Steyr SBS Tactical and Steyr SSG-04 Sniper Rifle

The Steyr Tactical Elite rifle is a version of the Steyr SBS Tactical sniper rifle shown above. It is an SBS with many of the features of the Steyr Scout, plus a few new features. The Tactical Elite, as sold, has no iron sights; instead, it has a MIL-STD 1913 rail that extends nearly 41 centimeters above the receiver and handguard of the rifle. The rail is integrated with the receiver and forward handguard (which is extended to accept the rail), and the barrel is free-floating within it. The stock is synthetic (at present black only), and the forward handguard has fold-down bipod legs like those on a Steyr Scout Rifle, and there are provisions for attaching a conventional bipod (as the fold-down bipod is not adjustable). The cheekpiece is adjustable and the butt has a recoil pad. The trigger is adjustable for a lighter pull, but is factory set at 3 pounds. The Tactical Elite is more a sharpshooters’ weapon than one meant for dedicated snipers.

Steyr SBS Tactical Sniper Rifle

Another version of the basic SBS Tactical, the SSG-04, was introduced in 2004, but not deemed ready by Steyr until nearly 2006. The SSG-04 is essentially a highly-evolved version of the Tactical Elite. It has the same basic operation as the SBS Tactical and Tactical Elite. The stock is similar to that of the Tactical Elite, being synthetic and with an adjustable butt and cheekpiece (in black). The butt and cheekpiece adjustments are easy and quick to make; one only has to turn knobs on the right side, which allow for precise adjustments of both. The metalwork is largely steel. The receiver is topped with a MIL-STD-1913 rail; no iron sights are provided, and an optional extension can be added to extend the MIL-STD-1913 rail to the end of the fore-end of the stock.

Steyr SBS Tactical rifle

The MIL-STD-1913 rail and the optics mounts provided with it allow the shooter to rapidly and repeatedly change optics without losing his zero. The barrel is heavy, free-floating, and cold hammer-forged; it is also tipped with a small but effective muzzle brake. The 7.62mm NATO version may be had with either a 20 or 23.6-inch barrel; the .300 Winchester Magnum version is available only with a 23.6-inch barrel. The ball on the bolt handle is enlarged for a better grip and rapid cycling. The Steyr SSG-04 Sniper Rifle comes with a Harris folding light bipod, adjustable for height and cant.

Steyr SSG-04 Sniper Rifle

A new variant, the SSG-08, was designed specifically at the request of Austrian special operations units, and has since spread to other countries. It is also popular among target shooters. Two versions are available, the Compact and the Standard, which vary primarily in the barrel length and the chamberings. The compact uses a 20-inch barrel, while the Standard uses a 23.6-inch barrel. Both have folding skeletonized aluminum alloy stocks which are adjustable for length of pull, angle of the buttplate, and the height of the padded cheekpiece. The buttplate is also thickly-padded padded. The Compact also has a flash suppressor, while the Standard has a muzzle brake.

Steyr SSG-04 Rifle

The top of the receiver has a MIL-STD-1913 rail; optional rails are available for the sides of the handguard. The same bipod is used, though it is attached to the front of the handguards instead of underneath. The action, while tightened, is basically the same as the other members of the SBS line. The trigger is user-adjustable. The Compact is limited to 7.62mm NATO; the Standard can be chambered for 7.62mm NATO, .300 Winchester Magnum, or the new .338 Lapua Magnum chambering, which was again a specific request of Austrian special operations troops.

The Steyr SBS (Safe Bolt System) Tactical is a police sharpshooting rifle made by Steyr. The heart of the rifle is its Safe Bolt System, a method of unlocking that allows the action to cycle while turning the bolt only 60 degrees yet can be made completely safe. The rifle is known for its reliable functioning even under very adverse conditions. It is also known for its ability to digest just about any sort of ammunition, from standard civilian rounds to wildcat high pressure ammunition. It comes in two versions; one with a long, heavy barrel, and one with a short, lightweight barrel.