April 16th : Steyr SSG-69

Name     :     Steyr SSG-69


AKA       :     The Green Gun, Scharfschutzen gewehr

Caliber   :     7.62x51mm NATO / .308 Winchester


Capacity :     5 or 10 Rounds


Weight   :     10.14lbs or 4.6Kg


Length   :     44.9in or 1140mm (25.6in barrel model)


Action    :     Rear Locking Bolt Action 


Origin     :     Austria


Adopted as the standard sniper rifle for the Austrian army in 1969 the Steyr SSG-69 has gone on to serve with fifteen armies and many more law enforcement agencies around the world.  The name SSG stands for ScharfSchutzen Gewehr  or sharpshooters rifle.  Unusual in a sniper rifle the SSG-69 uses rear locking lugs on its bolt instead of frontal locking made so popular by Mauser.  Inspiration for this rifle may have been drawn from the Steyr Model 1903 that was produced for the Greek army, that rifle had six rear locking lugs and a rotary magazine.


The spiral shaped barrel of this rifle screws into the receiver a considerable distance of 2.24in or 57mm making for a very sturdy action.  The teflon coating on the bolt and the quality construction of the rotary magazine makes for a very smooth cycling of the action.  A smooth action is quite often attributed to rear locking rifles, a similar complement is quite bestowed upon the Lee-Enfield series of rifles, those rifles in particular were able to achieve significantly higher rates of fire because of this feature.  Rear Locking bolts were considered unsafe because the locking was not taking place at the 'business end' of the action but in spite of this no major catastrophe has been reported on the Lee-Enfield series or the SSG-69, this can probably be attributed to the strength of the materials used in both of these rifles, as it as often said : There's no substitute for quality.


Accuracy, the make or break for any would be sniper rifle, this is were the SSG-69 stands out.  Minute of Arc, or Minute of Angle, a unit of measurement for the accuracy of a rifle, for ease of understanding one minute of arc is equivalent of a group of three to five rounds landing within an one inch spread at 100 yards.  It is reported that a competent shooter with match grade ammunition in good conditions should be able to land five rounds in a 0.6 spread group or slightly better at 100 yards with this rifle, an excellent feat for any sniper rifle.  To aid accuracy modern sniper rifles have free-floated barrels meaning that the barrel does not touch the stock in any way and the SSG-69 is no exception.


Different versions of the SSG-69 are available :
PI,    .308 Win, 508mm barrel,
PII,   .22-250, .243 Rem, .308 Win, 650mm barrel,
PIV,  .308 Win, 409mm barrel


Also Steyr has the option for double set triggers and 10 round magazines.


INTERESTING FACT :  The magazine on the SSG-69 has a transparent section at the back so you can verify how many rounds you have loaded into the magazine.


PRO's     :  SUB MOA Accuracy, Smooth Action, Many Variants, 10 mags available


CON's     :  Swapping out the barrel is just about a factory only job


COOL FACTOR   : 8/10

11th of April : Dragunov Sniper Rifle

Name     :   Dragunov Sniper Rifle


AKA       :   SVD, Dragunov

7.62x54 Rimmed Surplus Rounds

Caliber   :   7.62x54mm Rimmed


Capacity :   10 Rounds


Weight   :   9.51lb or 4.32kg


Length    :   47.3in or 1201mm


Action     :   Semi Automatic, Gas operated  


Origin     :   U.S.S.R., Russia


Beginning it's long career in Russian service in 1963, Evgeniy Dragunov's semi automatic rifle would be one of the most numerous of sniper rifles in the world. Referred to as the SVD, an abbreviation of Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova, which translates to Dragunov's sniper rifle.  Through the eyes of NATO the Dragunov was never seen as a true sniper rifle, but more of a designated marksman's rifle the reasons being :
1. It isn't capable of extreme precision accuracy
2. It is a squad level weapon rather than a dedicated sniper's team weapon
3. The short range scope fitted as standard


The outward appearance of the SVD may resemble the AK series of firearms but it is in fact very different internally.  When a shot is fired through the SVD, a small amount of gas from the round going of is tapped off through a hole in the barrel and up into a tube with a small piston that travels backward a short distance pushing on a thin steel rod that in turn pushed on the bolt carrier sending it backward which rotates and unlocks the bolt from the chamber. As it continues back it ejects the spent case, re-cocks the hammer, reaches the rear and under spring power moves forward again, stripping a fresh round from the magazine and chamber-ring the round and locks the action closed ready for the next shot.  The difference between this and the AK action relates to the piston and bolt carrier, on the AK the heavy piston rod is attached permanently to bolt carrier, causing a larger shift in weight that disturbs the point of aim.


The 120 year old 7.62x54mm Rimmed cartridge is still going strong, first used in the Mosin Nagant series of rifles it has become a main stay of the Russian military, used in machineguns and sniper rifles it continues to be used.  When used in the SVD it achieves a respectable muzzle velocity of 2,723 feet per second (830m per second) and has an effective range of 874 yards (800m).


Commonly seen on the SVD is the PSO-1 scope, with a 4x telescopic lens. This hard wearing scope can handle temperatures ranging from -50 degrees to 50 above.   Looking through the scope you will find a reticule on the left hand side that allows the firer to range estimate his intended target, Calibrated for a 5.7ft man.  You simply aim at a standing target and place him in the height field and where he fits in perfectly between the top and bottom is your range, then place the correct chevron over your target and make your windage adjustments.

INTERESTING FACT :  When a field strip is performed on the rifle for maintenance and cleaning the scope needs to be removed from the rifle to in order to inspect and get to the internal components, whilst this traditionally is a big "no-no" the Russians claim the scope mounting clamp on this rifle is so good, you can take it off and put it back on without disturbing the point of aim and point of impact between the scope and the rifle.


PRO's  :  Lightweight, Powerful, Fast follow up shots, Absolutely reliable


CON's  :  Some rifles are only capable of 2"MOA accuracy


COOL FACTOR :  7/10