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Other than anti-Glockism, why would a gun buyer opt for a Steyr over a Glock? After shooting the Steyr Arms C9-A1 at the Shot Show’s desert demo grounds, I reckon the Steyr has a slight edge on the Glock in terms of combat-style shootability. The Steyr’s lower bore axis makes follow up shots a little bit quicker—although neither gun is what I’d call unruly in the muzzle flip department. The Steyr’s point-of-aim is more natural—although once you get used to the Glock, that’s natural too. The Steyr’s trapezoidal sights are a damn sight better for rapid target acquisition at close quarters than the standard Glock’s—although most people prefer three-dots and you can now order your Steyr so equipped. But it’s Steyr’s new Reset Action System trigger mechanism that makes all the difference. OK, evens the score . . .

It’s not that the go-pedal on Steyr’s M or S series pistols was horrible. But it was nowhere near as crisp, clean and predictable as the show time button on Gaston’s Glocks. Now, it is. Without a side-by-side test, I can’te quite put my finger on the exact difference (so to speak). Suffice it to say, there’s no longer anything in it. Both guns distinguish themselves with a sharp trigger with an extremely quick reset.

And now Steyr Arms is shipping their “Where Have You Been All My Life?” trigger inside the C9-A1. From today’s press release:

The German bridges the gap between a compact carry and full-sized shootability. With its concealable-length slide and barrel of the S-series Steyr pistol, and the hand-filling frame and high capacity of the M-series, the C9-A1 provides the best of both worlds.

In other words, it’s a ‘tweener: big enough to shoot well and hold 17 rounds, small enough to, uh, shoot well and hold 17 rounds. Kidding. Small enough to conceal. Provided you think a gun with a 3.6″ barrel and a big honking handle is concealable. (I’m looking at you Springfield XD-M 3.8 Compact owners. Of which I’m one. So yes, I do.) Oh, and the Steyr’s barrel is cold hammer forged. Take that Glock fans! Oh wait . . .

Anyway, I wouldn’t give you a bum Steyr. And the chances of you buying one are minimal. The Steyr Arms C9-A1 Glocks-in—I mean clocks-in at $649.

Steyr Arms Pistol Specifications

  • Model: C9-A1
  • Purpose: Self-defense
  • Manufacturer: Steyr Mannlicher GmbH Kleinraming, Austria
  • Importer: Steyr Arms, Inc.
  • Operation: Semiautomatic
  • Caliber: 9x19mm Luger
  • Slide material: Steel
  • Magazine type/capacity: Double-stack steel box/17 rounds
  • Barrel: 3.6-inch cold-hammer-forged
  • Rifling: Conventional, 6 grooves, RH twist
  • Sights: Drift-adjustable three-dot configuration
  • Finish: Mannox
  • Trigger type: Reset Action System (DAO with integrated safety)
  • Pull weight: 5 pounds
  • Frame material: Reinforced polymer
  • Checkering: Anti-slip stippled texture
  • Weight, empty: 1.6 pounds
  • Overall length: 6.7 inches
  • Height: 5.1 inches
  • Width: 1.2 inches
  • Included accessories: Owners manual, lockable box, extra magazine

 

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28 COMMENTS

  1. Goldilocks gun? Does that mean it’s not too big, not too small, but just right?

    Hard to believe that gun has a 17 round mag and is still easily concealable.

  2. “Hand-filling frame”? With 17 in the magazine, that thing must be as big around as my…well, it must be big. Not exactly what I consider a good concealed carry gun. Then again, I have small hands. Not that that’s indicative of anything else.

    • I don’t know why they bother with the short barrel if the grip is so fat. It is much easier to conceal a piece of paper (large in two dimensions) than a rubiks cube (large in three). If you can’t c0nceal it anyway it might as well have a long barrel to get your MVs up.

    • The grip is not fat. It is actually extremely ergonomic and fits very well in the hand. I have small-medium hands, and this pistol grip fits in my hand better than the Glock. Think CZ-75 or BHP. It is really nice. It shoots extremely smooth, with a very crisp trigger. If you have not handled one, you really should not speak about it. Once you do, you will be a fan.

  3. Steyr is German? Could’ve sworn they were Austrian also…

    Anyways, it was the funky sights and the complete lack of aftermarket parts that turned me away from the m9/m40 semiautos when I first went shopping back in ’09. I loved the almost Luger-like grip angle and the cz75-ish slide profile, but there was just enough weird there to make me get a USP45 instead. An overly big, chunky, gritty triggered USP45, but I digress…

    Just another thing-$650? It was a lot less not too long ago. I remember CDNN selling these for under $400 all day long before their stocks ran out when Steyr pulled them a year or two ago.

