The 716 is basically an AR-10-type rifle in most every way with the exception of the gas system.  It contains many of the modern high paced modifications that the new high speed M4’s have.

The rifle is manufactured from the standard 7075 T6 grade aircraft aluminum, same as the Mil-Spec M4.  The lower receiver is similar to that of an AR-10 with some modifications.  There are two quick detachable mounting points on the rear of the receiver.  There is also a spring loaded tension plunger under the takedown lever.  This gives upward tension on the upper receiver tightening up the receiver’s so there is no play or rattle.  The pistol grip is the high speed Magpul MIAD, which offers the shooter their choice of backstraps to compensate for hand size as well as the option for a front finger groove or a smooth front strap.  There are also options for inserts into the grip that can carry everything from spare optic batteries to a spare bolt and firing pin.  Depending on the model, the rifle can be had in either semiautomatic only or selective fire.  The model 716 provided is a commercial/LE semiautomatic only.  The trigger is a standard trigger, which is more than suitable for any target, personal protection or LE purpose.  The magazine release button is ambidextrous.  The left side has a button that is pushed and lifts the mag release to release the magazine.  This is a feature that can be useful whether you are left handed or not.  There are gripping grooves on the front of the magazine well.

Left side view of the SIG 716. Notice the sling. There are 7 different attachment points for the detachable sling mounts. Also notice the ambidextrous magazine release lever.

The receiver extension has six positions and, as per Mil-Spec, has the receiver extension nut staked in place.  The buffer/action spring is noteworthy in the fact that it uses a stronger flat spring rather than the standard round/rocket wire spring.  The stock chosen is the Magpul ACS stock.  This high speed stock has two battery/storage compartments that can be accessed from the rear of the stock.  There is a locking lever that prevents unintentional movement of the stock.  There is a smooth triangular shape to the cheek weld that is very comfortable.  There is a storage compartment on the right side.  The stock comes with a reversible QD adapter that can be placed on either side of the stock.

Although early prototype rifles used the ArmaLite modified M14 magazine, the final production magazine is the standard AR-10-type magazine.  This rifle was provided with a 20-round Magpul PMag 20LR.  However both the C-Products and the Knights Armament 20-round magazines are used with 100% reliability.

The upper receiver has a forward bolt assist as well as a fired cartridge case deflector.  The flat top upper receiver has a Mil-Std 1913 rail on it.  The handguard is removable with the turn of some screws.  The quad Mil-Std 1913 handguard has four QD attachment points on them.

The SIG 716 is equipped with an ambidextrous magazine release lever/button.

The bolt carrier is machined from a single piece of steel.  You can visibly see where material has been removed to decrease weight.  A standard AR-10-type bolt is used as well as extractor, firing pin and firing pin retainer pin.  There are gas rings on the bolt but their only purpose is to make assembly easier.  They are not needed for any mechanical reason.

The operating system is a standard short stroke push rod gas system.  The regulator is removed from the front of the gas block by depressing a plunger and rotating the regulator and pulling it out.  The regulator has four positions which are normal fire, adverse conditions, suppressed and gas shut off.  The adverse condition setting should only be used when necessary and switched as soon as the weapon is cleaned.  The operating rod contains the piston as well as the return spring.

The barrel is hammer forged and chrome lined giving an 8- to 10,000-round barrel life.  The rifling is a 1 turn in 10 inch right hand twist.  There are extended feed ramps both on the barrel extension as well as the upper receiver.  The rifle comes standard with a M16A2/M4 compensator with the bottom remaining solid.

Shown is the U.S. Army standard-issue AimPoint Comp4s red dot sight, which uses a AA battery and has a cap set up that protects the lenses as well as an optional anti-reflection cover.

