TECHNICAL DOPE BAG

The SSG 04’s minimum-dimension ejection port contrib- utes to the rigidity of its receiver while a Picatinny rail facili- tates scope mounting.

STEYR SSG 04

irst seen in 2003 and distrib- safety bushing to contain any escap- uted in quantity in 2004, the ing gas, a bolt handle that locks into F SSG 04 supersedes the the receiver and thus acts as a safety company’s venerable rear-locking lug, and a rearward extension of the SSG 69 bolt gun, which has served fi ring pin that serves to indicate if police and military units worldwide the is cocked. for more than 30 years, and which, Also innovative is the Steyr 2+1 at present, is still available. Cham- Safety System that employs a unique berings for the SSG 04 are .308 Win. tang-mounted rotating three-posi- fully to the rear. Additionally, when and .300 Win. Mag. We evaluated a tion safety piece. When the red the safety is in this position, the bolt sample in the latter. indicator dot on the safety can be handle may be pressed downward The SSG 04 utilizes the Steyr seen, the action can be worked and an additional 3/16" or so to lock the Safe Bolt System (SBS) (July 1997, the gun fi red. Rotated rearward so fi ring pin as well. p. 44). The SBS is characterized by that only the white dot is visible, the This safety system is also a number of unique features, includ- gun’s action may be worked, but the employed to remove the bolt. ing a full-diameter forward-locking trigger is locked. To lock both the With the bolt handle lifted, put- bolt with lugs that are enclosed by a bolt and trigger, the safety is rotated ting the safety piece in the third

The American Rifl eman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” since at least 1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen fi rst titled his column with it. Even then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shooters to hold ammunition and accessories on the fi ring line. “Sight dope” also was a traditional marksman’s term for sight-adjustment information, while judging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.”

WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide informa- tion based on the limited experience of individuals under specifi c conditions and circumstances. They do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely necessary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the The SSG 04’s bolt head features four contents page. Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of locking lugs, a plunger ejector and a proper training requirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity. pivoting extractor.

60 JANUARY 2007 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.) STEYR SSG 04

.300 WIN . MAG . VEL . @ 15' ENERGY GROUP SIZE IN INCHES MANUFACTURER : STEYR MANNLICHER (F.P.S.) (FT .-LBS .) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE GMBH & CO. KG, RAMINGTAL 46, 4442 KLEINRAMING , ; FEDERAL 2919 3,595 0.83 1.33 1.15 WWW .STEYR -MANNLICHER .COM NO. GM300WM 17 SD IMPORTER : , INC . 190-GR . BTHP MK (DEPT . AR), P.O. BOX 2609, HORNADY NO. 82035 2878 3,275 0.62 0.97 0.78 CUMMING , GA 30028; 178-GR . A-MAX 18 SD (770) 888-4201; WWW .STEYRARMS .COM CALIBER : .308 WIN., AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD : 0.96 .300 WIN. MAG . (TESTED ) ACTION TYPE : BOLT -ACTION , MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 ROUNDS FROM A 23.6" BARREL . RANGE TEMPERATURE : CENTER -FIRE 80° F. HUMIDITY: 55%. ACCURACY FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE , FIVE -SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS . RECEIVER : BLUED STEEL FROM A BIPOD AND REAR SANDBAG . ABBREVIATIONS : BTHP (BOATTAIL HOLLOW -POINT ), MK BARREL LENGTH : 23.6"; 20" (MATCH KING ), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION ). AVAILABLE ONLY IN .308 WIN. RIFLING : FOUR GROOVE , 1:10" RH TWIST : SYNTHETIC DETACHABLE BOX MAGAZINE , 10-ROUND CAPACITY (.308 WIN.), SEVEN -ROUND CAPACITY (.300 WIN. MAG .) SIGHTS : NONE SUPPLIED ; PICATINNY RAIL FOR SCOPE MOUNTING TRIGGER PULL : TWO STAGE , 3 LBS ., 8 OZS . STOCK : FIBERGLASS -REINFORCED BLACK 7 SYNTHETIC ; LENGTH OF PULL , 13 ⁄8"; 1 DROP AT HEEL , 1 ⁄2"; DROP AT COMB , 1" (WITH COMB FULLY LOWERED ) The muzzle is fi tted with a 3 OVERALL LENGTH : 46 ⁄4" brake (above, l.). The grey WEIGHT : 9 LBS ., 14 OZS . (WITHOUT BIPOD ) button (above, r.) must be ACCESSORIES : PLASTIC CASE , TEST TARGET , depressed to disengage INSTRUCTION MANUAL , HARRIS BIPOD the SSG 04’s safety. SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE : $2,717

