steyr ma-1 - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

rob45cal · 07-09-2007, 09:54 PM

Ive been looking at this gun for awhile. i dont know what it is about the gun i like. Its a little odd looking and maybe thats what it is, since its different looking it draws my attention. ive seen and held the gun a few times at local gun shows and i liked the feel of it. Now, ive never shot it before or heard from alot of people that have. does anyone have any experience or own this gun and offer any advice if you would recommend me purchasing this as my next gun?
thanks
rob

ArmyGuy45 · 07-09-2007, 10:09 PM

i have shot a 9mm one.. and it was great...and i love the sights on it.. kinda like a suresight.. but not...

jetsiphon · 07-10-2007, 07:09 AM

I love the way they feel in my hand. I like the older frame more than the newer frame because of how the mag makes up for a bit of the grip frame on the bottom of the grip. If that makes any since.

I know Brickboy shot one not too long ago and said it was fantastic. He and I seem to have about the same taste in guns, so I figure if it's good for him, it's good for me. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for one.

sewerman · 07-11-2007, 11:33 AM

excellent hand cannon and i have both models.....M-9 & M9A1.

these weapons have been 100% from day one and they are my all time favorite.

yes, one can purchase a more sophisticated weapon, aka. H&k but, for the purchase price of $349.00 + $9.00 freight to the 48. one can't go wrong purchasing a steyr M9A1!

hell!, that's almost saturday nite special price for a surperb designed combat weapon!

Eeyore · 07-14-2007, 05:17 PM

Like you, I was immediately drawn to the M-A1 as "something different." I was able to rent a 9mm version, and here's my impressions:

1. Grip angle is wrong--like a Glock. A natural draw for me results in a muzzle-high position. Other than that, the ergonomics are much better than the Block, but not as good as a BDE/CZ.
2. Sights are nice. Quick acquisition, tight groups.
3. Low bore axis means recoil hits you lower in the hand. Very little muzzle flip (unlike the Glock), just a kick in the palm. I don't know if it's better, just different.
4. Overall impression: better than a Glock, comparable to an XD, but different. I haven't ruled it out, but it's competing against the S&W M&P, Beretta PX4, and XD as my next purchase, and I haven't shot the M&P or PX4 yet.

Brickboy240 · 07-16-2007, 08:14 AM

I shot a 9mm M-A1 not too long ago and was shocked at how much I liked it.

Yes, the grip anlge is more swept back, but NOT as dramatic as a Glock. It is not hard to adjust to it. I did in about two magazines of shooting. It id not bother me as much as the Glock's grip angle.

The trigger was GREAT. Ten times better than any Glock (including the G17 I owned) and a little better than my XD-40. Short and crisp...amazingly good.

The recoil was almost nonexistant...about like shooting a really noisy 22 semi-auto. Maybe I have been shooting 45s and 40s too much, but it seemed like the Steyr had very little recoil and was totally manageable. I could shoot it all day long.

I ran an entire box of WWB ammo through one and thought the accuracy was as good or better than most 9mms I ahve ever shot. My FN Hi-Power could beat it...so could my P225 SIG, but not by that much. You could do alot worse on accuracy than the M-A1 Steyr.

Relibility? The guy I borrowed the M-A1 from said the thing has never jammed. I had no failures at all in the 100rd box I ran through it.

The sights? Well, you're either going to love them or hate them. If you are used to a 6 o'clock hold on your defensive pistols, you will adapt pretty easy. I did. I saw benefits to the trapezoid sights - they're very fast to acquire, like ghost ring sights. Probably not the best for fine target shooting, but the M-A1 is not made for that.

All in all...I was shocked at how much I liked the Steyr M-A1. Here I was...thinking I was going to track down a nice used W. German P226 SIG this summer and along comes this pistol at less money, new and changes things up!

I might end up with the P226 SIG, just because I love SIGs, but for th money, I really don't know why more people are not shooting the Steyr M-A1. I really liked it. It is an absolute steal to be able to get an Austrian made pistol of that quality for under 400 bucks. Check CDNN in Abilene - they sell M-A1s brnd new for around 360 bucks.

