Five new Steyr Arms pistols have been officially presented to several international member of the press on the 1st and 2nd of September in Slovenia, at the Lynx Pro Tactical shooting range, with the support of Steyr Arms and Polenar Tactical staff.
This shooting range has recently become famous for the Lynx Brutality competition, organized by Polenar, and although perfect for the event, its location in Slovenia is not a coincidence. As a matter of fact, the Czech RSBC Investment Group that acquired Steyr Arms in 2024, also owns Arex Defence – and the new ATd and ATc handguns feature the Arex name in addition to the prominent Steyr logo engraved on the slides. Indeed, ATd/ATc production and design are fruit of a strong collaboration between both manufacturers.
The series name is an acronym: “AT” stands for Austria, and “d” for Defense, to highlight this series’ professional use destination, while the “c” of the three sport shooting guns is, you guessed it, for Competition. The industry has been very secretive about this launch – when we received the invitation, only the names of the guns were disclosed, and although some of us had seen prototypes behind closed doors, the “out of the blue” effect of the presentation at the event was indeed obtained.
But let’s delve immediately into the five new pistols
What was presented after a short speech by project manager Niels Kirchhoff is nothing less than a paradigm shift: after a good 30 years of hype surrounding Polymer grips and the now fashionable trend toward pure striker-fired systems, some with pre-tensioned systems, Steyr is deliberately returning — or moving forward — to the classic all-metal design with aluminum frames for duty side arms, while the sport models come completely in stainless steel. All guns use external hammers and are currently only chambered in 9mm Luger. All models being produced are optic-ready and feature a Picatinny rail on the dust cover.
The professional models are called ATd Compact and ATd Compact Comp, identical alu frame guns save for the compensated 4” barrel and slide.
Sport models include the ATc Base 5”, in the white with black grips – very striking and elegant – and the duo ATc “Rock”, identical raceguns available in 5” and 6” barrel versions, tuned SAO triggers with hi-viz orange grips and grey PVD finish.
Barrels in the ATc series are all heavy match grade. An extensive accessory and upgrade program is available, with a selection of grips, interchangeable barrels and triggers, optics frame mounts and compensators for the sport guns.
And, for the hard-core shooter, 3D data models for the grips are freely available so it is possible to make a custom grip at home on a 3D printer.
External similarities with SIG Sauer are not by chance: former SIG Sauer employees from Eckernförde are involved in the management and development of ATd/ATc, and Steyr is demonstrating that the usual quality from “Ecktown” was no coincidence. One could almost say that the ATc, in its “Rock” version with a 6" barrel length, is a more than worthy competitor to the X-Seven. Based on the very aggressive pricing announced at the event – starting at €999 for the ATd Compact, including two magazines and accessories – it is obvious that Steyr wants to expand its market share.
The manual safety in M1911 style, which is available in addition to the decocking lever on the duty models, is completely unfamiliar in the quasi-evolution of the 226/228 series from Austria. The big advantage is that it does not interfere with use at all and fits ergonomically into the grip panels as if it were not there at all. Those familiar with the 228 will not have to get used to anything new here. The ATc’s do not offer separate decocking levers, but in the Base version, the safety lever also functions as a decocking mechanism if you apply a little extra upward force.
Compared to conventional full size pistols, however, the ATc/ATd feels surprisingly low, which is primarily due to the higher magazine catch on both sides, allowing the shooter to grip slightly higher. This not only improves recoil control but also makes for a more ergonomic trigger pull.
The 18-round magazines (extended 20-round magazines are also available) demonstrate that even during rapid fire, the “levering” effect associated with plastic grips does not occur due to the changing magazine content and the resulting change in leverage during recoil. Rapid, rhythmic shooting is therefore no problem. If desired, this can be made even easier with the compensated and ported barrel ATd model.
The sports versions impress with their extremely tight fits. The “wobble” caused by generous tolerances of the slide / frame coupling in competitor sport pistols is nowhere to be found in the newcomers from Austria, which is ultimately due to optimization of the production processes.
How do they shoot?
A simple test with the ATd showed what the pistols can do in practice: a cigarette placed 15 meters away, three shots, cigarette hit. For a service sidearm version, which deliberately has larger tolerances in order to function reliably even when used in sand or dirt, this is an astonishingly precise result.
Recoil of the ATd is slightly sharper than anticipated, due to the metal frame that does not “give” under recoil, and extremely controllable in every situation. Trigger is excellent, breaks like glass after a short, clean and smooth travel in SA, and a longer but still very smooth travel in DA.
A separate test with the only cartridge available at the range, a clone of a 9mm military FMJ load, in both the ATd, in the standard, not compensated version, and the ATc, in the 5” Rock version at 15 meters on paper targets shooting off-hand, both eyes open and rapid firing 10 rounds, yielded the two groups in the pictures.
The same ammo, the same number of rounds, the same time between shots – groups speak for themselves.
The fact that a manufacturer is bucking the current trend toward the cheapest possible polymer frame and returning to the tried-and-tested “Wondernines” is, in principle, a turning point of its own kind.
For users who have to carry a weapon every day, polymer frames may indeed be a pleasant alternative, but for civilian users who buy a pistol, this issue of comfort rarely arises.
And even for professional gun carriers, the selection had become relatively limited in recent years if one did not want to accept the disadvantages of plastic. Seen in this light, there was a gaping hole in the market, which Steyr is now filling with excellent alternatives.
The fact that Steyr itself is distancing itself from the polymer trend, which was represented by its own M series as a competitor to Glock, is evidence of a rethinking that can probably be understood as avant-garde, a return to the great advantages of conventional weapon designs, and it is certainly no coincidence that manufacturers such as Beretta and CZ continue to occupy the niche of metal frames. Entering this market with new developments could be a major coup for the Austrians. At a time when most manufacturers are only offering their own interpretations of the Glock, this is a decision that is as courageous as it is well-founded.
Prices start at €999 for the ATd, and the most expensive model – the 6” ATc “Rock” – is priced at €2,166 net. A more in-depth test with commercial loads is imminent, so stay tuned!
Text by Franco Palamaro and Lars Winkelsdorf.