loaded catches on either side of the box releases the magazine. We test-fi red the SSG 04 at 100 yds. off a Harris bipod and a rear “locked” position allows the bolt The SSG 04 utilizes the same sandbag using Hornady and Fed- to be withdrawn rearward from trigger as other SBS rifl es and is eral match ammunition. Although the receiver. factory-set at around 3 lbs., 8 ozs. to recoil was considerably attenuated The .300 Win. Mag. SSG 04 4 lbs., 8 ozs. Pull weight is not user- by the muzzle brake, there was still comes with a 23.6" hammer-forged adjustable but can be lightened by a considerable gun movement upon barrel, while the .308 Win. can be certifi ed Steyr service technician or a fi ring. However, this did not seem had with either 20" or 23.6" tubes. qualifi ed gunsmith. to impair grouping, which was At 1.15" in diameter forward of Right-side thumbscrews on particularly impressive with the the receiver ring and 0.78" just the butt allow the comb to be Hornady load. No malfunctions of rearward of the muzzle brake, the elevated 1.5", and the vertical any kind were noted. barrel has a rather lightweight buttpad position can be adjusted Trigger quality was good: a crisp profi le for easy fi eld carry. through a practical range of about break, right at 3 lbs, 8 ozs. About the The bolt features four lugs 3". Spacers allow pull length to be only complaint we had was that dur- arranged in pairs arrayed 180 modifi ed as well. The stock also ing gun cleaning, the comb had to be degrees apart, with the lug circle features a 3/4"-thick buttpad and raised to its maximum height for bolt and bolt body having the same dual sling-swivel studs. Although removal, and then fully lowered for 0.825" diameter. Bolt lift is approxi- the gun’s narrow, tapered fore-end cleaning rod insertion. mately 70 degrees. Because the is not optimal for sandbag use, it is In features and accuracy, the lugs of the bolt are the same appropriate for the Harris bipod Steyr SSG 04 is the equal of any of outside diameter as the bolt included with the rifl e. the current crop of factory tactical body, there is no need for interior The SSG 04’s staggered, double- rifl es. Weighing around 13 lbs. with raceways, which allows the 1.375"- column, synthetic box magazine a scope, it will be especially attrac- diameter steel receiver to main- has a capacity of 10 rounds in .308 tive to users desiring the range tain a beefy 0.275" wall thickness Win. and seven rounds in .300 Win. and power of a precision rifl e in an throughout its length. Mag. Depressing the two spring- easily portable package.

JANUARY 2007 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN 61 DOPE BAG

WILSON COMBAT CARRY COMP

roduced exclusively in .45 Wilson Bullet Proof parts are used housing, beveled magazine well ACP, the Wilson Combat wherever possible. and thorough dehorning. Essen- P Carry Comp is only about The Carry Comp has the requi- tially a custom pistol, the Carry 1/2" shorter than a full-size Gov- site features of a modern custom Comp can be had with a choice ernment Model, but it incorporates M1911, such as a lightweight of long or short trigger, arched a single-port compensator at the aluminum trigger, a slotted or fl at mainspring housing, and end of a shortened slide. Two Commander-style hammer and either strong-side or ambidextrous versions are offered: a Compact a fi tted match-grade barrel. An thumb safety. model with an Offi cer’s ACP-size extended ejector, a lowered and Recoil is handled by a 12-lb. frame and a Professional model fl ared ejection port, and a fully recoil spring, a standard spring based on a full-size frame. We throated barrel promote reliability. guide and a reverse plug that tested the latter. Ergonomics are emphasized in extends forward under the com- Both models are built on Wilson the gun’s extended thumb safety, pensator body, allowing the use of Combat 70-series-style slides and extended magazine-release but- a longer spring for smoother and frames that are CNC-machined from ton, beavertail grip safety with more reliable cycling. high-quality 4140 forgings. All Carry palm pad, high-cut frontstrap A fi xed, no-snag Wilson rear Comp components are from Wilson; with 30 line-per-inch machine-cut sight and a slightly ramped 0.125"- and for extra longevity, heavy-duty checkering, checkered mainspring wide by 0.150"-high front post,

