The .460 Steyr was designed by Horst Grillmayer (Austria) in 2002 and the cartridge was co-developed by Steyr to provide superb ultra-long-range ballistics with less recoil than the .50 BMG. Like the .50 BMG, the .460 Steyr can launch bullets that stay supersonic well past 1,500 meters. The projectiles were designed by Guido Wasser (Switzerland). The production of the rifle and cartridge started in 2004 and the .460 Steyr was a way to offer an ultra-long range, sporting/sniper rifle and cartridge in jurisdictions which banned 50-caliber rifles. As with the .416 Barrett cartridge, the .460 Steyr cartridge was developed by shortening and necking down the .50 BMG case; however the .460 Steyr is longer than the 416 Barrett.