Goodbye Colt and Browning, hello SIG Sauer
We have already published Article US Special Operations Command's preference for the SIG MCX Rattler in 300 Blackout and 5,56x45mm NATO.
Now let's look at SIG's earlier successes. In general, several companies have been hiding under the SIG Sauer trademark for a long time. At the moment, the SIG structure is highly detailed and in the weapons direction includes:
1) the German company SIG Sauer GmbH&Co. kg. The company was formed in 1976 as a partnership between the Swiss Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) and the German JP Sauer & Sohn;
2) the Swiss company SIG Sauer AG. Its predecessor SIG Arms AG was sold to L&O Holding in West Germany and first renamed SAN Swiss Arms AG, commonly known as Swiss Arms, before changing its name to SIG Sauer AG at the end of 2019;
3) the American company SIG Sauer, Inc. Its predecessor, SIGARMS, was founded in Virginia in 1985 to import and distribute firearms. weapons SIG Sauer in the USA: moved to New Hampshire in 1990. In 2007, this company was renamed SIG Sauer, Inc., and since 2000 it has been organizationally separated from SIG Sauer GmbH.
On January 19, 2017, the United States Army announced that the SIG Sauer P320 pistol version had won the Army's XM17 Modular Weapon System competition. SIG Sauer M17 and M18 - service pistols, originate from the SIG Sauer P320 and were adopted by the US Army, Navy fleet, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force. The full-size model was designated M17, while the shorter model was designated M18.
The M17 pistol replaces the Beretta M9 as well as several other pistols in use around the world. Available in two color options, coyote brown and black, for both the M17 and M18, although almost all were produced in brown.
Almost three years that have passed since the start of competitive testing of rifle complexes under the Next Generation Squad Weapon program ended with the triumph of SIG Sauer, Inc., with the SIG MCX SPEAR rifle, SIG LMG machine gun and SIG FURY Hybrid cartridge.
Let's start with the latter, since in general news about rearmament is interesting not so much by the manufacturer or weapons, but by ammunition.
SIG FURY Hybrid, aka .277 Fury, aka 6,8x51mm Common Cartridge, is a centerfire rifle cartridge announced in late 2019. Hybridity lies in the fact that the sleeve consists of three parts and has a brass body, a stainless steel sleeve bottom, and an aluminum lock washer connects it all. This design allows you to withstand high pressure in the chamber up to 551,6 MPa.
To compare the pressure of other calibers, obtained by the SAAMI method:
9 mm Luger - 241 MPa,
.223 Remington - 380 MPa,
7,62x39 mm - 310 MPa,
.308 Winchester - 427 MPa,
.338 Win Mag - 441 MPa.
The cartridge size is similar to that of the 7,62x51mm NATO cartridge. In fact, the .277 Fury uses a case from the .308 Winchester. Such high pressure values are achieved due to the bottom of the sleeve, since stainless steel has a better elastic limit than brass. Simply put, such a sleeve is more difficult to inflate with pressure, at least it will not get stuck in the chamber and will be successfully extracted.
Bullets weighing 8,75 grams have a "match" quality and ballistic coefficient G1 is approximately equal to 0,488. By comparison, the ballistic coefficient of the .308win is approximately 0,498.
At a pressure of 551,6 MPa, a bullet weighing 8,7 grams in a barrel 406 mm long gets a speed of 914 m / s. As a result, we have an energy at the muzzle of 3 Joules, which is on average higher than that of the .634win.
Of course, not every weapon can withstand such pressure. So let's move on to the SIG MCX SPEAR rifle.
Firstly, due to the similarity of the new 6,8x51 mm and 7,62x51 mm, it is enough to change the barrel to transfer the MCX SPEAR to the old cartridge.
Secondly, all MCX SPEAR are equipped with a silencer, although it would be more accurate to call it a closed-type DTK. It is necessary and designed specifically for the .277 Fury in order to maximize the removal of powder gases in the direction of the shot, as well as hide the flash and at least slightly reduce the volume.
The rest of the rifle is made on the basis of the already existing SIG MCX under 5,56 NATO. The design of the rifle is modular, the controls are similar to those on the AR-15, and are duplicated on both sides. Rifle disassembly is also similar to AR. Probably the only significant difference other than the caliber is the folding cocking handle on the left side of the rifle. The innovation does not replace the standard cocking handle for AR, but only complements it. The magazine capacity is only 20 rounds, compared to 30 for the M16 or M4. Additionally, it is reported that the M4 will continue to be used by general forces in the coming decades.
An additional cocking handle of a very unusual shape. To the right is the shutter release reset button, and below it is a duplicate magazine reset button. In general, there are no exclusively new solutions in the exterior.
Automation works on a gas outlet with an upper gas piston. The piston itself has a short stroke, and the gas block has an adjustment with two positions so that you can increase the pressure if suddenly the automation does not work out. The locking mechanism of the rotary type, the shot comes from a closed bolt. The return spring is located above the bolt group, in the upper part of the receiver. The solution is classic, and similar schemes are used on the FN SCAR, HK416, as well as on the Soviet SVD.
