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SSG-98k: Austria Repurposes German Sniper Rifles (ad-free)
🕑 Added 2023-02-27 12:00:01 +0000 UTCIn the aftermath of World War Two, the Austrian Army was basically disarmed and disbanded. When it was allowed to reform in the 1950s, it needed new armaments, and in 1958 it adopted the SSG-98k as a new sniper's rifle. This replaced the leftover German K98k snipers that had been used by the small post-war Austrian police and border guard forces.
Essentially, the SSG-98k was a surplus German Kar 98k Mauser with a new 7.62x51mm barrel (Austria was not a NATO member, but used the NATO cartridge), a cut-down stock, commercial Pachmayr recoil pad, and a Kahles 4x31mm ZF-58 scopes. A variety of base rifles were used for these, from very early pre-war German Mausers through post-war French-occupation Mausers.
The SSG-98k served for about ten years, being replaced in 1969 by the much more advanced Steyr SSG-69. Some remained in inventory into the 1980s.
Comments
Michael Baggott
Is it really more lethal? It's certainly a more powerful round but at the velocities and sizes of both rounds, either will be lethal. I'm not sure "more lethal" is an issue at this point.
Guido Schriewer
"can I get a ssg69"... man that is a gap between those.
Paul Beck
The odds of me finding one of these 350 ever made in the local pawn shop? I'm fairly certain is going to be slim too, well, none !! Won't stop me from looking though!!! 🤠👍🇦🇹
Forgotten Weapons
I have an SSG-69 video coming later this week. :)
Forgotten Weapons
No...
I have the SSG-69 in 7.62. Wish it was 8mm but it does just fine. Double set trigger is set at 2 ounces right now.
Terry
Would you agree that, issues of compatibility aside, the 8mm Mauser cartridge is a more lethal cartridge than 7.62mm NATO?
Peter Stadlmaier
Nice! Did you met with Wolfdieter Hufnagl?
Douglas Biegel
Very interesting.
