Steyr GB

Steyr GB
general information
Civil name:	GB 80
Country of operation:	international
Developer / Manufacturer:	Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Manufacturer country:	Austria
Production time:	1981 to 1988
Weapon Category:	Self-loading pistol
Furnishing
Overall length:	216 mm
Total height:	142 mm
Total width:	37 mm
Weight: (unloaded)	0.845 kg
Sight length :	160 mm
Barrel length :	136 mm
Technical specifications
Caliber :	9 × 19 mm and 9 × 18 mm Ultra
Possible magazine fillings :	18 cartridges
Fire types:	Single fire
Twist :	right
Visor :	open sights
Closure :	Gas pressure delayed ground seal
Charging principle:	Recoil loader
Lists on the subject

The semi - automatic self - loading pistol Steyr GB (during the development of the Steyr Pi 18 , later also "GB-80" ) was developed by Steyr Mannlicher . The weapon uses the calibers 9 × 19 mm and 9 × 18 mm Ultra .

History of origin

The Steyr self-loading pistol "GB" is a semi-automatic self-loading pistol in all-steel design with a cocked trigger (DA / SA). The type designation "Pi 18" used during the development phase, which indicates the magazine capacity of 18 rounds, which was above average for the 1970s, was changed to "GB" when it was launched. This abbreviation stands for the term “gas brake”, which already refers to the functional principle of a spring-mass lock that slows down by means of gas pressure. The kinematically correct name for this locking principle is “non-positive, dynamic spring-mass locking”. However, this locking principle should not be confused with the much more well-known locking principle of gas pressure chargers .

The pistol is sometimes referred to as the "GB-80", which indicates the official (civilian!) Launch of the GB in the early 1980s.

The gas pressure-braked mass lock is an extremely ingenious locking principle, which compared to the "rigid" locked systems - such as z. B. the Browning closure - has some significant advantages. It enables the trouble-free use of all ammunition loads, which can vary greatly in military and civil use due to the worldwide distribution of the 9 mm x 19 caliber. Due to the fixed barrel and the exact, system-related, “gas-tight” fit between the barrel muzzle and the muzzle cap, the GB shoots much more precisely than other “military” utility pistols. With non-reworked serial pistols and fixed sights, the shooting machine results in scatter circles of max. 2.5 cm by 25 m, using branded ammunition required. This is a value that can only be achieved by a SIG P210 . The gas-pressure-delayed lock also significantly reduces the kickback and flip-flop, which means that the weapon is far less likely to wander out of the target than those with a rigid lock.

The GB was designed as a military "full-size" side weapon (orderly pistol) and was created at the end of the 1960s on the basis of an "unofficial" development contract for the Austrian Armed Forces . A specification did not exist at this time; Due to the network of relationships at the time, Steyr-Daimler-Puch had very precise knowledge of the properties the armed forces expected from a new service pistol. The "new" was supposed to replace the old Walther P38 and Colt P11 from Wehrmacht stocks as well as the Belgian Gendarmerie FN M35 .

Technical data GB (Pi18, GB-80)
Mass of the magazine	empty: 120 g
Mass of the magazine	full: 340 g
Twist length	220 mm, trigonal polygon profile
Sights	Front sight with luminous point; Rectangular rear sight with 2 luminous dots
V ₀	Depending on the ammunition, approx. 350 - 450 m / s
E ₀	Approx. 400 - 640 J depending on ammunition
Trigger system	Clamping trigger ("DA / SA")
Fuses	Internal fall protection that works independently of the shooter; Safety catch; Firing pin fuse at Actuation of the cock release lever
Surfaces (civil)	outer locking surfaces ground and burnished, top sandblasted and burnished; outer handle surfaces covered with burned-in shrink varnish
Surfaces (mil)	all surfaces sandblasted matt and burnished

System description

Locking system

Externally, the gas pressure-braked mass seal differs only slightly from the locked Browning seal. However, the closure cap on the mouth side can be seen as a significant distinguishing feature. The functional principle of the gas pressure lock is, however, completely different from that with the “rigid” (= form-fitting) locked Browning system.

