Steyr SSG 04

About the Steyr SSG 04

The Steyr SSG 04 is a modern bolt-action sniper rifle developed and manufactured by Steyr Mannlicher in Austria, introduced in 2004 as a successor to the iconic Steyr SSG 69. Chambered primarily in .308 Winchester with a .300 Winchester Magnum option, the SSG 04 features a cold hammer-forged heavy barrel available in either a standard 600mm (23.6-inch) or compact 510mm (20-inch) configuration. The rifle's adjustable two-stage trigger breaks cleanly at approximately 11 Newtons (2.5 lbs) with a short, light first stage and a crisp second stage. The 10-round detachable box magazine provides generous capacity for a precision bolt-action platform. A factory-fitted three-chamber muzzle brake significantly reduces felt recoil, allowing the shooter to maintain sight picture for follow-up shots. The adjustable polymer stock with an adjustable cheek piece and length of pull ensures a proper fit for a wide range of shooters. The SSG 04 weighs 4.9 kg with the standard barrel, making it a well-balanced precision rifle suitable for both stationary and mobile sniper operations.

Steyr Mannlicher's sniper rifle heritage stretches back over a century, with Austrian marksmen carrying Mannlicher-Schoenauer rifles in both World Wars. The SSG 04 carries forward this tradition of Austrian precision engineering, building on the legendary reputation established by the SSG 69, which became one of the most widely adopted military sniper rifles of the Cold War era and remains in service with numerous armies worldwide.

Steyr SSG 04 specifications

The Steyr SSG 04 continues Austria's long tradition of producing world-class precision rifles. The SSG (Scharfschutzengewehr, meaning 'sharpshooter rifle') lineage dates back to the SSG 69, which served as the Austrian military's standard sniper rifle for decades. The SSG 04's barrel features a 1:12-inch twist rate optimized for bullets up to 175 grains in .308 caliber. The compact variant reduces overall length to 1083mm while maintaining the same action and trigger system. The SSG 04 was later followed by the SSG 08, which uses an aluminum chassis system, but the SSG 04 remains in production for users who prefer the traditional polymer stock design.