Steyr - best gun no one can find, or is no one even looking?

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dmentia999

Inactive
Hi All - I'm new to the forum, so be nice! ;)

I've settled in on either a CZ or Steyr, most likely in 9mm. The problem is I can't seem to find a Steyr anywhere to actually hold, much less shoot. CZs are also scarce, at least in the 75 compact I'm leaning towards, but at least there are a couple other models around I can hold.

So I have 2 questions. First, why are Steyrs so hard to find? Is it because no one wants them or just bad marketing and distribution? I've read mostly good things about them when I could find any comments, but hardly anything recent, so they don't seem to be talked about much anymore. Even here when doing a search they seem to only be mentioned very infrequently.

Second, and maybe the crux of the issue - how much risk in buying a gun without having fired it or even held it? Comments about the Steyr ergonomics, trigger and low bore axis seem to fit what I've decided are important factors to me, but is buying something site unseen worth the risk?

If I decide to go CZ I know I'll eventually be able to find one to try, but I have a feeling for a Steyr I either take a leap of faith or walk away from maybe one of the best guns around...?

Thanks for any thoughts folks feel like sharing,
 
You've chosen the two guns that are the most comfortable in my hands, and also on both sides of the spectrum. One is all steel and hammer fired, the other is polymer and striker fired.

The CZ is an amazing gun, especially after the trigger has been broken in. Smooth shooting and as accurate as you can really ask for. And very comfortable. Can't go wrong with it.

The Steyr is also one of my favorites. I'd be willing to bet you'd like the feel of it in hand, I haven't found someone that doesn't. The triangle sights do take some getting used to, but I like them a lot. The trigger is also very nice, with almost no take-up and a crisp break. The problem is no aftermarket. Parts are very hard to find.
 
Thats the one on my Christmas list

STEYR ARMS L9-A1 BLACK 9MM 4.5-INCH 17RD THREADED BARREL
Like it a lot from reviews recent ones too. Did a lot of research too but could not find one to rent or even handle.
I'm sure its quality built , but I will not buy one until I can handle one locally.
 
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Good gun manufactured and supported by one of the worst sales and marketing company in the firearms industry. They have had 3 different distributors before Steyr USA was setup and honestly Steyr USA is not that great. They have pulled out of the US market at least twice only to return. When these pistols sold for $299 or less NIB there were a steal and worth the risk but these days I see no reason to get one at a $500 price tag vs other polymer offerings which are better supported.

You will almost never find one in stock somewhere. People will order them but there is almost no brand recognition for Steyr pistols in the US so there is no incentive for people to stock them. Most people who list them on their internet sales sites are ordering them on demand from distributors.

I have owned 3 or 4 of them in the past I own ZERO now. They are a love them or hate them sort of pistol. I would never buy one without holding and shooting one. Most of the positive statements are from people who love the pistol so you have to take it with a grain of salt. In the end there is nothing special about this gun. IMHO. There was a time one might consider it an improved Glock but those days are passed and Steyr missed their window of opportunity.

There is also almost no aftermarket support for Steyr pistols. Holsters, sights, mags etc... are all harder to find than most other brands. There is just no momentum for the brand.

If you get one you are going to keep it for life because you will never get more than 50% of what you pay in the used market see all the reasons above. Even those who love them know not to over pay. On a $500 Steyr pistol in the used market you will be lucky to get $200 in trade or $300 in private sale to a fanboy. Compare that to Glock 19. You can buy it for $500 and sell it in a second for $400. So unless you know you love them I would look elsewhere. Even if you love the ergos and you love the trigger it is far from one of the best polymer pistol on the market.

I would consider these instead if i was looking at a poly pistol.

CZ P07
Sig P320
Glock 19 or 17
HK VP9
Walther PPQ M1 or M2

The CZ Compact, P01 & PCR are all great but are completely different than the Steyr or other striker fired pistols.
 
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The Steyr M9 and M40 were the first two carry guns I bought, must be 14 years ago now. Back then, CDNN was liquidating them at a very good price of $349 each.

I was new to shooting, didnt have the knowledge I do today. And I wish I kept them because I think I would have really loved them today.

Decently accurate, triggers could have been a little better. The M9 was 100% reliable. The M40, was great so long as I shot lighter loads. The chamber didnt like the bigger bullets, it wouldnt go into battery consistantly.

