Tag Archives: sig sauer

101st Airborne Starts Getting Its New Guns

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Part of the famed 101st Airborne Division recently became the first unit issued with the new Next Generation Squad Weapon system.

A March 28 social media post from the PEO Soldier office detailed that the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, a unit of the Fort Campbell-based 101st, received the NGSW, marking a key milestone for the program that intends to replace the 5.56 NATO M4 Carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon with a new family of weapons chambered in 6.8mm.

The new guns will be used in an upcoming New Equipment Training, an in-depth, train-the-trainer course, set for this month. From there, the systems and training will fan out across the brigade.

Elements of the 101st had been previously involved in an extensive series of more than 100 tests spanning over 25,000 hours and 1.5 million rounds of ammo with the platform. 

An infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (Strike Force), 2nd Brigade (Strike), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), executes chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense (CBRN defense) day qualification with the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle and Fire Control while operationally testing at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. (Photo Credit: Mark Scovell, Visual Information Specialist, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)

The program includes SIG Sauer’s XM-7 rifle, which will fill the role currently held by the M4 series, the SIG XM250 light machine gun slated to replace the M249, and the Vortex-produced M157 Fire Control optics system used on both platforms. SIG also supplies suppressors for the platforms. Of note, the XM-7 is based on SIG’s MCX Spear series.

Next up for NGSW is to equip a National Guard armored brigade in May.

More in my column at Guns.com.

Denali Paratroopers Test New Next-Gen Weapons at 25 Below

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The only Arctic, Airborne, Recon cavalry squadron in the U.S. Army has been busy trying out the service’s new Next Generation Squad Weapon systems in some of the worst weather Alaska can offer.

The 1st Squadron (Airborne) of the 40th Cavalry Regiment, working with Fort Greely’s Cold Regions Test Center in one of the coldest parts of Alaska, has been putting the NGSW platform through its paces. The program includes SIG Sauer’s XM-7 rifle, which will fill the role currently held by the M4 Carbine series, the SIG XM250 light machine gun slated to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, and the Vortex-produced M157 Fire Control optics system used on both platforms.

“Extreme environmental testing is critical to ensuring reliable systems,” noted Col. Jason Bohannon, the Army’s Project Manager Soldier Lethality on Feb. 9.

Meanwhile, a social media page for the 1st Squadron-40th Cav noted that they have been experiencing “sub-Arctic conditions in the vicinity of Ft Greely where temperatures haven’t topped above -25 degrees.”

If your range gear includes “Mickey Mouse” Boots, you may be testing an NGSW in Alaska in winter. (Photo: PEO Soldier)

That just seems…really cold. (Photo: PEO Soldier)

The 40th has a long military history of making it work under terrible conditions. Based in its current form in Alaska since 2005– from where they deployed to Iraq (Southern Baghdad) once and Afghanistan twice (Paktya and Khost Provinces)– it draws its lineage from the old 40th Tank Battalion which entered combat on August 15 1944 fighting across northern France into Belgium where it made a significant contribution to the defeat of German forces at St. Vith during the Battle of the Bulge then drove into Germany linking up with the Soviets on the Baltic coast.

M4 Shermans in temporary position near St. Vith, Belgium, fire on enemy positions beyond the city. 40th Tank Battalion. 7th Armored Division.” Date: 24 January 1945. Salis, U.S. Army Signal Corps photo 111-SC-199467

Rangers and 101st Beat on the NGSWs

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The Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons program just completed an important milestone with the SIG Sauer-produced firearms wrapping up testing at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

First arriving in quantity at the base in early October, the NGSW just finished new equipment training and a limited user test with troops drawn from the 75th Ranger Regiment and the “Screaming Eagles” of the 101st Airborne Division.

The training started with classroom work on the new systems, including SIG Sauer’s XM-7 rifle, which will fill the role currently held by the M4 Carbine series, the SIG XM250 light machine gun slated to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, and the Vortex-produced M157 Fire Control optics system used on both platforms.

An infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (Strike Force), 2nd Brigade (Strike), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Screaming Eagles), installs the suppressor on the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle during new equipment training while operationally testing at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. (Photo Credit: Mark Scovell, Visual Information Specialist, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)

Then came live fire on static ranges, compared to the legacy systems, and a series of drills in the LUT segment.

An infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (Strike Force), 2nd Brigade (Strike), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), executes chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense (CBRN defense) day qualification with the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle and Fire Control while operationally testing at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. (Photo Credit: Mark Scovell, Visual Information Specialist, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)

An infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (Strike Force), 2nd Brigade (Strike), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Screaming Eagles), fires the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Automatic Rifle during the buddy team live fire exercise while operationally testing at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. (U.S. Army photo by Mark Scovell)

More in my column at Guns.com.

CANCON ’23: Quiet Suppressor Fest in the Sun

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I trekked to the Georgia coast last weekend to hang out at the fully suppressed range day and gun show that is the fabled CANCON.

Held Veterans Day weekend at the 17 South Rod and Gun Club in sunny Savannah – where the temps hovered in the low 80s in November! – the event is now in its second year. Organized by the fine folks at Recoil with the support of more than 60 industry sponsors including some big players like B&T, Daniel Defense, FN, KAC, Kalashnikov USA, Maxim, PTR, SIG Sauer, SilencerCo, and Staccato, you can bet that it had something for everyone.

Open to the public, a $50 general admission ticket got you on the range for the day for unlimited shooting at every lane with all ammo included, while VIP and Premier tickets got you into the whole weekend including night shoots with both white light and NVGs and a swag bag that included a free suppressor (not a misprint).

While I’ll have several follow-up articles this week diving deeper into some cool new developments in the quiet space that I ferreted out at the show, check out this preview to get a general feel for the event.

Who doesn’t love a suppressed M2 50 cal?

Dead Air was there doing Dead Air stuff. We call dibs on the Spiker.

What’s your pick?

B&T had their Station SIX? (AKA the modern Welrod)

As part of this complete breakfast

Gemtech, one of the oldest names in the suppressor game, was there with lots of goodies all on parent company S&W’s new stuff, including the new FPC folding 9mm carbine.

Kalashnikov USA was out in force with lots of cool guy stuff…

Recently celebrating their 15th anniversary, SiCo did a short run of Titanium Sparrows that sold out in a day. Maybe it will become a regular item. Maybe.

SIG brought lots of stuff Including the MCX line, which the Army is putting through its paces currently for the Next Generation Squad Weapon program.

More in my column at Guns.com.

Screaming Eagles Get Hands on NGSW

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The Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons program is rolling right along, with the SIG Sauer-produced firearms making an appearance at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The base, home to the iconic “Screaming Eagles” of the 101st Airborne Division, will be the first to field operational units with the new guns under current plans, and Campbell brass appeared on the firing line to get a feel for the new hardware.

U.S. Army Fort Campbell Command Sgt. Maj. Chad Stackpole fires a Next-Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) Machine Gun during a weapon familiarization demonstration, Sept. 25, 2023, at Fort Campbell, Ky. (Photo & caption: Kayla Cosby/U.S. Army)

U.S. Army Fort Campbell Garrison Commander Col. Christopher Midberry fires a Next-Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) Machine Gun during a weapon familiarization demonstration, Sept. 25, 2023, at Fort Campbell, Ky. (Photo & caption: Kayla Cosby/U.S. Army)

As outlined by Soldier Systems Daily, Company A of the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, a historic unit that has been part of the 101st since World War II, will begin a Limited User Test with the NGSW platforms this week, comparing them to legacy systems. The Army plans to have the 101st’s 1st Brigade be the first unit fully equipped with the NGSW, likely sometime early next year.

SIG to make more SURGS for SOCOM

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The U.S. Special Operations Command this week announced it intends to extend the contract for suppressed uppers from SIG Sauer, used to upgrade M4A1 rifles.

The notice, published July 13, named SIG as the sole source for the Suppressed Upper Receiver Group that SOCOM has been acquiring since 2018. The extension is for two additional years. 

