9mm Steyr

deanml

deanml

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Does anyone shoot this stuff, know where to get brass, what brass can be formed out of, is bullet diameter the same as other 9mm's?
I saw a really nice Chilean M1912 I'd love to get but if the ammo doesn't exist what can I do with it?
 
You can get ammo at gunshows.
I see it all the time.
The bullet diameter is the same as other 9mms.
There are several companies that make new boxer brass, and some even make loaded ammo.
Grafs has brass.
Hornady and Fiocchi make ammo.
 
I have a 1912 Steyr. I do shoot it but rarely. It is a nice to have gun but not one to do any real shooting with. I take mine out every couple of years. I've got a number of guns like this. Mainly have it for colection but you still have to shoot them once in a while.

There is ammo floating around. Fiocchi also makes it but at a premium price.

I turned some 38 Special brass to make some 9mm Steyr. Next time I would start with 38 Super.
 
.38 Super brass is easy to get. The semi-rim can be removed by chucking the case in an electric drill held in a vice, and turning it off and chamfering with a sharp file, if you don't have access to a lathe. .38 Super brass; don't even think about .38 Super ammunition.
Use a 9mm shell holder to check your work. When the case slips into the shellholder you're done.
 
tiriaq said:
Use a 9mm shell holder to check your work. When the case slips into the shellholder you're done.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that many current shell holders are designed to work with both 9mm and .38 super. They fit at the extractor groove and are wide enough to handle the fatter semi rim.
 
Good point. .38 Super brass probably won't fit the Steyr breechface, so for the shellholder to act as a gauge, it would have to be a 9mm specific one.
 
tiriaq said:
Good point. .38 Super brass probably won't fit the Steyr breechface, so for the shellholder to act as a gauge, it would have to be a 9mm specific one.
Click to expand...

A possible solution if the Starline 9mm steyr brass is too hard to find, would be to try and get some 9mm super comp brass. It may require trimming (23mm?)
 
Rudy H said:
I have a 1912 Steyr. I do shoot it but rarely. It is a nice to have gun but not one to do any real shooting with. I take mine out every couple of years. I've got a number of guns like this. Mainly have it for colection but you still have to shoot them once in a while.

There is ammo floating around. Fiocchi also makes it but at a premium price.

I turned some 38 Special brass to make some 9mm Steyr. Next time I would start with 38 Super.
Click to expand...

The one I saw was a chilean contract in VG condition they were asking $229. Is this a good price for this thing?

Thank for the great response guys!
 
deanml said:
The one I saw was a chilean contract in VG condition they were asking $229. Is this a good price for this thing?

Thank for the great response guys!
Click to expand...

I bought mine for about $100, but that was from an old shooter who was clearing out the last of his guns. I'm not sure I would buy one for $229. I might, but I don't know. Glad I'm not in that situation. I like older semi-autos. I know I will rarely shoot them so I have them mainly for collection. Thinking about it some more, I do like the gun. It is interesting. Sort of like an extinct path that didn't work out. Since I have a lathe I don't have to worry about getting ammo. A little work to turn cases to match the original but no big deal for me.

If you plan on collecting some of the old stuff then go for it. As a shooting gun I would not want to shoot it enough that it may break and I'd have to fix it.
 
These guns are a whole ball of fun to shoot. As Tiriaq says, brass can be formed from 38 Super. Fresh factory ammunition is made by Fiocchi, if you can find a dealer. I made my first brass for this thing out of .223, but making it from Super is a LOT easier! Correct base diameter is .380" and there is .005" taper in the casing, so mouth diameter should be .375": it is NOT a straight case, but a-l-m-o-s-t.

Original performance of this thing was pretty impressive; muzzle energy was pushing 420 ft/lbs. I wouldn't know how to get that kind of performance with the powders we have currently, without running into some serious problems. But then, George Roth, the guy who designed the cartridge, was a bit of a nut for high performance.

I find the guns are very difficult to shoot in the modern "instinctive" style, but, if you use the sights on the thing, you can get some really good shooting. Recoil is not bad at all especially considering the power of the gun and that odd grip angle.

I would really get some Lubriplate onto the barrel locking lugs and into the locking recesses of the frame and the barrel, in order to prevent galling, if you have any intention of shooting anything other than total-wimp loads. And one other point: the 1911/1912/1913 Steyr pistol (same gun, depending on when yours was contracted) was very tolerant of variations in pressure and has a tendency to work well with anything that will fit in the chamber, almost.

Fun toy, DO have a ball with it.
 
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