The Austrian Armed Forces have received a new 8.6mm medium sniper rifle. It complements the range of precision-guided small arms of the Austrian army. The new rifle has a larger caliber and a more powerful sight than the famous SSG 69 sniper rifle. Since 2020, the 8.6 mm rifle has been supplied to the troops.
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In 1969, the Austrian company Steyr Mannlicher developed the SSG 69 sniper rifle, which later entered service with the Austrian Army as a sniper weapon. In the half century since the introduction of SSG 69 in weapons technology, as well as optics, numerous developments have emerged that provide greater accuracy. So, the steel sight is "thinner" (crosshair, etc.), and the optical magnification coefficient is higher than that of the SSG 69. The weapon has become modular and can be adjusted to the shooter using an adjustable stock and other components.
Another aspect that is increasingly coming to the fore is the firing range. The new 8.6mm Steyr 08A2 (mSSG) medium sniper rifle, also designated the Steyr MSSG M1 for civilian use, increases the firing range from 800 m to 1200 m (plus 50 percent) compared to the SSG 69.
mSSG Medium Sniper Rifle
Medium Sniper Rifle: caliber
At the international level, there is a shift from the previously used 7.62 x 51 mm NATO ammunition (.308) to 8.6x70 mm Lapua (.338). The Lapua Magnum 8.6 x 70 mm caliber is characterized by minimal deflection and deceleration from wind and air resistance. Ammunition of this caliber is very precisely manufactured, which allows for a smaller scattering circle over long distances. Candidates for snipers, when shooting with the new mSSG 08A2, already during the admission tests, in order to gain admission to training, achieve a maximum scattering circle diameter of three centimeters per 100 m.
Comparison of 7.62 mm and 8.6 mm calibers
Currently, the 8.6 x 70 mm Lapua Magnum caliber is actively used by operational units around the world for "long distances" (more than 1000 m). In addition, there is a wide range of internationally used types of ammunition of this caliber: armor-piercing, glass-piercing, or full-shell cartridges. Having a choice of ammunition allows the sniper to act more successfully in various scenarios.
Development and purchase
The mSSG Steyr 08A2 sniper rifle was purchased for the Austrian Army based on the results of a two-stage international competition. At the first stage, eleven manufacturers showed interest. At the second stage, there are four applicants left, of which two are from Austria and two from the European Union. The Austrian company Steyr Arms (formerly Steyr Mannlicher) won the competition.
However, not only the rifle is of Austrian origin, but also the sight – which is an important component of the sniper system – manufactured by KAHLES K624i. Like the rifle, it is one of the most powerful sights on the international market. According to publications, it currently offers the only system in the world with the ability to install optics on the left side without using the shooter's right hand.
The selection of components such as weapons, sights or muzzle brakes is in close coordination with the snipers of the Special Forces Command (Jagdkommando) of the Austrian Armed Forces. As a result, it is considered that this system is the product that best meets the desires of snipers and offers high field suitability. In total, 120 sets of this weapon system worth about 1.6 million euros will be purchased for the Austrian Armed Forces. The entire trench is planned to be transferred to sniper units and groups of infantry battalions and the Command of the Special Forces. Weapon systems come with an extensive range of accessories.
Weapon system
The mSSG Steyr 08A2 is a modern sniper rifle that adapts by changing the overall length, adjusting the stroke and force of the trigger, its position longitudinally and changing the position of the handle in accordance with the needs of the shooter. The total length of the weapon with the butt extended is 133 cm, with the muzzle brake installed – 145 cm. If the butt is folded to the right, for example, for transportation, the total length is reduced to 108 cm.
Performance characteristics of a sniper rifle
The mSSG Steyr 08A2 8.6 mm medium sniper rifle is a multi-shot rifle with a lengthwise-sliding bolt. The length of the barrel is 69 cm, or 27 inches with constant right-hand rifling of the barrel bore to stabilize the bullet and to accurately hit targets up to at least 1,200 m. The initial velocity of the bullet reaches 889 m/s. Maximum set firing range: 5,700 m. Ammunition is supplied from a metal magazine with a capacity of 10 rounds. The weight of the mSSG with the ZF624i scope and loaded magazine is about 9.25 kg. The weight is optimal to ensure stable and accurate shooting.
