Are Steyr pistols +P rated?

[hartzpad]

Can they handle 9mm +P ammo? I just found out that all NATO surplus ammo is actually 9mm +P FMJ ammo. Just wondering.

[flyandscuba]

The manual only references the use of "original high quality commercially manufactured ammunition in good condition loaded in accordance with factory standards".

With that said, I believe that the Steyrs are built like tanks! If anything can handle a +P or +P+ load, these can.

The Steyr pistol was first designed as a .40 S&W pistol -- with a fully supported chamber. The 9mm and .357 Sig versions evolved from the .40 cal design, not vice versa (aka Glocks).

There is no such thing as a +P loading in either the .40 S&W or .357 Sig. cartridges -- they are already high pressure loads. Therefore, any pistol designed for these calibers can handle +P 9mm loads.

I carry Cor-bon's Pow'Rball loads in my M-40 and M-357.

http://mysite.elixirlabs.com/index.php?uid=12665&page=1607

The only 9mm military ammo that I would NOT shoot in the Steyr -- or in any other pistol, is the Hirtenberger L7A1 ammo designed for submachineguns.

[mrapathy2000]

..

[rsilvers]

Originally posted by mrapathy2000

no such thing as +p 40S&W if you ever encounter any be weary and if

While there is no standard for +P in .40 S&W, there are .40 S&W loads with more pressure than normal. Georgia Arms Sheer Power Plus comes to mind. They have a really hot 155 grain load. I have used it and it seems fine.

[matt7184]

Havent run that much +p in my gun but ran a box of 124gr +P GDHP no problem.

[Zundfolge]

Originally posted by mrapathy2000
no such thing as +p 40S&W if you ever encounter any be weary and if you do use it use it only in pistol with supported chamber. steyr has good chamber.

I agree there is no such thing as +p .40S&W ... however CorBon prints (or at least used to print) "+P" on their 135gr .40 JHPs. Its one of the reasons I stopped using it (because I believe its a little dishonest).


As for +p and +p+ 9mm in an M9, since the only difference between the M9 and M40 is the barrel and the magazines I see no reason it couldn't handle the pressures ... however I'd rather Steyr would come out and say it.

[rsilvers]

Originally posted by Zundfolge
I agree there is no such thing as +p .40S&W ... however CorBon prints (or at least used to print) "+P" on their 135gr .40 JHPs. Its one of the reasons I stopped using it (because I believe its a little dishonest).


I agree it is dishonest if it is within SAAMI specs.

But if it were above SAAMI specs, then it is not only not-dishonest, but an important bit of information.

[Carlitos]

I put some infamous L7A1 Hirtenberger 9mm +P+ through the M9 over the chronograph this past weekend in Thurmont, Maryland. I think the chrono was reading low; however the result was:

124 grn FMJ
1280 to 1290 FPS

Brisk recoil. I say velocity was "low" because the same ammo through another gun usually read about 75 to 100 FPS more. It was late in the day & sun was low on the horizon. Still, this is far beyond any 124 grn load from the .38 special - even in +P.

Gun is a completely stock M9 with about 4000 rounds through it incl. about 500 rounds of the old M41 steel jacketed Danish surplus 9x19mm from a few years back. The rest has been largely 147 grn reloads at about 127 power factor.

Flyndscuba is right; I would not use a steady diet of L7A1 in the steyr or most other 9mm guns. The exception is the other gun used that day: a bull/ramped barrel 1911 race gun that can take this ammo all day every day & was perviously chambered for .38 Supercomp/9x23mm. I mention the L7A1 to show that the Steyr is strong as heck & cn take the pressure of +P.

[rsilvers]

In 1982 Glocks were tested with 57,000psi loads.

It is far more likely your chrono was correct and the pistols made the difference.

I used that ammo in an MP5 and the fluted chamber made it split on many rounds.