RangeIsClear.com: Fire at will with the Steyr SSG08-A1

Some people are short-sighted, while others can focus on targets at a distance. For the latter, the Steyr SSG08-A1 is a wonderful aid. Markus from RangeIsClear put together his dream sniper with it. Here is his build report on SPARTANAT:

After being fascinated by long-range shooting due to the Remington 700 Police project and now that the Remington has found a new and happy home, I had to decide which sports equipment and, above all, which caliber would be suitable for me.

After some conversations and tests, I finally decided on the Steyr-Mannlicher company, located in the beautiful Ramingtal.

Due to my ballistic requirements, the decision was made to equip the new long-range tool with a .338 Lapua Magnum caliber.

From left to right you can see .223 Remington, .308 Winchester and the .338 Lapua Magnum.

Here are the technical specifications at a glance:

Model: SSG 08-A1
Purpose: Long-Range Target Shooting, Tactical
Manufacturer: Steyr Mannlicher GmbH, Kleinraming, Austria
Operation: Bolt-action repeating
Caliber: .308 Winchester, .338 Lapua Magnum
Color Options: Black, Gold (Sand)
Magazine type/capacity: Detachable double-stack box – 10 rounds (.308), 6 rounds (.338)
Barrel: 20" and 23.6" (.308) – 27.2" (.338) – cold-hammer-forged heavy barrel
Sights: No sights, integral Picatinny rail
Finish: Mannox
Safety: Trigger safety, bolt handle and firing pin lock
Trigger type: 2-stage
Stock material/type: Aircraft aluminium, foldable, adjustable cheek piece and butt plate, telescopic butt spike
Weight, empty, without bipod or scope: 5.72 kg (.308, 20"); 6.90 kg (.308, 23.6"); 7.40 kg (.338)
Overall length: 107.95 cm with 20" barrel (.308); 116.84 cm with 23.6" barrel (.308); 125.98 cm (.338)Here's the whole weapon at a glance. If you want to see this fine piece in action: we have published the excellent product video from Steyr itself about the rifle in the header above.Now it was time, the SSG - translated Sniper Rifle - came to me with joy - and those who know me and my projects know that it will not remain original for long...

While Steyr offers the SSG08-A1 not only in black but also in sand, I wanted the new tool, matching the Schmeisser AR15 M4 Austria DMR, to be coated in RAL8000. Therefore, the black precision device was quickly dismantled.

Already here, I could convince myself of the excellent manufacturing quality, which speaks for Austrian craftsmanship through tight fits, very clean milling, and a dreamy bolt action.

After only 3 days waiting, I was able to pick up my parts coated with perfect quality as usual from Wolfgang Waldschütz - alias W+W Cerakote.
Many thanks at this point for the extremely fast completion!

Now it was time to complement the freshly coated precision instrument.Nice to see - the dust cover - one of the changes from the SSG08-A1 to its predecessor.

Naturally, I set the highest quality standards here again, so the SSG was supplemented with the following components:

• Palm rest for the CAA sniper grip
• Recknagel block mount short in RAL8000
• Recknagel SWK holder with spirit level in RAL8000
• Recknagel SWK MIL SPEC (mo
• Kahles K624i 6-24x56L with MSR reticle in RAL8000
• Tenebraex covers, sunshade, and killflash in RAL8000
• Recknagel offset mount including Doctersight base plate
• Doctersight III as a backup sight

After the bedding was restored and all parts were in their designated places, it was straight to the shooting range where the SSG was zeroed and brought to life.

Shortly after completion, some photos had to be taken.The bipod supplied with the rifle from Steyr, in combination with the built-in cheek piece in the stock, allows the SSG to be extremely stable for the perfect shot alignment.The folding stock has numerous adjustment options - cheek rest/stock cheek in height and length, total stock length, adjustable stock cheek and height, length and side.In the dark: the proven three-position safety of Steyr Mannlicher.For emergencies, a backup sight from Docter Sight - front right in the 45-degree position. In front is the bolt handle. At the very top of the header image, the newly developed heavy-duty bolt can be seen, which guarantees flawless function even under the most adverse conditions.When I first saw the muzzle brake of the Steyr SSG08-A1, I thought it might be too small - but I was proven wrong. The technicians at Steyr Mannlicher have done a perfect job here, as the brake works flawlessly.

The adjustable trigger that can also be adjusted in length allows the shooter to adjust the rifle to their personal needs without having to disassemble the weapon.Never touch a running system - therefore here as usual the Kahles K624i enclosed by Recknagel mount and cant indicator with spirit