  4. “Provided you think a gun with a 3.6″ barrel and a big honking handle is concealable. (I’m looking at you Springfield XD-M Compact owners”… actually, the XDm 3.8 Compact is quite easy… I think you’re referring to the XDm 3.8 (and not the 3.8 Compact)… which, as I said before, is a pretty silly gun.

  5. I saw the Steyr C9-1A in a local gun shop a couple of weeks ago and it said “buy me.” Nice weight, quality workmanship, great angle for point shooting (looking for around 110 degrees grip to slide) and 14 round magazines. Best of all the trapezoidal sights…love them. It is a little hefty for concealed carry, but if I’m going into a high risk area I’ll slip it into a remora IWB holster and wear a jacket. Otherwise I carry a Kahr P380 in a DeSantis pocket holster…invisible like a ghost.

    I just sold an FNX-9 that was perfect, meeting all my criteria (albeit CCW wasn’t on the list) but I never could warm up to that gun. I promised myself I’d never go back to a mid-sized military style automatic again…then I saw the C9-1A. Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut feelings.

  6. I saw the Steyr C9-1A in a local gun shop a couple of weeks ago and it said “buy me.” Nice weight, quality workmanship, great angle for point shooting (looking for around 111 degrees grip to slide) and 14 round magazines. Best of all the trigger….just outstanding. It is a little hefty for concealed carry, but if I’m going into a high risk area I’ll slip it into a remora IWB holster and wear a jacket. For half the year you need a jacket or parka where I live anyway. Otherwise I carry a Kahr P380 in a DeSantis pocket holster that makes it invisible.

    I just sold an FNX-9 that was perfect, meeting all my criteria (albeit CCW wasn’t on the list) but I never could warm up to that gun. I promised myself I’d never go back to a mid-sized military style automatic again…then I saw the C9-1A. Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut feelings.

  7. I need one of these! I really like the feel of the Steyr A1 guns. My M40-a1 is one of my favorite carry guns. Maybe someday I’ll find one to fondle before I buy one.

  8. I like the S variant. I don’t really understand the C model, barrel length isn’t that important for concealability, it’s the grip. The S is very concealable, and just big enough to get a nice grip without totally having your pinky hanging off the grip (all my fingers fit on the grip, but fatter fingers will have a third of the pinky hanging off the magazine baseplate, still better than no pinky contact at all in terms of shootability. My nephew’s glock 26 is just as difficult to notice as my S9-A1)

    When I compare the steyr side by side with my nephew’s glock, it has a better grip, better sights and far better trigger as a well as better recoil taming design and faster follow up shots. There’s no “spongy” feel in the Steyr that I associate with glocks. I paid about 500 for mine, so for roughly the same price you might as well get slightly better performance. No failures so far with the gun.

    Although if you’re metrosexual and want to accessorize glock wins that one for miles.

  9. I own both the C9-A1 and the C40-A1. These are great weapons. I was skeptical about the polymer grip but these feel natural in the shooters hand. They are very ergonomic, heavy to the nose so muzzle climb isn’t an issue. These weapons are well built and solid. The trapizoidal sights were quite easy to get used to. These weapons aren’t “pocket pistols” but they work great for concealed carry. I would recomend Stery handguns. They are pretty awesome.

  10. I had one. Great feel, small, 17 shot magazine available, 15 standard. Not too big as one would think, shot extremely well. 500 rounds through it of all kinds of new/reloads – round and flat pointed, absolutely no mishaps at all. I will say the 17 round magazines were a bit tough on the thumbs. Yes Austrian not German. Got mine brand new for $421.00 plus $40 more for two more 17 round magazines. Shot wickedly good groups at 15 yards. Yes, wow, another plastic 9. 9mm can stop a man if you don’t believe it look at the results of 9mm pistols in WWII. Traded though for a fully metal 9mm, Browning HP 1972. Would I buy again, Yes. No doubt but in .357 Sig if it becomes available here.

  11. Just bought the C9-A1, just shot it, just love it to death. The guns shoots as accurately as my PPQ and the trigger is just as great. The gun is about the same size and width of my carry gun the Glock 19 G4 just a little top heavier. I will definitely be putting this one in my CCW rotation.

  12. This gun is a best kept secret IMO . I have PPQ , G19, p320c ,vp9, sr9c and even the fns9c ! I’d slot this Styer in the top two for trigger , accuracy , follow up shots , ergos and quality. In fact , I think it slightly edges out the ppq and the vp9 overall. It’s a great piece .

  13. I have to say that there is something really right about my Steyr C9 A1 and it’s even more concealable little brother S9 A1. It is hard to put a fine point on what exactly is so great about the A1’s. They are really easy to shoot well and mine are both reliable as any other gun I have owned. The trigger is about perfect for a carry gun and they are not bad looking. It is definitely more accurate than my Glock – as good Sig or HK – but not as easy to customize. Of course customizing Glocks is an industry in itself these days. I agree with the gentleman who used the phrase – “best kept secret”.

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