| SIG 516 | |
|---|---|
 The SIG 516 Tactical Patrol 14.5" | |
| Type | Semi-automatic rifle (civilian versions) Assault rifle (SIG516) Battle rifle (SIG716) |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2010–present |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Wars | Kurdish-Turkish conflict Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2000s |
| Manufacturer | SIG Sauer |
| Produced | 2010–2019 |
| Variants | SIG716 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.3 kg (7.28 lb) 406 mm barrel |
| Length | 920–947 mm (36.22–37.28 in) 406 mm barrel |
| Barrel length | 406 mm (16.0 in) |
| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO (SIG516) 7.62×39mm (SIG516) 7.62×51mm NATO (SIG716) 6.5mm Creedmoor (SIG716) |
| Action | Short-stroke piston,rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 750-950 rounds/minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 850 m/s (2,789 ft/s) 406 mm barrel |
| Effective firing range | 500 m (550 yd) |
| Feed system | 10, 20, 30-round detachablemagazine |
| Sights | Iron sights orpicatinny rail for various optics |
TheSIG Sauer SIG516 is anassault rifle and asemi automatic rifle manufactured bySIG Sauer, chambered in5.56×45mm NATO.
The SIG Sauer SIG516 shares lineage with the Heckler & KochHK416. The principal firearms engineers for the SIG516 were Robert Hirt and Chris Sirois. Following his time with Heckler & Koch, Hirt was recruited bySIG Sauer to work with then SIG engineer Chris Sirois on an improved version of the HK416. The SIG516 omitted many proprietary HK416 components that were exchanged for standard (M4 carbine mil spec conform) components. Other HK416 issues like the (at the time) high cyclic rate, which causes lower life cycle, a gas vent, which showed up in low light conditions, and safety issues (i.e. the need for a firing pin safety) were also addressed. Hirt and Sirois later designed the SIG716 andSIG MCX/SIG MPX. They were later recruited byCaracal to develop theCAR 816 series.[1][2]
The SIG516 is a multi-caliber assault rifle capable ofselective fire. It fires from aclosed bolt, and it has a short-stroke push rod piston system. The gas piston pushes the bolt carrier rearward where it is returned to the forward and locked position by a spring. This process loads the next cartridge. The 516 has a four-position gas regulator, allowing the user to choose the amount of gas directed to the piston, to adjust the gas system to function reliably with various propellant, projectile, fouling, operating environment, and configuration-specific pressure behavior.[3]
The SIG516 is based on theAR-15 platform ergonomic architecture, but it uses ashort-stroke gas piston operating system (unlike theAR-15's piston-operated gas impingement system). The SIG516 uses a proprietary bolt carrier and government (law enforcement and military contract select-fire) rifles a special tungsten granules containing buffer to manage bolt carrier bounce and soften recoil. The barrel is chrome-lined. The amount of movement between the upper and lower receiver is minimized by a rubber wedge.
The SIG516 has a safety lever on the left side to be used by the thumb of the shooting hand. The gas block integrates an adjustable gas regulator. The front gas block is railed to accept the front sight with a flip-up sight post. SIG516 models are equipped with anM16A2 style bird-cage flash hider.
All SIG516 models except the Marksman are equipped with 16-inch (406 mm) barrels shrouded by a free-floating M1913Picatinny rail, as well as flip-up iron sights (BUIS) made by SIG Sauer.[4]
The 5.56×45mm NATO SIG516 models acceptSTANAGbox magazines. These magazines are constructed in 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-round variants. SIG516 Russian rifles use a different magazine as they are chambered in7.62×39mm. The SIG516 Russian uses magazines designed for 7.62×39mmAR-15 style rifles. The rifle is hammer-fired and has a two-stage trigger mechanism in the SIG516 Marksman while all others have a military specification single-stage trigger.