62 JANUARY 2007 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN SHOOTING RESULTS (25 YDS.) WILSON CARRY COMP

.45 ACP VEL . @ 15' ENERGY GROUP SIZE IN INCHES MANUFACTURER : WILSON COMBAT CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT .-LBS .) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE (DEPT . AR), 2234 CR 719, BER - RYVILLE , AR 72616-4573; (800) COR -BON POW ’RBALL 1123 AVG . 462 1.60 2.07 1.73 955-4856; WWW .WILSONCOMBAT .COM 165-GR . SP 22 SD CALIBER : .45 ACP HORNADY NO. 91128 991 AVG . 436 1.42 1.88 1.63 ACTION TYPE : SHORT -RECOIL -OPERATED , 200-GR . TAP FPD 7 SD SINGLE -ACTION , CENTER -FIRE SEMI -AUTOMATIC PISTOL WINCHESTER NO. S45 823 AVG . 346 2.20 2.56 2.39 FRAME : FORGED 4140 STEEL 230-GR . SXT 11 SD BARREL : STAINLESS STEEL , 4" RIFLING : SIX GROOVES , 1:16" RH TWIST AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD : 1.91 MAGAZINE : STEEL BOX WITH EXTENDED MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 ROUNDS FROM A 4" BARREL . RANGE TEMPERATURE : BASEPAD , EIGHT -ROUND CAPACITY 82° F. HUMIDITY: 66%. ACCURACY FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE , FIVE -SHOT GROUPS AT 25 YDS . SIGHTS : RAMPED DOVETAIL -MOUNTED FROM A CALDWELL HAMMR REST . ABBREVIATIONS : FPD (FOR PERSONAL DEFENSE ), SP FRONT POST ; REAR NO -SNAG FIXED ; (SOFT POINT ), SXT (SUPREME EXPANSION TECHNOLOGY ), TAP (TACTICAL APPLICATION TRITIUM INSERTS IN THREE -DOT PATTERN POLICE ), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION ). TRIGGER PULL : SINGLE ACTION ; 4 LBS . GRIPS : CHECKERED KINGWOOD , COCOBOLO OR DYMONDWOOD 1 OVERALL LENGTH : 8 ⁄4" 3 HEIGHT : 5 ⁄4" 3 WIDTH : 1 ⁄8" WEIGHT : 39 OZS . ACCESSORIES : NYLON PISTOL RUG , OWNER ’S MANUAL , TEST TARGET , EXTRA MAGAZINE , INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO OPTIONS : AMBIDEXTROUS THUMB SAFETY , WILSON ADJUSTABLE REAR SIGHT , THIN STOCKS , VARIOUS STOCK WOODS , OTHERS ON REQUEST SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE : $2,895 (FIXED Sights include a fi xed no-snag rear notch and front SIGHTS , STRONG -SIDE THUMB SAFETY ); OTHER PRICING VARIES WITH OPTIONS post; both have tritium inserts (below). As its name implies, the Carry Comp features a single-port com- pensator (far, r.) contoured to match the slide.

both with green tritium inserts in a which has a tapered shank that fi ts more consistent groups than our three-dot pattern, are standard on snugly in the bore of the slide to test shooter was able to achieve the Carry Comp. A Wilson adjust- replace the bushing. The com- off sandbags. In speed-shooting able rear sight is also available. pensator resembles the Wilson drills, the Carry Comp’s recoil and All Carry Comps have a Accu-Comp. muzzle fl ip was noticeably less corrosion-resistant Armor-Tuff We fi red the Carry Comp with than that of a non-compensated fi nish, available in black, olive defensive ammunition from Cor- Government Model. There were no green and gray. Our test gun had Bon, Hornady and Winchester stoppages of any kind. black Armor-Tuff on the slide and using Caldwell’s new HAMMR The Wilson Carry Comp is not compensator, and the frame and pistol rest. The Hornady load per- inexpensive. However, the price frame-mounted components were formed best, with an impressive refl ects the custom quality that olive green. 1.63" average that approximated goes into each gun. For those What sets the Carry Comp apart the Wilson Combat in-house accu- seeking a defensive pistol offering from other defensive M1911s is its racy standard of 1½" at 25 yds. match-grade accuracy, excellent single-port compensator threaded Our test-fi re session also served ergonomics, high reliability and onto the end of the gun’s stainless as an informal evaluation of the the recoil reduction of a compen- steel, unramped Wilson barrel. The HAMMR rest, which once prop- sator, the Wilson Carry Comp may gun employs a “cone compensator,” erly set up, produced smaller and be just the ticket.

JANUARY 2007 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN 63