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Dear all, here are some notes I would like to share on the Steyr GB...
The year was 1967, the highest capacity 9x19 back then was the Browning Hi-Power & the world was ready for the next evolutions in firearms design: Polymer frames, polygon barrels & higher capacity magazines!
The year was 1967, the highest capacity 9x19 back then was the Browning Hi-Power & the world was ready for the next evolutions in firearms design: Polymer frames, polygon barrels & higher capacity magazines!
In 1968 Steyr came out with a very innovative pistol; the Steyr GB. The first notable thing about it is what gave it it's name... "GasBremse" or gas brake. As a blowback pistol, it needed a mechanism to delay slide opening and they achieved this using the Branitzke concept.
This is based on having a "port" or hole in the barrel to bleed off gasses that are pushing the bullet forward. These gasses keep the slide closed untill the bullet has exited the barrel, after which the pressure drops and the slide is allowed to move back and the action cycles.
On the slide, we find the muzzle nut that locks in place with 2 lugs. Inside it is a "cup" that interfaces with the raised ridges on the outside of the barrel that look like the piston ring/cylinder wall on a car engine.
Below is a video of the muzzle nut and barrel interface and how they interract.
The Steyr GB was by no means a one-trick pony however. The magazine for starters had an18 round capacity. It also had flat side walls and a double-feed system like you find on an SMG mag to aid in feed reliability.
The barrel is fixed to the frame, increasing the accuracy of the pistol. Also the frame was made out of a polymer which was also a new concept at that point, decreasing weight. The slide features a de-cocking leaver to quickly return the pistol to "Condition 2"
Finally, on the right hand side is a take-down leaver which can be operated easily but stays locked shut during use and does not get in the way.
Despite all these features it had little success with military clients. After passing the rigorous tests of the Austrian army, the contract went to Glock in 1982. In 1983, during the US military trials, it lost to the Beretta 92F. Cost per unit did not help in either scenario.
To conclude... The Steyr GB is a very interesting pistol in both it's operation, reliability and my favourite component: Accuracy. With the factory muzzle brake and minor trigger adjustments it performs close to a race gun! So gives me lots of fun in Millsurp competitions!
