It is a highly accurate bolt action sniper rifle, with a folding stock and an adjustable cheek piece and butt plate.

The rifle also features an improved muzzle brake over the SSG 04, with the ability to attach a suppressor.

Introduced in 2008, Steyr claims EKO Cobra, Austria's primary counter-terrorism unit, had its hand in developing this weapon.

[4] The SSG 08 utilises the Safe Bolt System (SBS) action, cold hammer-forged barrels, trigger units and magazines of its parent, the SSG 04, but features an aluminium alloy stock, with side-folding, fully adjustable butt and additional Picatinny rails on the forend.

The SSG 08 is based on Steyr's SBS rotary bolt action with four frontal locking lugs, arranged in pairs.