Steyr ARms SSG Carbon now available in the U.S.

Steyr Arms tells us the newest SSG rifle, formally announced at SHOT 2014, is finally available here in the U.S (it's manufactured by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH in Austria). The Steyr SSG Carbon has — you guessed it — an SMC constructed carbon-fiber stock. SMC (Sheet Molding Compound) construction, sometimes called “chipped-carbon” SMC, is the same thing used to create load-bearing structures in high performance aircraft, Formula 1 racecars and the like. It is not the woven carbon fiber stock sometimes seen in other rifles. The weapon

As Steyr Arms describes it,

“The SSG Carbon’s chipped-carbon flakes combine thermally with the binding agent to form the SMC for a distinctive appearance to the stock, but like the spirals on the rifle’s cold-hammer-forged barrel, they aren’t just there for looks. The carbon chips interlock with each other to create an unparalleled tension net that is superior to steel in every direction, yet weighing a fraction of steel and aluminum.”

The SMC technology apparently mitigates weight and absorbs recoil well. The SSG Carbon is based on the Steyr Safe Bold System (SBS) action uses the same barreled action and muzzle brake as does its SSG 08 predecessor. Its polymer 10-round box magazine is detachable, functioning as a constant-feed mag or (if placed in a second position) as a magazine cutoff to single-feed the rifle over the top of a loaded magazine. The stock features multiple sling mounting points, an adjustable cheek piece and butt plate, rubber-wrapped pistol grip, heavy bipod and integrated rear elevation pod. The 20 or 22.4 in. barrels are cold hammer forged with a twist rate of 1:10 (4 grooves) and the action is 25CrMo4 steel. Sights are described as 20-MOA Pic rails.

Suggest retail price is $3,695. Learn more (or find a dealer) here. You can follow Steyr Arms on Facebook here or on Instagram here (@steyrarms), though there isn't much traffic on the latter yet.

Here's a video of the 08 from last year, courtesy Steyr Mannlicher.

As an aside, they're currently running their second annual summer sale at their Bessemer, AL HQ. It runs today through Saturday if you live in driving distance. They do transfers in house. Maybe you can get hold of the new AUG/A3 1 NATO bullpups that just started shipping a couple weeks ago. If not, there are currently 11 other variations of the AUG/A3, they gotta have something you'd like.

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