When the shot is fired, a small part of the propellant gases is diverted through two holes in the middle of the barrel and fed into a reaction chamber. This chamber is formed from the space between the barrel and the breech block and therefore does not require an additional piston. It consists of a gas-tight closing cap with a barrel collar located on the front of the barrel and a labyrinth seal that is also placed approximately in the middle of the barrel. After the projectile has passed the boreholes, a small part of the propellant gases flows into the reaction chamber and thus prevents the mechanically unlocked mass seal from opening "pneumatically" via the surge pressure that occurs. The contact surface necessary for this gas pressure lock for the necessary surge pressure is formed by the front part of the closure cap. Due to its function, this inner surface is designed to be somewhat smaller than the case cross-section on the bottom of the cartridge. The closure cap - firmly connected to the closure by means of a bayonet connection - keeps it closed until the projectile has passed the muzzle. The safety distance of the frictional connection is here - as with an ordinary spring-action locking gun - about 2 mm. Then the pressure of the propellant charge drops suddenly inside the barrel; The pressure built up inside the reaction chamber can now escape into the barrel through the barrel bores. Due to the impulses, the shutter starts to open and pumps the relaxed surge pressure gases from the reaction chamber into the barrel during the return. At the same time, when the opening of the closure begins, some of the gases escape via the labyrinth seal that has become free through the resulting gap between barrel wall and closure cap.

The gas pressure level automatically determines the return delay and consequently the degree of locking of the lock: A high gas pressure causes a strong lock, a medium lock a medium lock and a weak lock a weak lock. The locking rigidity of the system behaves analogously to the load, which makes it possible to lock a wide variety of loads without interference. At the bottom, however, the load is limited by the locking spring force (or spring constant ). The internal pumping process during the bolt return also causes recoil damping, which also greatly reduces the torque in the wrist and the high impact.

Clasp

It consists of the locking slide as well as a mouth-side locking cap with guide tube. Particularly heavily used parts of the heat-treatable steel are also inductively hardened to counteract abrasive wear. The internally chrome-plated closure cap is held by means of locking lugs in a circumferential groove in the front section of the slide, which is reinforced for this purpose. The bayonet lock is secured against rotation by the entry of the spring guide tube into the locking spring. The closure cap has a labyrinth seal, which consists of two bars with a total width of approx. 4.5 mm. At the rear, the lock is guided practically free of play in strips 30 mm long behind the magazine slot.

In the closed state - indispensable for perfect function - the closure is guided precisely 'gas-tight' by means of the guide tube of the closure cap.

The side surfaces of the closure are ground, the remaining surfaces are sandblasted. The sides are slightly indented at the mouth. This means that the closure is very well designed and "holster-friendly".

Run

The hammered polygon barrel, hard chrome-plated inside and out, has a triangular profile. This profile minimizes the internal deformation work in the projectile when the projectile passes due to the pressure peaks running past one another. The barrel is firmly screwed to the handle using a piece of glasses. The train and field diameters are 8.70 mm and 9.03 mm. In contrast to the twist length of 250 mm, which is usual for 9 × 19 mm, this has been shortened to 220 mm, which increases the twist speed and thus the shot precision, even at longer shooting distances. The two gas extraction holes with a diameter of 4.5 mm are let in 81 mm in front of the barrel muzzle and aligned at an angle to the muzzle. They are located directly in front of the labyrinth seal, which has an outer diameter of 16 mm. It is formed by two annular expansions, each 1.4 mm wide. At the muzzle, the diameter expands from 11.9 mm towards the muzzle to 12.6 mm. The guide tube of the sealing cap closes on this approx. 6 mm wide collar in a 'gas-tight' manner. The muzzle is chamfered on the outside and lowered on the inside.

Sights

The 162 mm long line of sight is made up of a fixed, 3.5 mm wide illuminated dot bar front sight and a 4.2 mm wide, sliding rectangular rear sight with two illuminated points. The sights correspond to military standards. A separate sight rail is missing; the top is sandblasted and therefore free of reflections.

Handle

The grip angle is 107 ° and thus also offers optimal Germanus properties. It consists of two sheet metal halves welded together with smoothed weld seams, case-hardened by means of subsequent heat treatment. This special manufacturing process ( sheet metal stamping process ) was developed in Germany during the Second World War and revolutionized the manufacture of weapons. The grip of the "civil" GB is coated with an anthracite-colored, finely structured heat-shrink varnish, which guarantees a very good grip. With the "military" variant, this luxury was foregone. The use of polymer materials was considered and dropped again; the company had plenty of high quality steel presses. High-strength stamped parts could be produced in high quality; Investments in injection molding machines are therefore unnecessary. The cold-deforming sheet metal stamping technology makes it possible to significantly reduce wall thicknesses (GB: only 1.5 mm!) Compared to the "classic" milled design - during the stamping process with the associated increase in strength in the material. Despite the high magazine capacity of 18 rounds, the handle is therefore not oversized and is also suitable for relatively small hands. The separately manufactured trigger guard made of polymer material is detachably screwed to the handle. The handle shells are made of unbreakable plastic and are held on the handle with two screws each.

