Steyr SSG question

1899

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I understand they are out of production. Do any of you know who sold them and if there are any new ones kicking around still? What bi-pods do you suggest for the Steyr rail system?

Thanks.
 
Nice guns but old school. The stocks are filled with foam and have a hard shell and can crack in the extreme cold.
The other parts have lots of small fractures if you look at them under high power magnification.
The trigger guard and mags are synthetic and won't take much to break them. The locking bars that release the mags are prone to breaking.
I kept the Kahles 6 power scope off my last SSG but its calibrated to 300 yards and I belong to a range that's 150 yards.
 
Thanks for the tips.

There are two reasons I am interested. The first is the reputation for excellent accuracy. The second is the adjustable LOP, as I'd like my wife and boy to use it as well.
 
Nice , fun rifles. If it's so cold as to be an issue for the rifle, it's too cold for me most of the time. My SSG69 is 40 years old, so I don't judge it too harshly.
 
I don't own a SSG 69. I did see one in a gun store in Vienna equipped with it when I went there last year.

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... the reputation for excellent accuracy.

Standards for what constitutes "excellent accuracy" have gotten a lot tighter over the past few decades. The level of accuracy delivered by these guns was enough to place them at the top of heap among factory rifles 20 or 30 years ago. Today you can buy similar or better accuracy from numerous manufacturers and for far less money, relatively speaking, than the prices these guns commanded. They are still very cool and distinctive, but if accuracy is the main goal then there are better choices that offer better value.
 
Standards for what constitutes "excellent accuracy" have gotten a lot tighter over the past few decades. The level of accuracy delivered by these guns was enough to place them at the top of heap among factory rifles 20 or 30 years ago. Today you can buy similar or better accuracy from numerous manufacturers and for far less money, relatively speaking, than the prices these guns commanded. They are still very cool and distinctive, but if accuracy is the main goal then there are better choices that offer better value.

For example? From what I gather there is a very good chance that an SSG69 will be a 1/2 MOA or better rifle. That would satisfy me. I also would like adjustable LOP without going to an AR style butt stock. What would you suggest given those two requirements?
 
For example? From what I gather there is a very good chance that an SSG69 will be a 1/2 MOA or better rifle. That would satisfy me. I also would like adjustable LOP without going to an AR style butt stock. What would you suggest given those two requirements?

Pointless to talk about accuracy since most modern bolt guns will shoot sub-MOA with the right ammo. The person behind the gun will always be the final determining factor in accuracy.

What's your budget?
 
Wanstalls had some a while ago. Don't know if they still do. As for accuracy - from what I've seen with the longer , heavy barrel, 1/2 MOA is achievable with quality ammo. I know that last spring I got bored hitting an 8" gong at 800 yards

The weak point has always been the bottom metal, although it's been used for 40 years by police and military without apparent problems. CDI used to build an aluminum bottom metal for them, but they are no longer available- I've checked. The mags are a little on the expensive side, but they definitely work well.

I understand that they have finally quit making them, but for all the detractors, it's a pretty simple fact that they wouldn't have produced them for almost 40 years if they were no longer relevant.
 
A product is made as long as it turns a profit. When it stops doing so, it goes out of production. So, are these guns "relevant"? Sure, they are great shooters...but so many guns today are great shooters that it hardly makes any difference. Depending upon budget, a Nemesis Arms takedown, a Sako TRG, a Remington R5, one of the numerous Savage target/varmint/LE models, or any of a host of others rifles will deliver the goods. But I think the typical buyer of an SSG is looking for more than just accuracy; he wants the name, the cachet, the "legacy" that goes with the Steyr-Mannlicher name.

If these rifles were not stamped with that name, how many people looking for ultimate accuracy would buy one? A plastic stock without any metallic spine or chassis...an expensive all-plastic magazine with a known reputation for cracking...virtually no aftermarket accessories available...expensive proprietary scope rings...yep, cutting edge all right.

If you want one because of what it is, i.e. a classic, classy Austrian design with history and style and tradition...well, that's more than enough reason to get one. But in many respects, it's the only reason.

Edited to add: Regarding "relevance", do any winning competitors in any kind of accuracy shooting event still use these guns? That's probably the best test of relevance.
 
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Standards for what constitutes "excellent accuracy" have gotten a lot tighter over the past few decades. The level of accuracy delivered by these guns was enough to place them at the top of heap among factory rifles 20 or 30 years ago. Today you can buy similar or better accuracy from numerous manufacturers and for far less money, relatively speaking, than the prices these guns commanded. They are still very cool and distinctive, but if accuracy is the main goal then there are better choices that offer better value.


For example? From what I gather there is a very good chance that an SSG69 will be a 1/2 MOA or better rifle. That would satisfy me. I also would like adjustable LOP without going to an AR style butt stock. What would you suggest given those two requirements?

HS-Precision HRT 2000, Sig 3000, PGW Coyote are three that pop to mind, mainly because they are in my safe and regularly shoot .5 MOA and often better with match ammunition or good handloads.

Oops. I just reread the post on top by 1899. None of the rifles I mentioned are less costly that the SSG69.
 
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Pointless to talk about accuracy since most modern bolt guns will shoot sub-MOA with the right ammo. The person behind the gun will always be the final determining factor in accuracy.

What's your budget?

I would be disappointed in MOA. I have shot numerous 1/4 MOA groups at 100 (3 shots) with my Steyr 7mm RM and have been just over 1/2 MOA at 500 yards. I've now joined a range that has a 1000 yard facility so I'm interested in shooting farther.

I'd like to stay well under $2000 (not including optics) and not keen on Savage. Also would like to have an adjustable LOP without AR style butt. Not interested in a chassis and it should be as much under 10 pounds as possible.
 
HS-Precision HRT 2000, Sig 3000, PGW Coyote

PGW Coyote wt: 13.5lbs (no buis) - mag
HS-Precision HTR wt: 10.8-12.1lbs (no buis) - mag
Sig Sauer SSG 3000 wr: 11.99lbs (no buis) - mag
Remington M24 'rebuild' wt: 11.88lbs (available buis, magazine?)
SSG69 (PI) wt 8.8lbs (buis) - mag
Remington M700 Milspec 5R wt 8.25lbs (no buis - non detachable magazine)

Of all these rifles ... the SSG69 (PI) is the firearm most similar to a hunting/stalking rifle and certainly capable of achieving the same or better accurate service life - assuming you buy a spare mag or two and an extra floor plate/trigger guard .. and dont unnecessarily abuse the stock .. although the 700 Milspec 5R isnt far behind I guess. I have the Model M 'Pro' 270W in a Robertson stock and I am pretty happy with its capabilities.
 
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