9mm Steyr series 70 Gov't model.

[Brian D.]

Hello. Saw one at a show this weekend. No doubt To the horror of some on this board, :p , it had been modded with Trijicon night sights, beavertail grip safety, extended thumb safety, adjustable trigger, etc. Gotta wonder what sort of jacketed hollowpoint load the owner had managed to find for it in that caliber, since it was set up for defensive use.

Not to worry Hunter, OD, Joni Lynn, John, etc., I didn't take any pictures of this beast. And at $1300 it didn't come home with me. Even if I knew for sure it would run right with Super .38, 9mm Para and/or 9x23 ammo, that figure would've been $400 or so too rich for my workingclass blood.

[tailgunner]

I have one of these guns, I bought it NIB years ago. I have one box of Fiocchi ammo but never had the urge to shoot it:

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7325/project1bw3.jpg

Neat little piece, not encountered too often.

[elijdub]

I have one of these guns, I bought it NIB years ago. I have one box of Fiocchi ammo but never had the urge to shoot it:
Hey there tailgunner! Gotta' ask..Why not? Looks like it's be fun to shoot!!!
Beautiful gun!

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7325/project1bw3.jpg

Neat little piece, not encountered too often.
So, if you don't mind my asking, what exactly is a Steyr?..and their significance? Looks exactly like a series-70 Gov't (though i'm sure there's more to it ;)). Does it have the "collet" bushing, etc.?
Thanks

[tailgunner]

Hey thanks!

From what I understand, Colt made a small run of these pistols (1500 I believe) for evaluation by an Austrian agency (I'm not sure if it was police or military) back in the late 70's. One of the requirements was that it had to be chambered in their familiar 9mm Steyr caliber. I guess it didn't go so well so Colt sold the guns here in the US.

Yes, other than the caliber, it's standard 70 Series GM. The pic I posted was one taken a couple years ago. I'll pull the gun out of the safe to field strip it and see what bushing was used. I'll also take a pic of the 9mm Steyr cartridge along side a 9mm Luger for comparison.

[elijdub]

Great, thanks! I'm interested in this gun and it's cartridge. I wonder...can you still buy that round (easily)? How does it SHOOT compared to a 9mm?
I'd think they'd be worth a fortune with only 1500 of 'em our there!

[tailgunner]

OK, I pulled the gun out of the safe and took a bunch of pics:

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/945/project3mj9.jpg

I think I bought the ammo from The Old Western Scrounger but that was years ago, I dunno if they still sell it.

[OD*]

Brian, tailgunner...

Very interesting, fellas. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Brian D.]

Thanks OD. After looking at tailgunner's excellent pictures of his gun, and the one I looked at last weekend, would have to surmise that it would be more likely to make a shooter out of one of these by adding a .38 super or 9x23 bbl. than a 9mmP. That Fiocchi Steyr ammo looks much longer than regular 9mm doesn't it? The Steyr ammo certainly wouldn't fit into Parabellum-specific 1911 mags.

Colt has made these short runs of guns for overseas evaluation and the like. Many (or all) of them seem to stay or return to the US at some point.

A gentleman of my acquaintence some years ago had one of the very few Colt SAAs ever made in 9mm Para, the Sultan of Oman or some such dignitary had placed the order but not actually purchased the entire small batch. And yes, I saw this pistol in person, even at that it was a hard-to-swallow story.

[elijdub]

OK, I pulled the gun out of the safe and took a bunch of pics:

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/945/project3mj9.jpg

I think I bought the ammo from The Old Western Scrounger but that was years ago, I dunno if they still sell it.
Great pics Tailgunner! Nice to see the two types of ammo side-by-side.
BTW, did you find a "collet" bushing?

So does anyone know if the 9mmSteyr ammo is still made?

[shamrock404]

Brian D that Colt at the gun show was probably priced right for all the extras, if it was as nice as the one tailgunner posted. At 100 percent in the Blue Book it is $925 on down to 60 percent at $28 5. If a person could find a light weight Commander in that caliber in like new condition it is worth $2,500 down to $750 for a 60 percent gun. In answer to the question about the ammo Cheaper than Dirt has it listed at $43.20/50 rounds FMJ 115 gr. Have a nice day and a wonderful weekend and enjoy your Colts.

[elijdub]

In answer to the question about the ammo Cheaper than Dirt has it listed at $43.20/50 rounds FMJ 115 gr.

Thanks...!

[elijdub]

Thought y'all might be interested to see that there's one for sale on gunbroker (Like new, $1235...interesting):
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=85064463