- Brickboy240

Eeyore · 07-18-2007, 05:51 PM

+1 on the trigger pull. Best one I've ever shot, but I've never shot a Sig or H&K. Makes my PT111 trigger feel like total crap.

+1 on the sights, too. If you don't like them, you can replace them with standard 3-dot night sights.

But what's the deal with the grip angle--do Austrians have different wrists than normal people?!

If it weren't for that, I'd probably already own one!

I checked CDNN's catalog last week, and the latest version didn't list the $359 Steyrs, so they may have sold the whole lot. You'd have to call to find out.

DJDan · 07-29-2007, 02:52 AM

Well...i just picked one up for $325 shipped. I will pick it up on Monday and shoot it that night or Tue after work. I've held one at a show and it felt like an extension of my hand....maybe I'm Austrian.

At that price I couldnt pass it up....even if I hated it I'd keep it as a backup nighstand, truck gun, or what the heck ever. I have a feeling it will become one of my favorites.

They feature fully suppprted barrels, loaded chamber indicators, ambi. mag drops, tennifer finish, uni-acc. rail, and a ton more.

I'll keep you update!

**einheit 13** · 07-29-2007, 05:17 AM

I was after a Steyr compact when I bought my XD, If I would have found one, I probably wouldn't have an XD right now. that was 3 years ago.....still don't have a Steyr, yet...

ichy_trigger · 07-29-2007, 06:16 AM

Thats one ugly duckling!

07-09-2007, 09:54 PM	#1
rob45cal XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: arizona Posts: 165	steyr ma-1 Ive been looking at this gun for awhile. i dont know what it is about the gun i like. Its a little odd looking and maybe thats what it is, since its different looking it draws my attention. ive seen and held the gun a few times at local gun shows and i liked the feel of it. Now, ive never shot it before or heard from alot of people that have. does anyone have any experience or own this gun and offer any advice if you would recommend me purchasing this as my next gun? thanks rob

07-09-2007, 10:09 PM	#2
ArmyGuy45 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Mesa,AZ / Ft Carson, CO Posts: 3,414	i have shot a 9mm one.. and it was great...and i love the sights on it.. kinda like a suresight.. but not... __________________ US Army 2005 - Present XD45 Compact - My Carry Suresights Springer Precision Trigger Kit/Bar ( needs install ) NRA Life Member Myspace If they take my guns, ill carry a sword!

07-10-2007, 07:09 AM	#3
jetsiphon XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 1,192	I love the way they feel in my hand. I like the older frame more than the newer frame because of how the mag makes up for a bit of the grip frame on the bottom of the grip. If that makes any since. I know Brickboy shot one not too long ago and said it was fantastic. He and I seem to have about the same taste in guns, so I figure if it's good for him, it's good for me. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for one. __________________ XD9 Service Black - XD45 Service Dark Earth 1945 Sistema 1911 - Para Ordnance LTC Steyr M9A1 - Glock 17

07-11-2007, 11:33 AM	#4
sewerman XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: hurricane alley,florida Posts: 226	excellent hand cannon and i have both models.....M-9 & M9A1. these weapons have been 100% from day one and they are my all time favorite. yes, one can purchase a more sophisticated weapon, aka. H&k but, for the purchase price of $349.00 + $9.00 freight to the 48. one can't go wrong purchasing a steyr M9A1! hell!, that's almost saturday nite special price for a surperb designed combat weapon! __________________ the armed citizen prevents tyranny "They that can give up an essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety!" Ben Franklin "When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny!" Thomas Jefferson my job smells like poop, but it's bread and butter to me!

07-14-2007, 05:17 PM	#5
Eeyore XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: VA Posts: 17	Like you, I was immediately drawn to the M-A1 as "something different." I was able to rent a 9mm version, and here's my impressions: 1. Grip angle is wrong--like a Glock. A natural draw for me results in a muzzle-high position. Other than that, the ergonomics are much better than the Block, but not as good as a BDE/CZ. 2. Sights are nice. Quick acquisition, tight groups. 3. Low bore axis means recoil hits you lower in the hand. Very little muzzle flip (unlike the Glock), just a kick in the palm. I don't know if it's better, just different. 4. Overall impression: better than a Glock, comparable to an XD, but different. I haven't ruled it out, but it's competing against the S&W M&P, Beretta PX4, and XD as my next purchase, and I haven't shot the M&P or PX4 yet. __________________ \"Our militia will be heroes, so long as we have heroes to lead them\" --Thomas Jefferson