Trigger system

GB has a trigger tensioner system (normal and tension trigger, "DA / SA") with a one-piece drive rod (trigger rod) engaging directly on the tap on the left. In the DA mode, this pulls with its rod detent by means of a right-angled recess attachment on the tap until it passes over the corresponding tap detent after its DA end position and thus knocks off released. In SA mode, the lower part of the sear engages in the SA cock notch after cocking. The dwell angle is nominally 10 °; the creep path of the trigger is approx. 1 mm and can therefore be described as "semi-dry". The pull-off force of the SA is approx. 22N, that of the DA approx. 75N and thus corresponds to military requirements. The trigger is structurally comparable to that of other modern, non-preloaded utility pistols. The exception in the GB is the arrangement of the main springs, which are arranged as torsion springs on the left and right of the valve axis. Their ends are supported at the top in the sear and on the front of the tap. The space in the back of the handle, where the mainspring is usually housed, is kept free for the MP variant to accommodate a cadence limiter. Without this, the theoretical firing rate would be approx. 1200 bpm. The shot limiting mechanism reduces this to about half, which is common for modern PDWs.

magazine

It takes 18 rounds in two rows. The magazine body, shock base and the feeder are also parts made using sheet metal stamping technology; only the magazine spring guide is made of plastic. The magazine lip distance corresponds to the cartridge diameter; It is loaded “from above” like an MP magazine. Despite the very strong magazine spring, no loading aid or “finger acrobatics” are required.

Development history

Development history of the gas pressure interlock

The gas pressure locking system on which the Steyr Pi 18 is based was developed in 1944 under the direction of the then chief designer Barnitzke at the former "Gustloff works" in Suhl. It was still used in the "Gustloff" Volksgewehr 1-5, which was hastily developed especially for the Volkssturm on the Eastern Front. Like the gas-powered Sturmgewehr 44 - a system that works in a completely different way - it also used the " Polte " short cartridge 7.92 × 33. The VG 1-5 was a simply constructed handgun set up for single and sustained fire could still be produced from the beginning of 1945. Due to the extremely critical logistics and material supply situation, only a few of these machine carbines were used in the Volkssturm units until the end of the war.

Development history of the Steyr GB

At the end of the 1960s, Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Austria took up this Barnitzke locking system again and started a follow-up development. This led directly to the development of the "military" Pi 18. The final patent specification of December 6, 1972 by the Steyr designer Hannes Kepplinger is based on the Barnitzke system, although this was significantly improved in terms of design.

When the first GB utility models were available to the Austrian Armed Forces in 1972, no contract was concluded in favor of the GB, although the military authorities strongly supported the GB. The reason was that a few years earlier a similar "unofficial" development campaign for the armed forces with a submachine gun, the MPi 69 (Uzi clone), had been started. At the beginning of the 1970s, Steyr had approx. 5000 pieces "in stock". At Steyr, the situation was now viewed more and more critically and the armed forces were therefore advised to remove the MPi 69 and get the Pi 18 "as an encore". However, one could not agree on this compromise, and so the 5000 MPi 69 remained in the basement - and the production plans for the Pi 18 in the drawer ...

It is now incomprehensible why Steyr did not immediately start with "civil" GB marketing from this period. With its performance data, it would have put all other comparable pistols in the shade on the market in the mid-1970s. When, at the end of the 1970s, a delivery contract was concluded with the armed forces in favor of the MPi 69, the Pi 18 was not included.

"GAU": US plagiarism "ROGAK / LES P-18"

Occasionally it is falsely claimed - also in renowned specialist press - that Rogak first developed the underlying system and that it was only later - after he could not cope with it constructively - that Steyr-Daimler-Puch took on the matter. These and similar claims are legends.

The actual course of events can be outlined as follows: In the mid-1970s, the then Steyr USA representative Rogak received the manufacturing documents for the Pi-18, the forerunner of the UK, from a Steyr manager. The reasons for this action are in the dark, and most likely it was an unauthorized and unauthorized action, which later even had fatal consequences. In any case, there was never an “official” licensing or other authorizing agreement for production between Rogak and Steyr. Steyr denied z. B. In response to a request from a specialist magazine in 1980, in writing that "... at no time have there been any official agreements between Steyr and Rogak in this regard".

Rogak began at the end of the 1970s - with or without a license - to build the Pi 18 pistol in the USA under the name “Rogak P-18” and to sell it worldwide through its own sales company “LES / Rogak”. Due to the performance data of the (Austrian!) Pi 18, Rogak saw very high market opportunities, which he intended to exploit as quickly as possible. Basically, the Pi 18 can be seen as the first representative of the "Wondernines", which began their triumphal march in the USA at the beginning of the 1980s.

