Steyr HS .50
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 833 mm
- Weight, empty
- 12.50 kg
- Introduced
- 2004
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Steyr HS .50 is an Austrian single-shot, bolt-action anti-materiel sniper rifle chambered in .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO). Introduced by Steyr Mannlicher in 2004, it uses a manually operated bolt with a cold hammer-forged, fluted barrel and a heavy muzzle brake to manage the recoil of the powerful cartridge. Designed for long-range engagement of materiel targets such as light vehicles, equipment and unprotected emplacements out to around 1,500 metres, it is fed one round at a time in the base model.
Shortly after its introduction, a controversy arose when Austrian-exported HS .50 rifles were reportedly found in the hands of insurgents in Iraq, prompting diplomatic friction between Austria and the United States.
Iran reverse-engineered and locally produces the rifle as the AM-50 'Sayyad', examples of which have appeared in regional conflicts. The HS .50 M1 variant replaces the single-shot breech with a five-round detachable box magazine.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Steyr Arms
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- Austria
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2004
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 833 mm
- Overall length
- 1370 mm
- Weight, empty
- 12.50 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 1
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 850 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 15100 J
- Effective range
- 1500 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Cold hammer forged barrel
Fluted barrel
Muzzle brake
Picatinny rail
Single shot breech
Adjustable bipod
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 31 12.7x99mm NATO sniper rifles | 12.50 kg | 12.43 kg | Near the median |
| Overall lengthAmong 31 12.7x99mm NATO sniper rifles | 1370 mm | 1384 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 31 12.7x99mm NATO sniper rifles | 833 mm | 737 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 31 12.7x99mm NATO sniper rifles | 1 | 5 | Holds fewer rounds than about 90% |
Answers
Questions about the Steyr HS .50
How much does the Steyr HS .50 weigh?
The Steyr HS .50 weighs 12.50 kg (27.56 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Steyr HS .50?
The Steyr HS .50 is chambered in .50 BMG.
How many rounds does the Steyr HS .50 hold?
The Steyr HS .50 holds 1 rounds.
How long is the Steyr HS .50?
The Steyr HS .50 is 1370 mm (53.9 in) long overall, with a 833 mm (32.8 in) barrel.
Who makes the Steyr HS .50?
The Steyr HS .50 is made by Steyr Arms (Austria). It was designed by Steyr Mannlicher.
When was the Steyr HS .50 introduced?
The Steyr HS .50 was introduced in 2004.
How does the Steyr HS .50 operate?
The Steyr HS .50 uses a bolt action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Iran
- Iran
- Argentine Armed Forces
- Argentina
- Mexican Armed Forces
- Mexico
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/steyr-hs-50' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "steyr-hs-50", "name": "Steyr HS .50", "manufacturer": { "id": "steyr-mannlicher", "name": "Steyr Arms", "countryCode": "AT", "foundedYear": 1864, "website": "https://www.steyr-arms.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": "Austrian rifle manufacturer, founded 1864. Currently produces hunting and sporting rifles.", "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "updatedAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "version": "a826cd329c11aab62c76039016717ad94b5d38e37df48de00a5a6800ce0b3c60" }, "category": { "id": "sniper-rifle", "name": "Sniper Rifle", "description": "Precision rifles optimized for long-range accuracy" }, "country_of_origin": "AT", "year_introduced": 2004, "barrel_length_mm": 833, "weight_empty_g": 12500, "action_type": "bolt_action"}