| Steyr SSG 08 | |
| Origin: | Austria |
| Type: | Sniper rifle |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Used By: | See Users |
| Wars: | Syrian Civil War[1] |
| Manufacturer: | Steyr Mannlicher |
| Production Date: | 2008–present |
| Variants: | SSG 08 M1[2] [3] |
| Weight: | 12.125lb (.308 Winchester, unloaded, without accessories) 13.25lb (.338 Lapua Magnum, unloaded, without accessories) |
| Length: | 42.9inches stock unfolded, 34.2inches stock folded (20 in barrel) 46.5inches stock unfolded, 37.8inches stock folded (23.6 in barrel) 50.1inches stock unfolded, 41.4inches stock folded (27.2 in barrel) |
| Part Length: | 20inches 23.6inches 27.2inches |
| Cartridge: | .243 Winchester .308 Winchester .300 Winchester Magnum .338 Lapua Magnum |
| Action: | Bolt-action |
| Feed: | 10-round detachable box magazine (.243 Winchester, .308 Winchester) 8-round detachable box magazine (.300 Win Mag) 6-round detachable box magazine (.338 Lapua Magnum) |
| Sights: | 20 MOA Picatinny rail |
The Steyr SSG 08 (German: '''S'''charf'''s'''chützen'''g'''ewehr 20'''08'''|lit=[[sharpshooter]] rifle [model] 08) is an Austrian bolt-action sniper rifle developed and produced by Steyr Mannlicher. The rifle is a further evolution of Steyr’s earlier SSG 04 sniper rifle.
It is a highly accurate bolt-action sniper rifle, with a folding stock and an adjustable cheek piece and butt plate. It is equipped with a bipod and a "butt spike" monopod for added stability. The pistol grip is customisable by changing the front and back straps. The rifle has a Picatinny rail for mounting optics. The rifle also features an improved muzzle brake over the SSG 04, with the ability to attach a suppressor.
Introduced in 2008, Steyr claims EKO Cobra, Austria's primary counter-terrorism unit, had its hand in developing this weapon.[4] The SSG 08 utilises the Safe Bolt System (SBS) action, cold hammer-forged barrels, trigger units and magazines of its parent, the SSG 04, but features an aluminium alloy stock, with side-folding, fully adjustable butt and additional Picatinny rails on the forend. The SSG 08 is advertised as capable of sub-MOA accuracy with proper ammunition.
The SSG 08 is based on Steyr's SBS rotary bolt action with four frontal locking lugs, arranged in pairs. It also features free-floated, cold hammer-forged heavy barrels, which are available in 20 inch (.308 Winchester), 23.6 inch (.243 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum) and 27.2 inch (.338 Lapua Magnum) lengths. Feed is from detachable double-column box magazines, which hold ten .243 Winchester or .308 Winchester, eight .300 Winchester Magnum or six .338 Lapua Magnum rounds. The single-stage trigger is factory set for optimum performance, but can be adjusted by the user. It is not equipped with iron sights.[5]
Armenia: Observed with Armenian Armed Forces snipers during Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.[6] [7]
Austria: Used by Jagdkommando[8]
Azerbaijan: Used by Azerbaijani Special Forces and State Border Service (DSX)[9]
Croatia[10]
Germany
Indonesia: Used by Indonesian National Police Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob)[12]
Norway[14]
Slovenia
Turkey: Used by Police Special Operation Department.[15]