Rogak produced three “cosmetically” slightly different versions made of stainless steel. Rogak was either overwhelmed or unwilling to adequately interpret or apply the existing dimensions, fits and material parameters of the Austrian "Pi 18". As a result, these “Quick-and-Dirty P-18s” were then manufactured inadequate design in essential details. The general workmanship can - compared to the very accurately manufactured Steyr Pi 18 or GB - be described as extremely poor. More seriously, however, the US copy was not working properly. Even among relatively undemanding US gun testers, they were soon only regarded as “Jammatic” (“automatic jam”) or “polished junk” (“polished scrap”). At Steyr in Austria they were considering - horrified by an assumed loss of image for GB shortly before the market launch - a legal dispute with Rogak. But that took care of itself: The first US “Wondernine” did not even survive its market penetration phase. After about 2300 pistols had been sold, the P-18 production "LES / Rogak" was discontinued in 1981 due to the meanwhile ruinous image.

Steyr GB testing

Steyr had tested the GB with 6 test rifles in action under different climatic conditions. Around 40,000 rounds per weapon were fired here. Since it was planned to offer the GB later as a “fully automatic” pistol with a stock as an MP , corresponding “MP ammunition” was also used for testing. This is correspondingly “harder” and is considerably higher than the nominal CIP gas pressure of 2350 bar (piezo pressure sensor) or 2600 bar (copper compression cylinder) of the 9 mm x 19 cartridge. The Hirtenberger MP ammunition used at that time with its gas pressure values was still higher than that of the MEN B2 "DM51" with a nominal 3000 bar, which z. B. used by the Bundeswehr. Due to the dynamic locking stiffness of the system, the GB can cope with z. B. also the MP ammunition [L7A1] with a nominal gas pressure of 3450 bar, which was produced by Hirtenberger in the early 1990s exclusively for the British armed forces. No problems were encountered during testing.

Without lubrication

The GB does not need any lubrication and is "dry" shot. This is also explicitly pointed out in the operating instructions. All guides are machined and surface-hardened in such a way that they ensure the nominal service life of 15,000 shots even when dry.

marketing

Invitation to tender for the Austrian Armed Forces

Due to personnel changes at the responsible departments of the armed forces as well as at Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, the established network of relationships had meanwhile been severely weakened. The specification, which has meanwhile been drawn up by the armed forces, could thus be strongly influenced by another, extremely agile Austrian manufacturer.

In the middle of 1982 the Austrian Armed Forces began testing the new orderly pistol. In addition to the Steyr GB, the following were also tested: Beretta 92 , Glock 17 , H&K P 80 (a slightly modified P 7) as well as the SIG 220, 225, 226. Although the GB performed best of all weapons in terms of shooting performance, the Austrian decided 1983 procurement commission for the “cheapest” of all weapons tested. The then almost unknown Austrian Glock 17 emerged as the winner of the tender. The initial requirement was around 25,000 pistols. Around 28,000 pieces were then purchased.

US Army tender and 'Testing Joint Services Small Arms Program' (JSSAP) XM9

Disappointed and ashamed to have been beaten by a "no-name" competitor in their own country, Steyr-Daimler-Puch took part in a US military tender from 1984 with the GB. This was preceded by an air force tender, which the army did not recognize. The "XM9" army test was intended to identify a suitable "M9" sidearm in 9 mm x 19 caliber as a replacement for the Colt Government M 1911 A1, which is now considered out of date. American and European manufacturers took part in the test: Beretta, Colt, FN, H&K, SIG-Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Steyr and Walther. Glock did not take part in this tender because some boundary conditions of the tender - e.g. B. the disclosure of production details as well as the assignment of patent rights in the case of an order - not accepted.

The American XM9 weapon testers were again particularly impressed by the GB: The pistol was characterized by the highest level of precision, firepower and reliability, as well as low recoil even when using extremely heavily charged special ammunition. But then - shortly before the final round - she stumbled over a technical irrelevance of the 72 "Shall" conditions. The fact that Beretta, of all people, was awarded the contract with its model 92 Beretta 92S-BF, which has since been modified , can only be seen by someone who knows the peculiarities of American testing and awarding practices. However, the price and the fact that Beretta already had a production facility for the civilian US market in the state of Maryland had a strong influence. This meant that most of the production for the new M9 sidearm could take place in the USA. The M9 contract was initially designed for 316,000 pistols and was later increased to nearly 500,000.

Civil Marketing

The first pistols under the designation "GB" came onto the market in 1982. The further designation Pi 18 had been abandoned in order to avoid another disaster like the US plagiarism "P-18".