“This system will continue to be fielded and supported solely by SOCOM and the extension with provide numbers to Full Operational Capability and spares support for the projected life of the system,” noted the command.  

The SURG was adopted to produce a weapon system able to be continuously suppressed while offering better thermal characteristics and less blowback than simply adding a suppressor and threaded barrel to a standard upper. The original contract award saw most of the big names in tactical ARs toss an entry into the ring, but SIG came out with the win. 

The winner was a drop-in 5.56 NATO caliber upgrade that essentially converted the standard Mil-Spec AR platform into an adjustable gas system SIG MCX, complete with a side-folding stock.

Using an 11.5-inch barrel capped with a direct thread Inconel suppressor, the latter is shielded by a distinctive titanium cage to help prevent burns by hot suppressors to operators moving through dynamic situations that, for instance, may require rapid transport to and from an objective in a cramped vehicle or helicopter.  

The SURG’s distinctive titanium cage and Coyote finish sets it apart. We came across these while touring SIG’s New Hampshire plant last October. When the initial SURG contract was announced five years ago, SIG said that the platform “withstood the stringent stress and torture requirements set by DoD for firing specifications, vibration, sound, and temperature requirements to ensure soldier safety.” (Photo and banner image: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

SIG’s SURG includes a complete MCX upper receiver group, direct thread Inconel suppressor, removable titanium cage, SD handguard, low profile handguard, folding stock with adapter kit, and is chambered in 5.56 NATO. (Graphic: SIG)

While the original SOCOM SURG contract was listed at a top value of $48 million, the amount of the extension has not been released. 

For those looking for a SURG of their own, SIG intends on offering a limited run of the uppers (798681675456), complete with a can and titanium cage, for commercial sale. Price starts somewhere in the $4K range on preorder, not including the NFA taxes, and when they are gone, they are gone.

And in Whiskey (optics) news…

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Building on experience and feedback from both the company’s super sweet Tango series tactical scopes and previous Whiskey series hunting optics, SIG Sauer has a new generation of rifle scope on the market.

The company’s Whiskey 3 line is simple and rugged, proving popular with users in the field, especially for its affordable ($200-$300) price point. The new Whiskey 4 series grows on that lineage while bringing some more top-shelf features to play.

As a rule, the Whiskey 4s use 30mm tubes, upsized from the typical 1-inch tubes seen on the Whiskey 3 line. Then you toss in quick external turret adjustments, options for an illuminated reticle, and a removable magnification throw lever, and the Whiskey 4 line is getting seriously good for a modest bump in price to the $300-$500 range depending on which variant you choose. SIG is offering the Whiskey 4 in three different formats: a 5-20x50mm first focal plane, a 4-16x44mm FFP, and a shorty 3-12x44mm second focal plane, all with exposed zero stops.

I was able to get a sneak peek at the 5-20x50mm FFP and 3-12x44mm SFP Whiskey 4 last week in Oregon. Both felt genuinely nice and have sharp, clear lenses with little distortion at magnification while the Hellfire illuminated reticle was sweet.

The Whiskey 4 line uses a locking zero-stop elevation turret while all offer tactile 0.25 MOA adjustments.

The magnification throw levers are a nice upgrade from the Whiskey 3 line and are removable for those who worry about snags while hunting in the brush or while traveling in the backcountry via side-by-side or ATV.

I hit up SIG for one of these to wring out over this upcoming deer season and will get back to you with what I find out.

SIG Keeps Cranking the 210 Machine

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SIG has added a new Custom Works P210 model to its catalog this month. With the Germans and Swiss no longer making the vaunted classic, it has been left to the American branch to keep the flame going on these single-action single-stack 9mm handguns.

The newest model takes the rather plain P210 Carry and dresses it up quite a bit, adding a fully DLC-coated slide with factory engravings, an E-nickel trigger, and a set of Rosewood grips.

Like the standard P210 Carry, it uses 8-round mags and includes a set of SIG night sights rather than the sweet target sights seen on other models.

The cost is likely to be around $2K.

However, lots of folks feel SIG missed the mark and should have made a double stack akin to a Swiss 2011, which would have turned a lot of heads.

