RE: Whats the best handgun?
Just my 2 cents:
I am very impressed with my Steyr M40. It has a “well-supported chamber” having a very strong lock up system originally designed for 40 S&W not the 9mm scaled up for 40 cal. production. The well-supported chamber provides an added measure of safety and is important if you want to reload. The barrel has conventional rifling so you can shoot lead if you want to.
The M40 is a true double action pistol as pulling the trigger continues to cock the striker throughout the stroke until released.However, the action stroke is short an feels more like a single action with 1/8”” of travel and a quick reset (Reset Action System). Standard trigger pull is 5lbs.
The slide is tennifer hardened and rides on steel rails (complete steel sub assembly) inside the pistol, it does not directly contact any of the fiberglass-reinforced polymer.The rails are beveled at 45 degrees for bore axis even lower than a Glock.Accordingly, the felt recoil, even in 40 S&W, is minimal with very little muzzle flip.Slide to frame fit is excellent. There are NO rattles of any kind.The grip is a very comfortable 111 degree angle with a nice indent at the topwhich seems to nest the pistol into your hand very well.The pistol is very accurate out of the box. It eats all ammunition.
There is a safety on the trigger for c/c purposes similar to Glocks. There is also manual safety above the trigger guard.When engaged, a safety indicator/release mechanism extends pushes down into the trigger guard in front of the trigger. The indicator is easily felt and has a very visible white dot.You activate it with your off hand, and deactivate with a quick and easy upward and away motion (from the trigger) with your trigger finger, very quick.There is plenty of room for the manual safety in the trigger guard. The manual safety system is similar to that found in the M-1 Garand, M-14, Ruger Mni-14/30 etc.As mentioned, the M40 has a manual safety if you want to use it. It also has 3 passive reset action passive safeties: 1) the trigger safety; 2) drop; and 3) a firing pin block.Additionally, there is also an integrated key lock adjacent to the take down lever (2 keys are supplied).There is a loaded chamber indicator that protrudes, and a slot milled into the top of the slide that allows you see chamber status.
You will either like the sights or hate them.However, the sights are steel, not plastic, and can be easily swapped.(Sight radius is 6.22”.)
The rail is proprietary.USASteyr lists an adapter but it is sold out.Bummer.
The entire gun is well rounded and has no levers or edges to catch on holsters or clothing.Besides the 40 S&W, Steyr makes a 9mm (M9) and .357 Sig (M357).There are some “S” (small) series pistols.
The pistol is manufactured in Austria by Steyr Mannlicher which has been around since 1864.I’m sure these pistols would be more popular if Steyr had better advertising. IMHO, at $299-400 you cannot find a better shooting, manufactured, or engineered pistol.Again, IMHO this pistol should be considered among the Sigs, H&K’s and other top pistol brands.Buy a Steyr with a 10,000+ serial number, as these are later production guns with ejection and trigger pull bugs worked out.
No, I don't work for Steyr, I just think these gunsare awesome.