Steyr M40!! Back from the range..

Well first thing is that the background looks cool, but makes it hard to read. I get a headache after a paragraph and have to take a break.

Other than that it is an excellent review. I really like your objective look at it. I just bought a M 40 but haven't had a chance to shoot it yet.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bdog:
Well first thing is that the background looks cool, but makes it hard to read. I get a headache after a paragraph and have to take a break.[/quote]

Hint: File -> Save As

Save it as a .txt file and open it in your favorite word processor program.
 
I can lighten it, but the way to really do it is:

Ctrl-A. Select All, that will highlight your text and make it much easier to read.

Albert
 
I finally just ended up reading the source code. I know it is possible to copy the text, or highlight it, but I was just giving comments as he asked for. If I wasn't interested in the Steyr so much I wouldn't even have read it. Usually when I come to pages that are hard to read I just skip them. Just my .02. It is a good review though.
 
It seems you really like your purchase. You didn't buy the more accurate pistol (your words - not mine). Was the HK just too expensive?? Just curious.
 
wallew,

The USP is not more accurate than the Steyr. The above comparison was between a 9 and a .40. That's like comparing apples and oranges :)
 
"More Glock than a Glock!" And after only 50 rounds and your first handgun. I mean, it's a real nice article, but how about checking back after shooting in competitive forums for about 25,000 rounds worth.
 
First, I said the HK 9mm was more accurate than the Steyr M40. That doesn't mean the Steyr M9 is less accurate than the HK 9mm, nor does it mean that the M40 is less accurate than the USP 40. Apples and Oranges, I just wanted to give a little perspective that I'm not "Steyr is the most accurate thing on the face of the earth!" type of guy.

Again, I wasn't flaming Glock, but since you asked 9x45, let's compare:

Glock's claims to fame:

Glock: Polymer
Steyr: Polymer

Glock: 3 Safeties, trigger, drop, firing pin
Steyr: 6 Safeties, trigger, drop, firing pin, manual safety, chamber loaded indicator, and storage safety.

Glock: Tenifer Finish
Steyr: Tenifer Finish

Glock: Low Bore Axis
Steyr: Even Lower Bore Axis

Glock: Plastic Sights
Steyr: Iron Sights

Glock: Glockmeister Trigger upgrade
Steyr: GSI Free Trigger upgrade

Glock: 109 degree pointing angle
Steyr: 111 degree pointing angle

Glock: Dot + Bar Sights
Steyr: Trapazoid + Triangle Sights

Glock: Austrian Heritage
Steyr: Longer Gun making Austrian Heritage

Glock: Can't shoot lead
Steyr: Can shoot lead

Glock: Unsupported Chamber in the .40's
Steyr: Fully Supported Chambers in the .40's

Again, I wanted a Glock, and I still wouldn't mind having one, but if I do, I would have to change the barrel because I fear Kb!, and I would do some trigger modifications, and then perhaps change the guide rod to a steel one, and put a wolf spring on it.

So is Glock "Perfection"??? No, far from it, and that's obvious because Steyr has done so much to improve upon it. Is Glock a good gun? Sure it is. Is Steyr a better gun? IMHO, yes.

Do Glock owners like to hear that their tupperware baby is bested by a new kid on the block? No.

But you will live. I tried SO HARD to be objective. Again, there are no losers in the crowd. If you like your Glock better than the Steyr, then good for you, keep shooting.

Albert
 
Well I just got back from the range from shooting my new M 40. I fired about 150 rounds without a single hiccup. The sights while they aquire quickly, took some getting used to before I was really accurate. I seemed to place all of my shots low.

I shot this gun and my Glock 23 side by side. The Glock was a little more accurate, but I am positive it is due to the triggers. I have a 3.5 # connector in my Glock, and my Steyr still has the original 8 lb creepy trigger. I am sending it off for the free upgrade tomorrow. The Steyr definitely has las muzzle flip than the Glock.

The only complaint I really have is that the Steyr was throwing brass at my head. Out of the 150 shots, probably 15 hit me on top of the head and two hit me in the face. I have a very early serial # (0013xx) so I think it may need the extractor update. I will mention this when I send it in to GSI and see what happens.

All in all it is an excellent gun. I think once it gets the new trigger, it will see more use than my Glock.
 
Everything you say may be true, except for the unsupported barrel as semi-autos won't feed without some ramp, but the Glock track record is based on reliability. If these Steyrs are as good as claimed, they will start showing up in competitive shooting matches,especially USPSA & IDPA, and may catch on. It's just pretty hard to catch up to a design thats cranked out over 175,000 rounds(Chuck Taylors documented G17). As far as KB's, Glocks get blown up for the same reason as any other handgun, mostly from double charged handloads. MarkCO has published data on KB's at this site.
 
bdog,

it's not the extractor that causes the brass to hit your face, it's the breach. They have corrected it by putting a 45 degree cut on the shooter side of the breach, and that has for the most part, solved the problem.