Barrel trim with Picatini strap and Key Mod system
The mSSG Steyr 08A2 sniper rifle has a long barrel guard, which is equipped with a Picatinny rail on the upper surface and a Key Mod mounting system on the side surface. These mounting options allow you to install various accessories, such as a night vision device, a thermal imager, or a laser designator.
Another accessory that is mounted on the butt is the ground stop, which allows the shooter to place the weapon on the ground and point it at the target. This is useful if the sniper has to wait a long time for the target or if the weapon needs to be held with an emphasis on the shoulder. As a result, the rifle always remains stable, which makes it much easier to aim at the target. However, this does not replace the standard pillows (sandbags or pellets) that snipers use. In addition to the Picatini rail and the Key Mod system, bipods or a tripod can be mounted.
The emphasis is on the ground on the butt
The mSSG protection is installed in two ways: by the safety lever and the safety wheel. The fuse offers three positions: "unlocked", "charged", "on guard". A muzzle damper-flame arrestor is used to reduce the signatures of the shot. It can be quickly attached to the muzzle brake and removes the thermal effect with a thermal cap.
Table 1
Tactical and technical characteristics of the mSSG Steyr 08A2 sniper rifle
Technical characteristics of the optical sight
The KAHLES K624i optical sight, called the ÖF ZF624i in the Austrian Armed Forces, has a continuously variable magnification range from 6 to 24x. The magnification is designed for distances over 1000 m. The pronounced sharpness of the image with neutral color rendition gives the sniper the necessary look for an accurate shot. The image itself does not lose focus at maximum magnification (24x). The field of view of the sight at a sixfold magnification at a distance of 100 m is 6.8 m and decreases to 1.7 m per 100 m with an increase in magnification to 24x (from 68 to 17 lines).
KAHLES K624i Optical Sight
For use in the Austrian Armed Forces, the ZF624i has a grid (designation MSR/Ki) consisting of a crosshair and sighting marks, distance assessment marks and measuring angle. The grid is located on the first level of the image and thus "grows" with changes in magnification. This is important when estimating the distance, because the distance between the marks always remains the same, and the sniper should not pay attention to what magnification he has just selected.
The system of sighting marks
Distance detection tags allow the shooter to measure the range to the target in the range from 400 m to 1,300 m. The measurement angle consists of two lines located at right angles. Their stroke is more subtle than that of distance assessment stamps, which provides a more accurate measurement of the distance to the target. The grid is illuminated with red light. The brightness of the backlight is adjusted by the shooter according to his needs and lighting conditions.
The optical sight of the ZF624i is adjusted metrically (0.1 MRAD - milliradian). This allows the shooter to change the aiming point by making the necessary adjustments. Corrections at a distance of 100 m correspond to one centimeter per click down/up or left/right. The maximum adjustment at a range of 100 m is 2.5 m in height (250 clicks) and 1.1 m in direction (110 clicks). The location of the adjustment clutch is optimized so that adjustments can be made quickly, and the sniper could not take his shooting hand away from the weapon. It is usually located on the right side, as is the parallax detuning.
Image transmission with an adjusted scope
On the ZF624i, the parallax adjustment was moved to the top, and the adjustment clutch to the left side, which leads to more ergonomic operation with optics. Thus, in the ZF624i, parallax adjustment is integrated into the height correction coupling. It is made in the gear design. The parallax adjustment range starts at 50 m and continues indefinitely. With parallax compensation, if the adjustment is correct, a sharp image is transmitted at any distance and the sight avoids possible target errors similar to the "slate" view.
Several filters are attached to the optics (ultraviolet, orange, yellow, cellular, etc.). Additionally, the Aimpoint Micro T1 tactical collimator sight can be installed on the optical sight as an auxiliary tool.
According to the materials of the resource truppendienst.com
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