In the years that followed, Steyr received smaller international orders for military, paramilitary and police special forces, including the special forces in the USA, Lebanon and Pakistan. Well-known secret services were also interested in the GB, including the Ministry for State Security of the GDR, which procured around 100 pieces from the USA. The West German Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement also bought 10 pieces. However, none of these smaller contracts were able to compensate for the loss of large Austrian and American orders.

Therefore, from the mid-1980s onwards, Steyr tried to enter the civilian markets more strongly with the GB. At that time it was not easy due to the many new developments by well-known international manufacturers. In the USA, the 9 × 19 mm caliber began its triumphant advance with the European so-called "Wondernine" pistols. However, the shortened compact versions were most popular. During this period, however, the GB was only available as a purely “military” version in full size. For “civilians” this is usually a bit too “clunky”. The dimensions of the GB are almost exactly the same as the Beretta 92.

At the beginning of the 1980s, Steyr was unable to gain a foothold with the GB in the then internationally emerging PPS scene (practical pistol shooting, today IPSC). Due to its excellent quick-fire capabilities and high firepower, the GB is ideal for tactical shooting. However, there is a significant restriction in the IPSC rule of taking the competition course with the cock cocked and “secured”, a relic from the times of the outdated “1911s”. Since the GB has the hammer release mechanism, which is more useful from a tactical point of view, instead of the manual safety, the shooter would have to rely on the SA of the cocking trigger for the first shot. Steyr failed to offer a variant with a classic fuse in order to also meet IPSC requirements, as the ČZ did with the 75/85 model series . Nevertheless, the GB became popular with pistol shooters who saw no obstacle for themselves in the above-mentioned restriction and had no fear of contact with the unfamiliar locking technology or the unconventional and futuristic-looking exterior.

Renowned international weapons testers were enthusiastic about the GB. They praised the solid all-steel construction, precision, shooting performance, functionality, grip ergonomics, handling and the elegant design. The disaster that still had an impact on the outwardly similar “LES P-18” prevented, at least in the USA, the intensified marketing measures there from leading to significantly higher sales figures in the mid-1980s. In Steyr's view, only this or a significantly higher price would have made profitable marketing possible.

In 1986, Steyr also offered a muzzle cap compensator for the UK, which could be used in place of the standard muzzle cap. It did not act on the barrel, but on the slide, and was specially designed for the use of very heavily charged military or IPSC special ammunition. It again significantly reduces recoil and high impact. The repeating process with its back and forth can be perceived with a clear "ratchet-ratchet". The remaining kinetic energy of the slide at the rear stop is virtually eliminated, which is particularly beneficial for precision shooting.

The unfortunate US market was the fate of the UK. In 1987 Steyr informed the US importer “Gun South” that the price for the UK would have to be increased by $ 150 for reasons of economy. Perhaps Steyr was a little too impatient with this price increase, because all so-called “Wondernines” were still in the market penetration phase in the mid-1980s and only made moderate profits, especially in the USA. The Beretta 92 FS and Steyr GB both cost about $ 600 in the US in the mid-1980s.

In the mid-1980s, Steyr was well positioned with the GB due to their performance data. You would still be today or again. Gun South was of the opinion at the time that a price of $ 750 for the UK was not enforceable in the USA because the disaster with the LES / Rogak P-18 was still having an effect there. Steyr judged the objections of the US importer to be plausible and credible and stopped manufacturing the GB.

After the fiasco with the LES / Rogak, this was the second mistake. Neither Beretta, Walther or SIG-Sauer later had problems selling their products at even higher prices. In view of the trend towards even larger calibers, which was already emerging at the time, the GB would have had the market potential for this due to its revolutionary locking system.

On November 25, 1988, Steyr delivered the last 633 GB to the USA. By then, Steyr had produced around 20,000 GB.

The "Steyr GB" case shows that it is not just the performance data that determine the development of a weapon. Time of market launch, negative as well as positive side effects, political and economic contexts as well as inadequacies in marketing often determine whether a weapon is successful on the market or not.

literature

Günter Wollert, Reiner Lidschun, Wilfried Copenhagen : small arms . (1945-1985). In: Illustrated encyclopedia of rifles from around the world . 5th edition. tape 1 + 2 . Brandenburgisches Verlagshaus, Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-89488-057-0 , weapons, p. 334, 335 .
DWJ: Various publications about the Steyr GB and Rogak / LES P-18

swell

Hannes Kepplinger, GB designer (formerly Steyr-Daimler-Puch)

Web links

Individual evidence

^ Report on the Steyr GB (Italian) ( Memento from January 22, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
↑ contribution to "the gunzone" (English) ( Memento of 27 August 2007 at the Internet Archive )