I wound up trading both, plus a couple other handguns at a pawn shop for a total of $800, after I bought a Kimber. If I could locate another M9 I would give it another chance.

I found a good tuckable holster from High Noon Holsters, they are online. Not sure if they still offer them, as this was 14 years ago.
 
WVsig said:
They have had 3 different distributors before Steyr USA was setup and honestly Steyr USA is not that great. They have pulled out of the US market at least twice only to return.
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Speaking of which—although I don't know whether the OP is considering buying new or used—IIRC there are some issues with factory service for used Steyrs, depending on when a particular pistol was imported and which distributor was handling it that week. I don't remember the details because I was only on the periphery of the discussion.

However, IMHO even if we're considering new-production guns only, given Steyr's recent history, I would regard customer service as a major question mark. It's safe to assume that Glock, S&W, Sp'fld, FNH, CZ, and Ruger will still offer service 10 years from now. Not necessarily so with Steyr.
 
Speaking of which—although I don't know whether the OP is considering buying new or used—IIRC there are some issues with factory service for used Steyrs, depending on when a particular pistol was imported and which distributor was handling it that week. I don't remember the details because I was only on the periphery of the discussion.

However, IMHO even if we're considering new-production guns only, given Steyr's recent history, I would regard customer service as a major question mark. It's safe to assume that Glock, S&W, Sp'fld, FNH, CZ, and Ruger will still offer service 10 years from now. Not necessarily so with Steyr.
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There is almost ZERO support for anything but the current version MA1s. I had a catastrophic failure on a S40 that it took Steyr 13 months to replace IIRC. The used market is precocious at best.
 
I have a Steyr L9-A1 and I put it and the M series as one of the four best striker fired models currently available. I know several other guys with current manufactured models. They all are 100% reliable and have exceptional accuracy as a group. From the couple of hundred people who has held it, none have disliked the grip. A few have not like the grip angle which is like a Glock. The trigger is also one of the best in it's class. It's balance, bore height, and slightly forward grip all add to very light recoil/muzzle flip. It has a unique look to it with it's thicker dust cover. It breaks down pretty easy and has an internal chassis similar to the Sig 320's. The trapezoidal sight are different and some love them while others don't like them at all. I don't mind them and have no issues going between them and the three dots on my other guns. The trigger reset could have a more tactical sound and feel.

BT guide rods has a pretty good aftermarket for them. CDNN has 15 round magazines at pretty good prices. My L9 fits in some of my holsters that fit other guns and not in some others. Mainly the thickness of the dust cover is the issue.

Like any auto loading hand gun its not the end all/be all. If you something with a good trigger, great grip, very accurate, reliable, and just plain different. A L-A1 or M-A1 might be a good choice.
 
"Compare that to Glock 19. You can buy it for $500 and sell it in a second for $400."

The $400 is what's offered by the gun dealer immediately after the sale when you realized you've made a horrible mistake. Once it's "off the lot" and shots fired, it's valued at $250. I know, friends and I have been there. :rolleyes:
 
"Compare that to Glock 19. You can buy it for $500 and sell it in a second for $400."

The $400 is what's offered by the gun dealer immediately after the sale when you realized you've made a horrible mistake. Once it's "off the lot" and shots fired, it's valued at $250. I know, friends and I have been there.
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Sorry but you are incorrect. I could put a Glock 19 in VG to excellent condition on this board or armslist at $400 and it will not last a day. Quoting what a dealer will give you is not what I am talking about. I can guarantee a $400 Glock 19 will sell faster than a $400 Steyr.

Steyr had major issues with the early pistols. The safety mechanism in the upper part of the trigger area would engage itself. :eek: The 40 S&W had poor chamber support. Ask me how I know.... :eek:

There is a reason these pistols have never sold well. Again when you could buy them NIB at $300 they were interesting now at $500 pass especially if you have never actually fired one let alone held one. It doesn't do anything that much better than other polymer pistols to warrant the risk.
 
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Steyrs are enigmatic little pistols... very mysterious... as if an unseen force keeps them from most peoples eyes...
Today 04:44 PM

These are not the pistols you seek... ;)

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Good points being raised about the Steyr. I guess the contrarian in me keeps the Steyr in play, but I guess I have to decide if it is worth $500 to have something different. I think without being able to see and possibly shoot one, the answer will likely be no.

