steyr ssg82 ?
I have located a rifle described as an "East German sniper rifle" used on the Berlin wall (of the same type). It is a Steyr SSG82 in 5.45x39 caliber with a Zeis-Jana scope on it. I would like any information (how accurate, how rare, what they are worth) on this rifle. Thanks....
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I know the question was posted a long time ago.
I saw my first SSG-82 at the SAXET gun show in San Antonio, TX when SAXET had their show at the Airport Convention Center on Broadway. The seller also had a Mannlicher Schoenauer 1903 which I bought but I always remember him showing me his SSG-82 which had a stipulated grip and forend, hammer forged barrel, rear locking lugs, . . . all in a target like rifle configuration which looked like a Steyr. Long afterwards, I bought a strange scope off of ebay and it turned out to be the SSG-82's scope. Became more interested in the SSG-82 and bought two magazines (S.W.A.T. and Target Gun) with SSG-82 articles. Both authors of the articles had similar problems with the rifle (i.e., ammunition, FTE, accuracy, fit, etc.). A little bit of the Iron Curtain memorabilia for the gun collector but not a shooter's rifle.0 -
Century Arms imported and sold them in the 90's. As East German sniper rifles. From their physical characteristics. I always felt, that they were originally designed, as running boar rifles. Although I don't know if the running boar competitions in Europe, are shot with scoped rifles though? 
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These rifles generated a lot of discussions here in the U.S. because of the way they were marketed. 'East German', 'sniper rifle', 'Poison Bullet', 'rare', etc. Any descriptor which would stimulate the masses into a buying spree.
While the rifle could perform adequately, it was not a design which was supported by high quality ammunition. The only ammo available was mil-surp designed for use in the AK74. Initially the bullet design was developed to create serious wounds after shallow penetration. This design limited the accuracy potential of the cartridge. Later iterations though were of a better design which did yield some improvement in accuracy. But brass cases and quality bulk bullets were never available so the reloaders seeking better accuracy were left out in the cold. Hornady has ammunition in the supply chain featuring the 60-grain VMAX bullet but it is still matched to the stupid steel cases which are Berdan primed.
The usual accuracy tests often yielded 1" groups at 100 yards which is acceptable but certainly not what we would call 'target' accuracy. When tested at 300 meters, accuracy was maintained at 3" to 4" approximately.
The real desirability came from the number of rifles allowed into the U.S. Of the 2,000 supposedly produced, 600 were sent to the U.S. A quick check of these rifles currently for sale has at least a few selling in the range from $1,800.00 to a high of $2,600.00 in one sale I found online.
As an example of Cold War firearms, it is a fun rifle to have given the lack of quality ammunition. But, if accuracy in this style of rifle is important then I suggest that you can have a much better rifle built which will perform to much high level of accuracy.
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quote:Originally posted by nononsense
These rifles generated a lot of discussions here in the U.S. because of the way they were marketed. 'East German', 'sniper rifle', 'Poison Bullet', 'rare', etc. Any descriptor which would stimulate the masses into a buying spree.
While the rifle could perform adequately, it was not a design which was supported by high quality ammunition. The only ammo available was mil-surp designed for use in the AK74. Initially the bullet design was developed to create serious wounds after shallow penetration. This design limited the accuracy potential of the cartridge. Later iterations though were of a better design which did yield some improvement in accuracy. But brass cases and quality bulk bullets were never available so the reloaders seeking better accuracy were left out in the cold. Hornady has ammunition in the supply chain featuring the 60-grain VMAX bullet but it is still matched to the stupid steel cases which are Berdan primed.
The usual accuracy tests often yielded 1" groups at 100 yards which is acceptable but certainly not what we would call 'target' accuracy. When tested at 300 meters, accuracy was maintained at 3" to 4" approximately.
The real desirability came from the number of rifles allowed into the U.S. Of the 2,000 supposedly produced, 600 were sent to the U.S. A quick check of these rifles currently for sale has at least a few selling in the range from $1,800.00 to a high of $2,600.00 in one sale I found online.
As an example of Cold War firearms, it is a fun rifle to have given the lack of quality ammunition. But, if accuracy in this style of rifle is important then I suggest that you can have a much better rifle built which will perform to much high level of accuracy.
Best.
No offense, but if these rifles were specifically designed for Running Boar competitions. Long range accuracy wasn't a factor, that the designers were concerned with.
The Running Boar matches are shot from the off hand,(standing), position. With the Boar targets on a moving platform, 50 meters from the shooter. It sounds like a piece of cake, but the platform is moving fast.
The small shoot zone. Is between the covered no shoot areas, on either end. That the pig runs between, makes it a very challenging. Requiring a great deal of practice, and lightning reflexes. For very experienced shooters.
Edit, #1
Don't mean to seem, to make it easy. On the the body of the pig, is a superimposed, numbered, bullseye target. The shooter has to get the highest numerical score. By getting as close to the center of the bullseye, on the pig. With more than just one shot.0 -
I think I saw one several years back at a show. I'd be happy to sell every one I had for $2600, but I'd likely feel I'd need to wear a mask. My 722 Rem in 222 will still do clay birds at 350 yards from a rest. I have shot real birds out of the air with it and many a running bunnies vaporized into pieces. + it looks better. 0 -
rufe-snow,
None taken.
quote:...but if...
This doesn't suggest that this is a true statement but rather a supposition. In the reading that I've done, I have never seen a mention of the running boar contests featuring these rifles. Now, this is NOT to say that I've read every article which might have mentioned this rifle in any capacity, I haven't I'm sure. So the potential exists, I just haven't seen any mention.
We use a style of the running boar stage in PRS action shooting contests. Every match has at least one mover stage while some have as many as 5 mover stages at various distance. The difference is that we don't use a numeric set of target rings on the mover, we just count the hits accomplished in a certain amount of time. The closest of these stages is usually 500 yards. Some are shot prone, some are shot kneeling while others are shot standing offhand.
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