07-16-2007, 08:14 AM	#6
Brickboy240 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 9,264	I shot a 9mm M-A1 not too long ago and was shocked at how much I liked it. Yes, the grip anlge is more swept back, but NOT as dramatic as a Glock. It is not hard to adjust to it. I did in about two magazines of shooting. It id not bother me as much as the Glock's grip angle. The trigger was GREAT. Ten times better than any Glock (including the G17 I owned) and a little better than my XD-40. Short and crisp...amazingly good. The recoil was almost nonexistant...about like shooting a really noisy 22 semi-auto. Maybe I have been shooting 45s and 40s too much, but it seemed like the Steyr had very little recoil and was totally manageable. I could shoot it all day long. I ran an entire box of WWB ammo through one and thought the accuracy was as good or better than most 9mms I ahve ever shot. My FN Hi-Power could beat it...so could my P225 SIG, but not by that much. You could do alot worse on accuracy than the M-A1 Steyr. Relibility? The guy I borrowed the M-A1 from said the thing has never jammed. I had no failures at all in the 100rd box I ran through it. The sights? Well, you're either going to love them or hate them. If you are used to a 6 o'clock hold on your defensive pistols, you will adapt pretty easy. I did. I saw benefits to the trapezoid sights - they're very fast to acquire, like ghost ring sights. Probably not the best for fine target shooting, but the M-A1 is not made for that. All in all...I was shocked at how much I liked the Steyr M-A1. Here I was...thinking I was going to track down a nice used W. German P226 SIG this summer and along comes this pistol at less money, new and changes things up! I might end up with the P226 SIG, just because I love SIGs, but for th money, I really don't know why more people are not shooting the Steyr M-A1. I really liked it. It is an absolute steal to be able to get an Austrian made pistol of that quality for under 400 bucks. Check CDNN in Abilene - they sell M-A1s brnd new for around 360 bucks. - Brickboy240 __________________ The top 25% of wage earners in America pay 86% of all federal income taxes collected. (according to 2007 IRS website data) Es mejor morir a pie que vivir arrodillado Volvo...the Swedish Brick!

07-18-2007, 05:51 PM	#7
Eeyore XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: VA Posts: 17	+1 on the trigger pull. Best one I've ever shot, but I've never shot a Sig or H&K. Makes my PT111 trigger feel like total crap. +1 on the sights, too. If you don't like them, you can replace them with standard 3-dot night sights. But what's the deal with the grip angle--do Austrians have different wrists than normal people?! If it weren't for that, I'd probably already own one! I checked CDNN's catalog last week, and the latest version didn't list the $359 Steyrs, so they may have sold the whole lot. You'd have to call to find out. __________________ \"Our militia will be heroes, so long as we have heroes to lead them\" --Thomas Jefferson

07-29-2007, 02:52 AM	#8
DJDan XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,334	Well...i just picked one up for $325 shipped. I will pick it up on Monday and shoot it that night or Tue after work. I've held one at a show and it felt like an extension of my hand....maybe I'm Austrian. At that price I couldnt pass it up....even if I hated it I'd keep it as a backup nighstand, truck gun, or what the heck ever. I have a feeling it will become one of my favorites. They feature fully suppprted barrels, loaded chamber indicators, ambi. mag drops, tennifer finish, uni-acc. rail, and a ton more. I'll keep you update! __________________ I like turtles.

07-29-2007, 05:17 AM	#9
einheit 13 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Virginia, C.S.A. Posts: 5,661	I was after a Steyr compact when I bought my XD, If I would have found one, I probably wouldn't have an XD right now. that was 3 years ago.....still don't have a Steyr, yet... __________________ Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, the third time is enemy action “It is the lack of will power, and not the lack of arms which render us incapable of offering any serious resistance.”

07-29-2007, 06:16 AM	#10
ichy_trigger XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 7,525	Thats one ugly duckling! __________________ "The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member2645.png

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