Steyr
Austrian firearms company Steyr that has roots dating to before the First World War. Over the decades, the company has had many changes and passed through many hands.
Steyr is known for its unorthodox – but excellent – products, the most famous of which is probably the Steyr AUG. The bullpup rifle was designed in the 1970s and made popular as a “bad guy” gun in the movies.
M Series
Steyr released the M series of pistols in 1999. These reliable polymer striker-fired pistols feature a high grip and low bore axis and have been used by several different international police and military units.
Since its release, the M series has gone through multiple generations. The latest generation (that I am reviewing) is the A2 MF, which debuted in 2019.
There are 3 different sizes in the A2 MF line: the full-size L9, the compact M9, and the “carry” sized C9. This model is the compact M9 A2 MF with a 4-inch barrel and 17-round magazine capacity. Basic specs are below:
- Caliber: 9mm
- Overall Length: 7.4 inches
- Height: 5.6 inches
- Width: 1.3 inches
- Barrel Length: 4 inches
- Weight: 27.5 ounces (empty)
- Magazine Weight: 3.14 ounces
- Magazine Capacity: 17 rounds
- Trigger: Reset action system (special double-action system)
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Safety: Trigger safety and drop safety, optional manual trigger safety
Slide
The slide reminds me of a CZ-75. It is very short, which makes it more difficult to grasp. Front and back serrations help with traction, but it is still a bit difficult to quickly grab.
A shorter slide does mean less reciprocating mass and a lower bore axis, which makes this gun have reduced perceived recoil. Shooting it, you would not think it is only a 27.5-ounce gun.
Grip
The other thing that adds to the soft-shooting feel of this gun is the grip. The grip geometry, with a high trigger guard undercut and a high beavertail, places the shooter’s hand high on the gun. This also makes the gun have a lower bore axis, which makes for less muzzle flip.
Traction on the grip itself is decent and feels secure. It’s aggressive but not irritating, and the shape is rather boxy but slim. Customizable grip panels and backstraps add volume to the grip, but they don’t change the trigger reach much. It is short, so bigger hands might have issues. It seems more suited for medium to small hands.
The slide lock is small and unobtrusive but easily reached, and the magazine release button is long compared to most. It’s a neat design and works well, making it easy to reach even for short thumbs.
The takedown procedure, too, is a little unique but effective. You must press on the side button before you can rotate the takedown lever. It’s a clever design that is both intuitive and practical. I like it.
Trigger
My favorite feature on this gun is the trigger. Like many of the other features, it’s a little weird looking but works well. The break is about 3.5 pounds. I think the strange look comes from the prominent trigger safety, but you don’t really notice it when pulling.
Otherwise, it is a light trigger with little creep and a solid wall. There is a short-to-medium reset that is not noticeable. Overall, it is an excellent striker-fired trigger.
With the trigger and soft-shooting feel, the M9 A2 is a very nice gun to shoot. It’s enjoyable and easy to run fast.
From a reliability standpoint, this gun ran flawlessly. I shot a few hundred rounds of a variety of ammunition without any issues. Some of the ammo was low-quality reloads, so I think it is safe to say this pistol is reliable.
Sights
My least favorite feature is the sighting system. There is no red dot compatibility, which already annoys me, but the real problem is the iron sights. The front sight is a pyramid, and the rear notch is angled lines meant to be matched up to the sides of the pyramid. I found them difficult to use at both precision shooting and fast combat shooting.
This is why the accuracy groups I shot for this review are not that good. I had a very difficult time aligning the sights consistently. There was not much light coming through the sights, which is what I use as a reference in my sight picture.
Maybe my eyes are just old or I need more time with the gun, but unlike the other unique features on this gun, I don’t think these sights improve anything. Luckily, more traditional aftermarket sights are available.
Summary
In conclusion, I really enjoyed running this gun. I like unconventional guns that perform well. The Steyr M9 A2 MF can do it all. If you change the sights, it’s accurate, reliable, and soft shooting. It would be a great defensive or competition gun.
It’s also not overly expensive – about average for a pistol of this design. If you are looking for something different, check out the Steyr.