My trigger was a bit creepy as well, going to send the gun into GSi for a new trigger tomorrow as well.

Keep us up to date on the comparison of the two when you get the gun back... Also, because you have an earlier model, tell them to check the firing pin strike as well, as the earlier ones tended to have light strikes.

Albert
 
For everyone here,

As of today, the design of M40 is somewhat better than that of Glock in the engineering sense. Also, as of today, the functionality/reliability of M40 is MUCH worse than any Glock.

My experience? Three (3) Steyrs replaced by GSI one by one, starting from a very early SN, and currently ending with one of the very latest ones.

The first two have been on at least two trips each to GSI to fix mulfunctions. The third one I've received some time back misfires also. I hope that tells you my experience is significant enough to be objective but may be not unbiased. From now on, I'll NEVER buy a newly designed handgun untill it'll have a few years of reliability record. This is something I very seriously advice to everybody.

My whole story with Steyr M-series with all the details is quite long, so if anybody interested, he/she can search the TFL by my name -- you'll find a few detailed posts.

Trigger upgrade? It's still as nasty and creepy as it was before.

Brass ejecting abnormaly? My very first Steyr had the port modified during one of the few trips to GSI -- the brass continued to fly wherever it wanted to. The other two models came with their ports modified -- made no difference.

Again, if you read any of my previous posts, you'll see that my shooting experience with the gun has been highly pleasant. If my Steyrs hadn't mulfunctioned, they would have been one of the most sweet shooting pistols I came across. So, I'll say again that trapezoid sights, low bore axis, angle, grip, weight distribution and balance -- all these factors make the Steyr handgun somewhat better designed than Glock from the engineering standpoint.

From the standpoint of a regular shooter, like you and I are, there're no advantages whatsoever. Few improvements of Steyr, if put on a balance scale vs. the great design and a fantastic record of the Glock, will not outweigh it for still a few years.

OK, don't take me for granted, do a little test. With a mag fully loaded and inserted into your Steyr, chamber a round (be carefull of course -- if you have snapcaps, do this with them), and then pull the slide back for about half an inch. Can you say "not full battery"?
 
Emin stated, "Also, as of today, the functionality/reliability of M40 is MUCH worse than any Glock".

I think not. :)

I can feel for your very real problems you had with your Steyr experience, Emin. But I have to completely disagree with your statement above. Steyr has sent out somewhere in the neighorhood of 20,000 pistols so far and they are getting more popular, not less.

When I had my first M40 fixed with the ejector port upgrade, it was like night and day -- no more problem period. I've lost count how many times I've been hit in the head with brass from all of my Glocks. :)

You say the Steyr trigger upgrade is nasty? Are you sure you're not holding a grudge here :) Even my Glock armorer likes the Steyr trigger better than the Glock, and that's how he earns his living.

I've had my current M40 since May '99 and it has continued to work flawlessly in every way. It's been just as reliable as any Glock I've ever had. In fact, with the .40 caliber, it's much more reliable and safer to shoot than a typical standard unsupported barrel of a Glock. In fact, I no longer have any .40 Glocks because I'm tired of buying aftermarket barrels and I definitely am not buying the Glock Perfection campaign. Just look at full power spent brass from a Glock and compare it to a Sig or a Steyr and you'll see what I mean. "Supported" is better, regardless of what Glock says.

And no, I'm definitely not on the Steyr payroll. I'm simply a very satisfied customer and proud of it :)


[This message has been edited by petej88 (edited October 18, 2000).]
 
Emin,
My experience and yours are very much alike and I am not prepared to bet my life on Steyr M series guns. petej88 and I have had some dialogue on this both in this forum and separately. Going to the range for recreational shooting is another thing. Misfires, failure to fire, brass in your face might cause embarassment, irritation, and a burn or two but that's it. OTOH if this gun will be carried by LEO's and/or private citizens for CCW or kept in a nightstand table, then it better be 100% reliable. If you read all the posts concerning this pistol on this and other forums, it is not there yet. Maybe individual examples are fine, but collectively there have been enough negative posts to give one concern.
 
Well, dang it. I don't seem to have the same experience as you folks:

1. I get no misfires.
2. I get no failures to fire.
3. I get not brass in the face.
4. I get no jams.

My Steyr works as well as the best pistols I've ever shot.

The only thing I can figure is that I must have received the only good Steyr pistol that came out of Austria. I really feel fortunate :) Well, I will be getting a Steyr M357 soon and I hope my luck holds together :)

And Optimist, all those other posts on other forums that you mentioned -- they're always from the same few people. What we really need here is a lot more new owners speaking up, instead of the same three or four.


[This message has been edited by petej88 (edited October 18, 2000).]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top