Particular attention should be paid to the XM157 Fire Control sighting system (Vortex Optics 1-8x30 Active Reticle Fire Control). It includes a variable magnification optical sight, a laser rangefinder, a ballistic calculator, a set of weather sensors, a compass, intercom wireless communication, a laser designator in the visible and infrared range, and a digital display in the field of view of the shooter.
As for the machine gun, it was made on the basis of the SIG MG-338 chambered for the powerful .338 NM cartridge, which, in turn, is based on the LWMMG-338 experimental machine gun, created by General Dynamics. This similarity is due to the fact that all these systems were developed under the guidance of the same engineer who moved from GD to SIG SAUER.
The SIG LMG uses a short-stroke gas piston with a manual gas regulator. The butterfly valve with the bolt carrier moves inside the tubular shank of the barrel. The entire receiver group, together with the gas engine and the bolt group, has the ability to roll back inside the receiver, while compressing the spring-hydraulic buffer. This is necessary in order to reduce the perceived recoil from powerful 6,8mm cartridges to an acceptable level. The barrels of the machine gun are quick-detachable, the receiver is made of aluminum alloy. Shooting is carried out from an open shutter, single shots and bursts.
The machine gun has a belt feed. Tapes are metal, loose, with an open link. Tape feed direction is from left to right. The cover of the tape feed mechanism folds to the side (to the right), while the tape can be loaded into the machine gun without tilting the lid when using special tips. Regularly, the tapes are placed in semi-rigid containers attached to the machine gun from below. Container capacity - 30, 50, 100 and 200 rounds. A container with a tape for 100 rounds weighs 3,08 kg, a standard wearable ammunition load of a machine gunner - 4 containers for 100 rounds each.
It is clarified that the decision to use an intermediate-caliber cartridge was made as a result of research and out of concerns about the improvement of body armor in Russian and possibly Chinese troops.
In general, looking at UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene of high density), which is increasingly used in bulletproof vests and helmets, it is difficult to call such fears unnecessary.
Discussions about the advantages of intermediate cartridges in calibers between 6 and 7 mm have been going on for a long time. Experiments like 6,5 Grendel or 6,5 Creedmoor have been going on since the 2000s, and the latter turned out to be extremely interesting in general.
If such a costly and decisive step to introduce the .277 Fury pays off, then the United States will not only gain a significant advantage over competing countries, but will force them to get involved in the race. Who knows, perhaps we are witnessing the beginning of a revolution in the field of army small arms.
Now let's look at SIG's earlier successes. In general, several companies have been hiding under the SIG Sauer trademark for a long time. At the moment, the SIG structure is highly detailed and in the weapons direction includes:
1) the German company SIG Sauer GmbH&Co. kg. The company was formed in 1976 as a partnership between the Swiss Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) and the German JP Sauer & Sohn;
2) the Swiss company SIG Sauer AG. Its predecessor SIG Arms AG was sold to L&O Holding in West Germany and first renamed SAN Swiss Arms AG, commonly known as Swiss Arms, before changing its name to SIG Sauer AG at the end of 2019;
3) the American company SIG Sauer, Inc. Its predecessor, SIGARMS, was founded in Virginia in 1985 to import and distribute firearms. weapons SIG Sauer in the USA: moved to New Hampshire in 1990. In 2007, this company was renamed SIG Sauer, Inc., and since 2000 it has been organizationally separated from SIG Sauer GmbH.
On January 19, 2017, the United States Army announced that the SIG Sauer P320 pistol version had won the Army's XM17 Modular Weapon System competition. SIG Sauer M17 and M18 - service pistols, originate from the SIG Sauer P320 and were adopted by the US Army, Navy fleet, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force. The full-size model was designated M17, while the shorter model was designated M18.
The M17 pistol replaces the Beretta M9 as well as several other pistols in use around the world. Available in two color options, coyote brown and black, for both the M17 and M18, although almost all were produced in brown.
SIG Sauer M17
Almost three years that have passed since the start of competitive testing of rifle complexes under the Next Generation Squad Weapon program ended with the triumph of SIG Sauer, Inc., with the SIG MCX SPEAR rifle, SIG LMG machine gun and SIG FURY Hybrid cartridge.
Let's start with the latter, since in general news about rearmament is interesting not so much by the manufacturer or weapons, but by ammunition.
Cartridge
SIG FURY Hybrid, aka .277 Fury, aka 6,8x51mm Common Cartridge, is a centerfire rifle cartridge announced in late 2019. Hybridity lies in the fact that the sleeve consists of three parts and has a brass body, a stainless steel sleeve bottom, and an aluminum lock washer connects it all. This design allows you to withstand high pressure in the chamber up to 551,6 MPa.
To compare the pressure of other calibers, obtained by the SAAMI method:
9 mm Luger - 241 MPa,
.223 Remington - 380 MPa,
7,62x39 mm - 310 MPa,
.308 Winchester - 427 MPa,
.338 Win Mag - 441 MPa.
