Steyr SBS tactical and ssg04 any good?

[Grifff]

Looking for a .308 that won't break the bank to get started. All range shooting and will buy something more specific if I get on ok. Are the steyrs a good option? Seems a few about under £1000 I prefer the tikka t3x tac a1 but at least £1600, same for Ruger precision and Remington.

Any advise would be great thanks

[phaedra1106]

SSG04 are very nice, older model now but still nice, I sold mine to Dodgyrog on here, most of those for sale will be 10 to 15 years old by now I would think.

Between the Ruger and the Tikka (I have both in 6.5 Creedmoor) the Tikka wins hands down on build quality, accuracy wise not a lot between them.

A new T3x Varmint would set you back about £990ish, a CTR about £1100ish, I have one in .308 in an MDT chassis, again very nice indeed.

[Dellboy]

howa 1500 in a grs stock maybe , mines good for 1200 yards

[jmc67]

I have a Steyr SBS and it is a lovely rifle. Well made and a joy to shoot. Depending on what you are doing with it, it will be happy with GGG mil surp ammo. Not that I have ever had to do it, but I understand the only watchout is if it needs rebarrelling - I've heard the barrels are heated up to be fitted so getting them off again is not easy.

[phaedra1106]

Just buy a new Tikka or Howa, that way you know what you're getting :)

[Grifff]

All good advice thanks

[Sim G]

I’m yet to own or try a Steyr or Tikka that wasn’t a shooter...

[Lancs Lad]

I have a Steyr SBS and it is a lovely rifle. Well made and a joy to shoot. Depending on what you are doing with it, it will be happy with GGG mil surp ammo. Not that I have ever had to do it, but I understand the only watchout is if it needs rebarrelling - I've heard the barrels are heated up to be fitted so getting them off again is not easy.

The issue of the barrel on SBS rifles being heated up to fit is incorrect. All SBS rifles have screw in barrels and as a result, are as easy to swap out as any other rifle barrel. I have this information in an email from the technical manager of Steyr.
The SSG 69 range of rifles did indeed have their barrels press-fitted, but as stated, all SBS rifles have threaded barrels.

As regards the SSG 04 itself, I have owned the 23.6 inch barrel model in .308Win for about 5 years and it is without doubt the most accurate rifle I have ever fired. Very well made and finished, it is very reliable and with the Kahles scope on the top, it never fails to attract attention wherever it goes. It much prefers a 168gn bullet and I have shot under a half MOA with it on a good day (but ALWAYS within one MOA).

The SSG04 is not as aggressive looking as the current crop of Ruger / Begara / Tikka TAC modular rifles but then it's down to what rings your bell.

Regards LL

[fenix]

I have one, seems to tick all the boxes for me, and will shoot out to 1000 yards if I do my bit, and feed it with the right ammo.
The only slight niggle for me is the design of the stock, it can flex where the tripod mounts, you will see comments that this can affect accuracy, but its not been a problem for me.
I would be tempted to fit a different stock if I could get one at a good price, only really to see if it made any difference.
The mag design is very simple, but works brilliantly, unlike the SSG69 the mag is robust. On that note I could do with a spare one.

[dodgyrog]

SSG04 are very nice, older model now but still nice, I sold mine to Dodgyrog on here, most of those for sale will be 10 to 15 years old by now I would think.

Between the Ruger and the Tikka (I have both in 6.5 Creedmoor) the Tikka wins hands down on build quality, accuracy wise not a lot between them.

A new T3x Varmint would set you back about £990ish, a CTR about £1100ish, I have one in .308 in an MDT chassis, again very nice indeed.

It's a right old knacker - he shot it almost smooth bore and sold it to me for a fortune!!!
(Actually, it's a cracking good rifle but don't tell him I said so!).