As follow up, one poster commented on new or used, and I am looking for new. Several pointed out that the CZ 75 and the Steyr are very different - steel vs poly, striker vs hammer, etc.. I will eventually get one of each type, so right now it is a matter of what comes first. So I'll probably look at the CZ for now, and keep an eye out on trying to find a Steyr that I can compare to some of the more main stream polys.
 
"Compare that to Glock 19. You can buy it for $500 and sell it in a second for $400."

The $400 is what's offered by the gun dealer immediately after the sale when you realized you've made a horrible mistake. Once it's "off the lot" and shots fired, it's valued at around $250. I know, friends and I have been there. :rolleyes:
 
The $400 is what's offered by the gun dealer immediately after the sale when you realized you've made a horrible mistake. Once it's "off the lot" and shots fired, it's valued at around $250. I know, friends and I have been there.
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Then you sold your Glock for $150 less than you should have. Knowledgeable people on this forum will tell you a used Glock in VG to Excellent condition is a $400 gun. :rolleyes:
 
As follow up, one poster commented on new or used, and I am looking for new. Several pointed out that the CZ 75 and the Steyr are very different - steel vs poly, striker vs hammer, etc.. I will eventually get one of each type, so right now it is a matter of what comes first. So I'll probably look at the CZ for now, and keep an eye out on trying to find a Steyr that I can compare to some of the more main stream polys.
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If it were me and I was really interested in a Steyr I would go over to the Steyr Club forum and post to see if anyone on there is local to you and would be willing to let you demo their pistol. Most of the guys who have them and post over there love to spread the word on the Steyrs and I am sure would help you out.

http://www.steyrclub.com/vb/
 
Steyr had major issues with the early pistols. The safety mechanism in the upper part of the trigger area would engage itself. The 40 S&W had poor chamber support. Ask me how I know....

There is a reason these pistols have never sold well. Again when you could buy them NIB at $300 they were interesting now at $500 pass especially if you have never actually fired one let alone held one. It doesn't do anything that much better than other polymer pistols to warrant the risk.
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He's looking at the new models that have past issues corrected. There were also unauthorized guns imported through Oregon that had mixed parts and were the models with the most of the problems.

The new models have never been priced at $300.00. $450.00- $500.00 is the price I usually see them go for around here. Dealers that have them don't usually carry a lot of them but, they don't collect dust around here on their shelves.
It's up to each person weather one gun does anything substantiality better than the next. I don't see owning a new model as a huge risk. Getting out of bed every day is a bigger risk by a long shot.
 
^^^ Perhaps not $300 but close; my local Cabela's had a bunch of them several years ago for not much more than $300, and the word on the street was that the distributor had gone belly-up and Cabela's bought their remaining inventory.

I'm not sure whether these were the Oregon guns to which you refer, but I recall these guns being the origin for my recollection that the current distributor would not service previous Steyrs.
 
In 2004-2005 period CDNN bought every single Steyr pistol left in the country from the distributor that was going belly up. They had Ms & Ss in 9mm, 357 Sig and 40 S&W. Prices ranged from $299 to $350 IIRC. Finally sold out .

Steyr then got a new importer for the new MA1s & SA1s and by 2007-2008 they were all liquidated once again to CDNN because that new importer went belly up. These sold for $339 to $350.

Once these were gone again IIRC Steyr setup SAI Steyr Arms Inc. which started to import the pistols again. Support from them has been decent for the most part according to reports on the Steyr forum. There was a time when they would not support some of the pistols in the market.

To me the risk with the Steyrs is two fold. 1st most people either love them or hate them. The grip angle is extreme. The sights are unconventional and IMHO add nothing to the functionality of the pistol over more conventional sights and there is almost no aftermarket support for the pistols.

Secondly the US arm of Steyr SAI is a horrible company that has botched the marketing, sales and distribution of just about everything they have brought into the US market on the pistol and tactical rifle side, think Aug. I cannot tell you how many times they have pulled out of the US market or been rumored to be closing up shop. With so many well supported offerings from stable reliable companies which are supported by the factory and aftermarket support again I ask why take the risk.
 
In the end there is nothing special about this gun. IMHO. There was a time one might consider it an improved Glock but those days are passed and Steyr missed their window of opportunity.
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That's how I see it too. And, isn't that the story of Steyr - they have made some fantastic firearms, but their timing is really crappy. I have a Steyr GB - a truly excellent 9mm - Reliable, accurate durable....just ahead of its time.
 
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