M40 First Day At the Range

[StevenBiggs]

I usually just troll around GT, picking up good ideas and such. But after my first trip to the range with my brand new Steyr M40, I just had to tell everybody how it went.

I got the pistol two days ago, promptly took it home dissassembled it lubed it, and worked the extractor a bit. Left the house today with various loads of .40SW:

50 Rds Speer Lawman 155gr
50 Rds Blazer Brass 165gr
50 Rds Federal EFMJ 155gr
20 Rds Federal HydraShoks 165 gr
20 Rds 'Forgot the name' JHP 180gr

And wow was it fun. The best groups I got were the 165 Blazers, Plus they had the best percieved recoil of the bunch. Now mind that I am not an Expert Pistoleer. Just a regular joe. As far as functioning, I was quite worried after reading some rather negative posts about the ejection problems. But I didn't have a single one.

The only problem I had, if you could say that, was a hard primer on one round of the Federal EFMJ ammo. And that was quickly solved by rechambering the round and firing. The functioning of the weapon was flawless and smooth. The only gripe I had, was the the magazines were sharp around the edges. Didn't have any more problems with loading the mags than I do with my Glock 30 after ~3k rounds.

I hope to get a chance to get my wife to shoot it this weekend, she already loves my 30. And hopefully get her to stop gazing at the HK P2000($800!!!!!). If she likes it, we might get another Steyr while the prices are good.

If there was one area I would improve on would be the grip texture. Was a little slick after a hundred rounds. Maybe someone will cut some rubberized sleeves for the grip.

I'm sorry if my review wasn't up to the normal scientifice standards used by other reviewers around here, but I thought I would give it a shot.

I am interested in hearing from others about which loads are giving the best accuracy for them out of this pistol. I am sold on the Blazer Brass 165's but I am always looking to trying something else out.

Thanks,

[Zundfolge]

Good review.

I believe you can get a Hogue Handall for the Steyr.


I too find 165gr/155gr .40S&W shoots best (not just in my Steyr, but in pretty much everything). My M40 and S40 do well with 165gr Winchester White Box from Walmart, but the self defense loads are even better (I've carried 165gr. Speer Gold Dots for ages ... but recently got a wild hair and right now my S40 is loaded with 135gr. CorBons). I'll have to check out the Blazers.

[c5367]

You can get an blank Agrip sheet from cpwsa.com (http://www.cpwsa.com/AGrip.htm) and cut it to fit the Steyr. That's how my M40 is setup, and I love it.Better than a Hogue IMHO.
http://home.comcast.net/~c5367/Steyragrip2.jpg
I've noticed that lighter rounds group a little better out of the Steyr as well. I think it may have something to do with the long twist rate. maybe the ballistics gurus can answer that more fully

[SturmRuger]

Great review!! One of the first things I bought for my M40 was the Hogue grips they fit pretty nice and make the gun easier to hold on to. I have never had any problems with my M40 not a single problem. I estimate that I have around 2000 rounds through it by now.

[StevenBiggs]

c5367,
About the Agrip sheet....

Did you have to do any more surface prep other than cleaning? and where did you place the seam? I am thinking about the Agrip solution, would be great if there was a template to work with. My creative skills are suspect at best.. One last thing. how thick/thin is the sheet? would be great if the steyr logo still showed through abit.

Thanks,

[c5367]

Cutting an Agrip is fairly easy. I started with a sheet of paper reenforced w/ duct tape on one side and wrapped it around the grip. I trimmed where it needed it and came up with a stencil. I did make sure the stencil was a little larger, just for the fudge factor. I then traced it over the paper backing of the Agrip and applied it. Some trimming might be necessary, but its easy enough. the whole install took me 25 mins. or so. Here's the general shape the template will have (not to scale)
http://home.comcast.net/~c5367/steyragriptemplate.jpg

For the prep, I just cleaned the grip with the provided swab, and put a touch of lube surrounding the mag release button, per the directions.

[c5367]

Oh yeah, make sure you check that everything is on the correct side before you cut. I almost cut it backward, with the slide release cutout on the right side because i forgot i was putting th outline on the back of the Agrip

[Flashpoint]

What is Agrip made of, is it a felt like material or a rubber?

[c5367]

Agrip feels sorta like velvety felt, but grippier. Not sticky grippy like rubber, but a textured grippy. Hopefully that made sense. maybe it'll be clearer like this...Agrip doesn't catch clothes like rubber or grip tape can, but works just as well as a grip, especially if your hands sweat alot, or get wet.

[noway]

I have the best 0.50c option for the steyr M grip. Cut a old or new bicycle tire inner tube and slide it over the grip. It's much durable then agrip and cheaper.


No matter if your hands are wet or dry, you will have a nice grip on the slim profile grip of the M series.

[SELFDEFENSE]

Great gun. Love my M9.