Sig 516 Carbine and Benelli's MR1 Latest Thing.

[twyacht]

Well, Sig really joined the AR club right down to the fwd. assist. Barrel lengths from 7" to 20"

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/09/16/sig516-sig-sauer-enters-the-ar-15-market/

Than you have Benelli with, according to Jan. G&A, an AR "alternative". The MR1.

http://www.benelliusa.com/rifles/benelli_mr1_self_defense_rifle.php

Wouldn't mind the Sig with either a 7 or 10 inch barrel. I wonder why they went with 1:7 twist vs 1:9?

2010 seems to be another "Black Rifle Year"  

So many choices...

[billt]

http://www.americanrifleman.org/Webcontent/pdf/2009-12/200912169137-sig516.pdf

More on the Sig 516.   Bill T.

[TexGun]

Dang you guys are quick!  I just saw my American Rifleman this morning.  Any bets on this being a topic on today's MB podcast? 


...wait...Dang! Bane got today's podcast up early...WTF?

[billt]

Now, I can't help but think the Sig 556 could be on borrowed time? It's a nice rifle, but it's priced higher than a lot of piston AR-15 models. If Sig brings out this weapon, and it's as good of a success as the Ruger piston AR, the Sig 556 could possibly go bye, bye??? Of course that is total speculation on my part, but it would factor into my decision to purchase a Sig 556 with this new weapon looming on the horizon.  Bill T.

[TexGun]

Now, I can't help but think the Sig 556 could be on borrowed time? It's a nice rifle, but it's priced higher than a lot of piston AR-15 models. If Sig brings out this weapon, and it's as good of a success as the Ruger piston AR, the Sig 556 could possibly go bye, bye??? Of course that is total speculation on my part, but it would factor into my decision to purchase a Sig 556 with this new weapon looming on the horizon.  Bill T.

Same thought here Bill.  I was at Cabela's yesterday and took a look at a 556 and up unitl yesterday was giving it some serious thought.  Lucky for my wife that Christmas has put a serious dent in what is normally my gun budget.

[Sponsor]

[billt]

Another thing to consider is that from a company earnings standpoint, Sig has a much better chance of selling the 516 AR-15 to law enforcement and various militaries, than they do the 556. Thus far the bulk of Sig 556 sales have been to sport shooters and gun enthusiasts. That is nowhere near the sales they would enjoy with several law enforcement, and or military contracts. As they say, go where the money is! At the moment that appears to be the piston AR-15 market.  Bill T.

[kilopaparomeo]

Now, I can't help but think the Sig 556 could be on borrowed time?

I saddens me but that is probably a correct statement.  I'm unhappy about it because I was thrilled when SIG decided to introduce the rifle...to think they were going to bring out a civilian version of the 550/551 was awesome.  Then they let the marketing guys get in the way (I'm in strategic marketing so I can make fun of the profession) and they tried to turn it into an AR15.  AR stock, AR mags, AR handguard.  In fact, even their advertising calls it an "AR style rifle" (listen to MBs podcast or Tom Gresham GunTalk...that's what their advertisment says).  I get the idea of trying to appeal to the US market...but they should have done that with an AR.

Bubba -- who is just learning to spell AR -- looks at the SIG and can't understand why it costs more than other ARs.  He thinks it is one...and SIG hasn't done much to dispell that.

Now the 556 Classic was finally what they should have introduced.  I'm fine with the AR-compatible mags.  I think they've already damaged their reputation (many versions have cheap handguards TAPCO-style to keep costs down...on a $1500+ rifle)

Hopefully they will keep the Classic in their line up.  It will not be a big seller except to some enthusiasts.  Time will tell if they pull it.  And they are pretty late with the AR...later than Ruger but as stated above, there is probably a good incentive to be able to offer LEO agencies a patrol rifle with the P226/P229 pistols as a package deal.

[billt]

It will be a shame if it's production does come to an end, as I liked the rifle too. A lot of the ARFCOM crowd ran it into the dirt, but it did not, or does not deserve it. It is a good, solid, dependable rifle. I think it was priced a little too high, but it seemed to sell well, and gather a following in spite of it's cost. I "almost" bought one a couple of times, it's just that there were other guns I wanted more, than it was anything about the Sig 556 I didn't like. This is the way the gun business operates. There are a great many guns that ceased production for one reason or another. I hope the Sig 556 doesn't join that list.  Bill T.

[ratcatcher55]

Tam sums it up best.

http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2009/12/unexpected.html

The same goes for 1911's

[kilopaparomeo]

Looks like a Beretta Storm and a ATI "Strikeforce" buttstock had an unholy union in a hot tub with a fifth of Wild Turkey.

Meh...