It is built to pass theNATO test protocol "Over the Beach", meaning the SIG516 is designed to fire safely as quickly as possible after being submerged in water.[citation needed]
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TheSIG516 Precision Marksman has a longer 457 mm (18.0 in) barrel and an adjustable stock. It weighs 3.5 kg (7.72 lb) and has a length of 914–1,003 mm (35.98–39.49 in). The barrel is chrome-lined. Iron and or optical sights are installed on an integralMIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail on the top of the receiver and additional accessories can be mounted on the fore end quad rails.
TheSIG716 is abattle rifle variant,[5] which is based on the same design, but is chambered for the larger7.62x51mm NATO round and usesSR-25 pattern magazines.[6]
The SIG716 G2 (Generation 2) variant features a short-stroke pushrod gas system. This operating system reduces carbon fouling, excessive heat and unburned powder in the action, ensuring further improved reliability and function.[7] The G2 Patrol model is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO,[8] while the G2 DMR model is chambered in6.5mm Creedmoor.[9]
The 716i (impingement) variant features agas-operated, rotating bolt (internal piston) system instead of short-stroke pushrod gas system. This Stoner bolt and carrier piston operating system has helped SIG Sauer to bring down the cost of manufacturing and pushing more sales of 716i, whilst also achieving a weight reduction.[10] The 716i is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO.[10] Sig Sauer appears to have discontinued SIG716 and SIG716 G2 models, since the company stopped displaying these products in their website, while they continue to sell magazines and spare parts in their online store.[citation needed] The 716i has been recognized as the best AR-10 rifle for the year 2020, by readers' choice voting of Ballistic magazine.[11]
Argentina: Used bylaw enforcement[12]
Canada: Used byCanadian Special Operations Forces Command[13]
Egypt: Used by NavyEl-Sa'ka Forces[14]
Georgia: In use with the GeorgianMIA andMOD special forces[15]
Hong Kong: Used by theHong Kong Police Force including theSpecial Duties Unit and theCounter Terrorism Response Unit[16][17]
India: Order placed for 72,400 units of SIG 716 variant. In December 2019, the first lot of 10,000 rifles was delivered to theIndian Army’s Northern Command.[18] SIG Sauer also confirmed that delivery of the first order has already been completed.[19] Another batch of 70,000 rifles was cleared for order in December 2023.[20][21] The deal for an order of 73,000 rifles (that was cleared in 2023) was signed on 26 August 2024.[22] Production of the latter 73,000 units order to be executed in India along with Nibe Group,Pune with complete rifle manufacturing in India from 2025.[23]
Indonesia: SIG516 Patrol in use by theMobile Brigade of theIndonesian National Police,[24] and SIG716 G2 by special operations units of theIndonesian National Armed Forces.[25]
Mexico: Transitioning into the general service rifle of theNaval Infantry Force[26]
Philippines:Philippine Army with 832 SIG716 G2 DMRs ordered from SIG Sauer as part of the Designated Marksman Rifle acquisition project under the Horizon 1 project. Expected to replace the M14.[27][28]
Peru: SIG516 and SIG716 variants used bySubunidad de Acciones Tácticas of Peruvian Police[29][30]
Serbia: Used byPTJ (Counter-Terrorist Unit) of Serbian Police[31]
Switzerland: Used by the Mobilen Einsatzpolizei of theAargau Police[32]
Trinidad and Tobago: Used by theTrinidad and Tobago Police Service[33]
Turkey: Used byPolice Special Operation Department andPolice Counter Attack Teams[34]
United Kingdom: Used byMetropolitan PoliceCounter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers (CTSFO),[35]Staffordshire Police,[36] andWest Midlands Police[37]
United States: Used byFlorida Highway Patrol when purchased in 2019,Delaware State Police when purchased in 2012, and also byCincinnati Police Department SWAT, as well as theAnderson County, South Carolina Sheriff's Office SWAT,[38] andSan Diego Police Department SWAT, in which the rifles will replace aging Vietnam-era M16s.[39] Up to 500 716G2s ordered byU.S. Army through acommercial off-the-shelf contract in December 2018.[40][41][42]