Of course, I love the standard P210 Carry, and it handles great

No, the NGSW is not Canceled

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The XM250, Sig Sauer’s light machine gun, is the tentative NGSW-AR winner. Like the XM5, it is chambered in 6.8x51mm. It is expected to replace the M249 SAW in front-line service with the U.S. Army. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

The NGSW-R, the XM7 rifle, is Sig Sauer’s MCX Spear. Using a 20-round magazine, it is chambered in a new 6.8×51 caliber. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

The Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon program– which is a big war battle rifle and light machine gun in a new (and very spicy) common 6.8x51mm caliber with a gucci optics package– is a thing.

As I’ve covered in the past several years, just about every large (and several small) rifle, ammo, and/or glass maker has tried to take a bite at the program, which stands to be the biggest small arms contract of the past 65 years.

In the end, last year SIG picked up the contract for the guns and their suppressors while Vortex got the optics.

Of course, the plan now is just to equip front-facing warfighters with the guns (spec ops, infantry, etc) rather than everyone, so the numbers are small, at least for now, but the potential to expand is great, especially if the program is successful and scalable.

Well, an op-ed piece by an Australian terrorism expert, without any clear first-hand experience with the guns or the programs, cast a mountain of shade on the system last month, something which should not have come as a surprise as he has ginned up hit pieces on the program in the past, which all kind of smacked from his personal feelings rather than something based in fact.

Then, the SIG and Vortex haters came jumping off the top rope on all the reddits, forum posts, blog posts, and gun groups saying that NGSW is a dead program and a colossal waste of time and treasure– all without citing any source rather than the articles written by said Australian terror expert (an academic who advocated scrapping the SAS of all things and that “the US may now be spinning dangerously towards insurgency).

However, the Army has responded with a press blitz of its own, coupled with the budget book asking for $300 million in funding for FY24 for the NSGW program. This will cover 1,419 M250 Automatic Rifle (NGSW-AR)s, 17,122 M7 Rifle (NGSW-R)s, and 14,932 M157 Fire Control systems, about one-sixth of what the Army plans to buy for the life of the multi-year program, numbers that sound about right. 

4th Ranger Training Battalion soldiers demonstrate the U.S. Army’s NGSWs during a Rangers in Action Ceremony Sept. 16, 2022, at Victory Pond, Fort Benning, Georgia. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning Public Affairs)

So, for now, at least, it would seem that NGSW is very much still alive, no matter what the internet says.

As it stands the Army says it has conducted over 100 technical tests, fired over 1.5 million rounds of 6.8mm ammunition through the guns, and logged more than 20,000 hours of soldier testing with the NGSWs. 

Next is Production Qualification Testing and Operational Tests this summer, followed by the first weapons headed to units in the second quarter of 2024.  

Exceeding Mil-Spec on the M17/M18

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In early 2017, SIG Sauer picked up the largest and most important military handgun contract in 30 years and had to meet requirements far more rigorous than previous generations.

The New Hampshire-based company came out on top in the U.S. Army’s $580 million Modular Handgun System award, one that stood to replace the service’s dated M9 (Beretta 92F) and M11 (SIG P228) series 9mm pistols.

The new MHS guns would be the full-sized M17 and the more compact M18, both models of SIG’s P320 series pistol but fitted with different grip modules and barrels.

Then the Navy/Marines and Air Force went with the gun to replace not only the M9 but also the Glock M007 and Colt M45A1 with the former and the M15 .38 K-frame with the latter.

Almost all of the larger M17s have been delivered, with the production of the M18s still underway

With more than 200,000 guns delivered and all four services almost complete with the build-out, while visiting SIG Sauer’s New Hampshire factory recently, I checked out the inspection and certification process to which the military submits each MHS series pistol.

This includes a strict accuracy test, with each pistol required to fire 10 shots into a 2.85-inch circle at 25 meters. For reference, this is about the size of a tennis ball.

The prior standard was 10 shots inside a 9×11 rectangle – an area just larger than a sheet of copy paper.

More in my column at Guns.com.

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