The cartridge size is similar to that of the 7,62x51mm NATO cartridge. In fact, the .277 Fury uses a case from the .308 Winchester. Such high pressure values are achieved due to the bottom of the sleeve, since stainless steel has a better elastic limit than brass. Simply put, such a sleeve is more difficult to inflate with pressure, at least it will not get stuck in the chamber and will be successfully extracted.
Bullets weighing 8,75 grams have a "match" quality and ballistic coefficient G1 is approximately equal to 0,488. By comparison, the ballistic coefficient of the .308win is approximately 0,498.
At a pressure of 551,6 MPa, a bullet weighing 8,7 grams in a barrel 406 mm long gets a speed of 914 m / s. As a result, we have an energy at the muzzle of 3 Joules, which is on average higher than that of the .634win.
Of course, not every weapon can withstand such pressure. So let's move on to the SIG MCX SPEAR rifle.
Rifle SIG MCX SPEAR
Firstly, due to the similarity of the new 6,8x51 mm and 7,62x51 mm, it is enough to change the barrel to transfer the MCX SPEAR to the old cartridge.
Secondly, all MCX SPEAR are equipped with a silencer, although it would be more accurate to call it a closed-type DTK. It is necessary and designed specifically for the .277 Fury in order to maximize the removal of powder gases in the direction of the shot, as well as hide the flash and at least slightly reduce the volume.
The rest of the rifle is made on the basis of the already existing SIG MCX under 5,56 NATO. The design of the rifle is modular, the controls are similar to those on the AR-15, and are duplicated on both sides. Rifle disassembly is also similar to AR. Probably the only significant difference other than the caliber is the folding cocking handle on the left side of the rifle. The innovation does not replace the standard cocking handle for AR, but only complements it. The magazine capacity is only 20 rounds, compared to 30 for the M16 or M4. Additionally, it is reported that the M4 will continue to be used by general forces in the coming decades.
An additional cocking handle of a very unusual shape. To the right is the shutter release reset button, and below it is a duplicate magazine reset button. In general, there are no exclusively new solutions in the exterior.
Automation works on a gas outlet with an upper gas piston. The piston itself has a short stroke, and the gas block has an adjustment with two positions so that you can increase the pressure if suddenly the automation does not work out. The locking mechanism of the rotary type, the shot comes from a closed bolt. The return spring is located above the bolt group, in the upper part of the receiver. The solution is classic, and similar schemes are used on the FN SCAR, HK416, as well as on the Soviet SVD.
Particular attention should be paid to the XM157 Fire Control sighting system (Vortex Optics 1-8x30 Active Reticle Fire Control). It includes a variable magnification optical sight, a laser rangefinder, a ballistic calculator, a set of weather sensors, a compass, intercom wireless communication, a laser designator in the visible and infrared range, and a digital display in the field of view of the shooter.
Machine gun
As for the machine gun, it was made on the basis of the SIG MG-338 chambered for the powerful .338 NM cartridge, which, in turn, is based on the LWMMG-338 experimental machine gun, created by General Dynamics. This similarity is due to the fact that all these systems were developed under the guidance of the same engineer who moved from GD to SIG SAUER.
The SIG LMG uses a short-stroke gas piston with a manual gas regulator. The butterfly valve with the bolt carrier moves inside the tubular shank of the barrel. The entire receiver group, together with the gas engine and the bolt group, has the ability to roll back inside the receiver, while compressing the spring-hydraulic buffer. This is necessary in order to reduce the perceived recoil from powerful 6,8mm cartridges to an acceptable level. The barrels of the machine gun are quick-detachable, the receiver is made of aluminum alloy. Shooting is carried out from an open shutter, single shots and bursts.
The machine gun has a belt feed. Tapes are metal, loose, with an open link. Tape feed direction is from left to right. The cover of the tape feed mechanism folds to the side (to the right), while the tape can be loaded into the machine gun without tilting the lid when using special tips. Regularly, the tapes are placed in semi-rigid containers attached to the machine gun from below. Container capacity - 30, 50, 100 and 200 rounds. A container with a tape for 100 rounds weighs 3,08 kg, a standard wearable ammunition load of a machine gunner - 4 containers for 100 rounds each.
It is clarified that the decision to use an intermediate-caliber cartridge was made as a result of research and out of concerns about the improvement of body armor in Russian and possibly Chinese troops.
In general, looking at UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene of high density), which is increasingly used in bulletproof vests and helmets, it is difficult to call such fears unnecessary.
Discussions about the advantages of intermediate cartridges in calibers between 6 and 7 mm have been going on for a long time. Experiments like 6,5 Grendel or 6,5 Creedmoor have been going on since the 2000s, and the latter turned out to be extremely interesting in general.
If such a costly and decisive step to introduce the .277 Fury pays off, then the United States will not only gain a significant advantage over competing countries, but will force them to get involved in the race. Who knows, perhaps we are witnessing the beginning of a revolution in the field of army small arms.
Information