Emin's threads, IIRC. But, I guess you were the firstest with the mostest-Kudos.
 
Well Pete, hopefully you can tell me for sure if this gun has an ambidextrous mag release. GSI e-mailed me and said yes, and e-mailed another guy and said no. Well? Also, did all the improvements carry over to the M9? I REALLY want to buy the M9, but I want most of the bugs gone and an ambi mag release. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Pete, definitely interested in the ambi-mag release, tells us more!!! Also, if it's true, does that mean that they will be brand new magazines as opposed to the ones currently being sold?

Also, you know me, I've emailed you before about it, any word on when the M357 will be shipped? That's what I'm talking about!!!

Also, I played with a Steyr the other day for a while, have they "de-smoothed" the grip just a bit? I can see how that when you have sweaty hands, it can be slippery...

Thanks pete, keep it up. You're reviews have made a big Steyr fan out of me...

Albert
 
I have seen pictures of the mag release on the right side. Yet, when I talked to GSI just a couple days ago, two different guys said, "No ambi mag release is available". One of them said he would know because he's a lefty. Who knows. Maybe it'll be in a future upgrade? An ambi mag release and an adjustable grip would be hot. But as is, I really like it.

I have already traded in my first two M40's, to get money for my new M40 and my coming M357. So I can't directly compare the grips to my new M40. But, the new grip does seem to have a rougher feel to it --- I like it.

You know, I get the impression that Steyr really listens to their customers :)

I really like the feel of the new beefy recoil spring system too. It passes the 12 o'clock recoil spring test and locks into full battery right at 12 o'clock. You don't even have to lower your forearm for the slide to lock into full battery.

The 12 o'clock test is just a simple recoil spring check. It's when you hold the muzzle straight up and pull the trigger. With the trigger still pulled and muzzle pointing straight up, you rack the slide and very gently ease it forward until it wants to stop on its own. If the slide still isn't in full battery, you very slowly lower your forearm and it should hit full battery by the 9 o'clock position at the latest. It's just a simple test.

Oh, I just noticed that the safety bar that drops down when the safety is on, is a military green. Interesting.

The M357 should be available by the end of June or sometime in July.

I'm hoping to hear reports from other new 10,000+ owners in the next couple weeks or so.



[This message has been edited by petej88 (edited May 30, 2000).]
 
Regarding the grips, I have a 27xx model and have tried the hogue slip-on which was the #17000 a universal size for large handguns. It had one built in finger groove, and aligned up very poorly with the M40's finger groove. I never bothered cutting the overhang at the magazine end either. I just gave it to a friend who owned a glock. Unless they completely redisign the grip on the later models I would save your 15 bucks on the slip-on grip. I love the accuracy of mine, I hit a surprising 4 of 5 shots into a koolaid filled gal milk container at 40 yards. I knew I hit it once when the color ran out but when I counted the holes I was amazed for I have poor distance vision. Does anyone know if slide and trigger mods to early models are to change them to the later configuration???
 
I owned a Steyr M40 with the serial number in the low 3000's, I worked fine thru all 600 rounds I put thur it. The only reason I sold it was I held s Sig P229 in .357sig and fell in love but was short on cash so I sold it. I may have to go get another one soon.
 
I am also interested in the M40 or M357 myself. So what I am hearing is to buy one with a serial number of 10000 or above in the 40cal? Also can you tell me what the trigger pull weight is? Is it heavier than the Glock 5.5lb. I have heard there are two different weights. Is that correct? Thanks.
 
I don't own one, but the Turners down the street from me has one. I go and "visit" it a lot... :-) The pull on it felt about 6.5#. I have read of two different pull weights as well.

Pete, I'm a bit sad to hear that there is no Ambi-mag release. Being a leftie, it would help dramatically. Also, being a libertarian, I'd like options. It's one of the things that I can't stand about glocks, the mag release rips a hole in my left middle finger...

Memo to Steyr: You guys have the fastest turnaround in terms of addressing issues that customers bring up. Keep it up.

Hmmm, here's a marketing conspiracy thought. It could be that the ads were fake, and that marketing just put the ambi-mag release as a marketing ploy; OR it could be that while they make a new ambi one, they don't want that news to dillute the sales currently, while everybody waits for the ambi one to come out, and so they are saying it doesn't exist...

[This message has been edited by twoblink (edited May 31, 2000).]
 
Desmo,

I am left-handed. While I prefer the ambidextrous releases on the HK USP and the Walther P99, you can operate the Steyr release with your trigger finger. The button is stiff, but if it is properly lubed, it works fine.
 
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