read the range report threads here.
read the "should I get one?" posts (we average 2 a week or so).
read the various articles and reviews we have linked and reposted from the various gun rags and gun writers.
Steyr is to Glock as Kimber is to GI 1911, or AR15 is to AK47, etc.
While torturability is not a steyr trait it is no racegun or "precision tuned 1911" either, and I have personaly shot a M9 w/ 100k rounds and it was still tight. It does require some care and maintenance, but no more than most duty type weapons (they were designed by a cop to be a cops gun after all).
It hates wolf and brown bear ammo, UMC is about 50/50 in different peoples guns.
Any remaining original M or S series has probably been on a shelf for 2+ years and will require a thorough cleaning as the factory lubs will have turned to sludge. They are pretty susceptible to limpwristing causing FTE's. Also if buying a used M pre serial number 10,000 there were some free upgrades to trigger and extractor but some w/ the old ones might still be around.
On the plus, they are absolutely the most ergonomical and shootable pistol I've found IMHO. This comes from the unuique grip shape (which will probably require some grip tape or similar since the originals were a bit too smooth, but the new A1's have textured grips), low bore axis, and radical grip angle, trigger is superb for DAO. Accuracy is truly impresssive and the reduced muzzle flip and triangle sights allow very quick follow-ups.
Steyr-Mmannlicher has been in the weapons business since 1864, and they produce the worlds third most used assault rifle (the AUG), as well as the rifles used by the Secret Service snipers on top of the White House, and the original Scout (concept by Col. Jeff Cooper and design/production by Steyr).
There have been gaps in parts/service/importing as they have had a series of US companies fullfilling these roles (don't know where the blame should be as I've never heard both sides from these various companies), but are now almost up and running w/ their new corporate owned US center.
You will make up your own mind, but I also suggest doing some serious searches on places like The High Road and Packing.org . All of these boards dedicated to one manufacturer or the other each have their own prejudices (including here :wink: ).
But do please try to hold one and if possible fire one, those are the real selling points 8)