Nightcrawler
New member
A friend of mine is intersted in a compact .40 pistol. What's the lowdown on the FN Forty-Nine and the Steyr M series? CDNN has both of them on sale for under $400.00.
Questions on two handguns
- Thread starter Nightcrawler
- Start date
David Scott
New member
CDNN buys up lots of guns from manufacturer's overruns, discontinued products and other sellers/distributors who are cutting inventory or going out of business. You can find some gems in their catalog, like the .45 long Colt snubbies by Taurus.
The FN Forty-Nine is kind of a "me too" polymer service pistol. It seems to have nothing special in the way of features. I seem to remember comments on TFL that its grip is kind of uncomfortable and the trigger pull is rough.
The Steyr M series is a more radical design. To me its best feature is a very low bore axis, which helps manage recoil. I've heard that the .40 feels like a 9mm and the 9mm feels like a .380. It has some other quirky stuff, like the "triangle/trapezoid" sights, the odd safety inside the trigger guard and the built in key lock.
If it were me, I'd take the Steyr before the FN, but only because I like odd stuff. You probably won't find either pistol as a range rental, so that won't help you choose. You could go to a gun show and see if you can spot them, at least see how they fit your hand.
The FN Forty-Nine is kind of a "me too" polymer service pistol. It seems to have nothing special in the way of features. I seem to remember comments on TFL that its grip is kind of uncomfortable and the trigger pull is rough.
The Steyr M series is a more radical design. To me its best feature is a very low bore axis, which helps manage recoil. I've heard that the .40 feels like a 9mm and the 9mm feels like a .380. It has some other quirky stuff, like the "triangle/trapezoid" sights, the odd safety inside the trigger guard and the built in key lock.
If it were me, I'd take the Steyr before the FN, but only because I like odd stuff. You probably won't find either pistol as a range rental, so that won't help you choose. You could go to a gun show and see if you can spot them, at least see how they fit your hand.
I wouldn't be surprised if the FN FortyNine wasn't being quietly dropped; sales were pretty slow due to it being "the last kid into a crowded swimmin' hole".
The Steyr M's are languishing in warehouses; some of the early ones were a little glitchy, that caused slow sales, and Steyr's reorganization has left the company unable to promote them hard enough to make up for some early bad word-of-mouth.
I'd happily buy either one at the deep discounts CDNN offers, and was in fact checking on the Steyr M in the CDNN catalog when I wound up buying my Mateba instead (another gun that just wasn't a fast seller...).
The Steyr M's are languishing in warehouses; some of the early ones were a little glitchy, that caused slow sales, and Steyr's reorganization has left the company unable to promote them hard enough to make up for some early bad word-of-mouth.
I'd happily buy either one at the deep discounts CDNN offers, and was in fact checking on the Steyr M in the CDNN catalog when I wound up buying my Mateba instead (another gun that just wasn't a fast seller...).
I'll repeat myself here and say I don't trust CDNN.
But as for the choice between the Steyr and the FN, I'd recomend the Steyr.
I can't speak or the FN because I've never fired one, but My Steyr M40 is an excellent handgun.
I wouldn't call the design "radical" (it's basicaly a beafier Glock in a prettier and more ergonomic package) but it is very comfortable and shoots very well.
Recoil is very managable and felt recoil on my M40 is slightly less then felt recoil on a Glock 23 (which is the same size/cal.). I wouldn't say it feels like a 9mm
But I like it alot.
Also the trigger pull is smoother and less "mushy" then the Glock.
The only thing I don't like about the gun is the safety inside the trigger guard...it would be too easy to push it up under stress and AD (but then again if you're following proper safety rules you won't have your finger on the trigger...also it makes taking the safety off to shoot real easy, and makes it part of the trigger stroke). However it's one more safety then on a Glock and I understand most people don't use them (I only use mine when I carry in a bellyband).
As for the sights, I was leery of them but after shooting with it I like them fine...they acquire quickly and don't take as much "getting used to" as I thought they would.
But as for the choice between the Steyr and the FN, I'd recomend the Steyr.
I can't speak or the FN because I've never fired one, but My Steyr M40 is an excellent handgun.
I wouldn't call the design "radical" (it's basicaly a beafier Glock in a prettier and more ergonomic package) but it is very comfortable and shoots very well.
Recoil is very managable and felt recoil on my M40 is slightly less then felt recoil on a Glock 23 (which is the same size/cal.). I wouldn't say it feels like a 9mm
But I like it alot.Also the trigger pull is smoother and less "mushy" then the Glock.
The only thing I don't like about the gun is the safety inside the trigger guard...it would be too easy to push it up under stress and AD (but then again if you're following proper safety rules you won't have your finger on the trigger...also it makes taking the safety off to shoot real easy, and makes it part of the trigger stroke). However it's one more safety then on a Glock and I understand most people don't use them (I only use mine when I carry in a bellyband).
As for the sights, I was leery of them but after shooting with it I like them fine...they acquire quickly and don't take as much "getting used to" as I thought they would.