The cycle of operation for the SIG 716 is as follows: When the trigger is pressed the hammer strikes the firing pin that strikes the primer.  The spark is created that ignites the propellant in the cartridge.  As the propellant burns high pressure gas expands forcing the bullet down the barrel.  When the bullet passes by the gas port, high pressure gas is bled into the gas port.  Gas expands between the back of the gas regulator and the face of the piston.  The gas pushes the piston/operating rod rearward making the operating rod move rearward and strike the bolt carrier sending the bolt carrier rearward.  As the carrier moves rearward the return spring returns the operating rod/piston to its former position.  As the bolt carrier moves rearward the bolt unlocks, extracts and ejects the fired cartridge case.  When the carrier reaches it rear most position, the buffer spring returns the carrier forward where the bolt picks up a round from the magazine, chambers and the bolt locks in place ready for the next shot.  The cycle rate of fire of the SIG 716 is 550 to 650 rounds per minute, which is relatively slow making this rifle very controllable on automatic fire.  This also increases reliability enabling more time for the cartridge case to contract before extraction takes place.

For test firing the AimPoint Comp 4s was chosen for the optic.  The Original Comp 4 was standard issue for the U.S. Army for many years.  A few years back there was an upgrade.  By request, the AA battery compartment/power knob was changed from the top of the right side to the bottom of the right side and hence the 4s.  The battery life is up to 80,000 hours with 16 different brightness settings.  The dot is 2 MOA in diameter.  There are 7 different night vision devise settings with no eye relief.  The 30mm optic is submersible in up to 25 meters of water.  The Comp 4s came with some very nice lens caps.  The rear is just a standard flip up lens cap.  The front has a two piece flip cover.  The primary is to protect the lens.  That is lifted and the next cover has the anti reflective honey comb cover.  You can snap the outer cover back on to the anti reflective lens cover and lift both and you have the bare optic.  Many options are available.  Many optics are powered by the CR123 as well as the CR2032 batteries.  The problem is that they are not readily available.  The AA battery is common everywhere in the world so it only makes sense that the AA is the better way to go.

The SIG 716 is provided with backup iron sights. The rear has dual apertures & is adjustable for windage only, & the front sight is adjustable for elevation with a standard cartridge tip or 4-slot M16/M4 front sight adjustment tool.

The rifle was function tested with 500 rounds of Silver State Armory 7.62x51mm 147 grain FMJ (SSA10084-147FMJ).  There were no malfunctions noted during any of the function testing proving the rifle to be accurate and reliable.  All three types of magazines were used extensively.  The rifle was not cleaned or lubricated during function testing.  For Accuracy testing Silver State Armory 7.62x51mm 168 (SSA10084-OTM) and 175 (SSA10084-M118LR) grain OTM ammunition was used.  The rifle shot consistent 1 to 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards.

Overall, this author thinks SIG has a winner.  This rifle will compete with the LWRC REPR, H&K 417 as well as the POF piston operated rifles.  Also the Colt CM901 if it ever sees production.  There are relatively few companies who make this rifle so competition is minimal.  SIG has the most competitive prices for a rifle of this type.  As the debate will continue over direct gas or piston operated systems, there are companies who will provide the customer with what they want for whatever side of the fence you are on.  The SIG 716 will serve any application asked of it whether it be service rifle, law enforcement rifle, hunting, personal protection or target shooting.

For a rifle to be considered versatile it must be able to satisfy multiple roles with equal aplomb.  A viable rifle candidate for this title is the SIG Sauer 716 Patrol chambered in .308Win/7.62x51mm.  The SIG 716 Patrol joins the growing number of AR style platforms chambered in .308Win/7.62x51mm.  .308Win/7.62x51mm potency in terms of ballistics and terminal effect makes it a favorite among U.S. troops and law enforcement personnel in more rural environments.  A quick look at the resurrection of the M14 and recent introduction of several AR-style rifle models joining ranks with the long standing AR-10 all support this observation.

The combining of the AR platform with the increased power represented in the 7.62x51mm cartridge is the key to the SIG 716 versatility.  This is speaking in terms of the SIG 716’s lethality and effective range, while still allowing for multiple rounds sent quickly down range if needed in a close range melee. In training courses experienced involving LE, military and private security contractors the mantra of “one mag one kill” is often repeated in relation to the M16/AR-15.  While the 5.56mm round is often chided in terms of lethality, the .308Win/7.62x51mm does not suffer from this reputation.

The above mentioned AR-10 is gas impingement in operation similar to Stoner’s original design intent.  Of late, the attention seems to be focused on “improving” the AR platform via developing piston-driven ARs in lieu of Stoner’s original gas-impingement design.  Whether or not piston-driven ARs are superior to their gas impingement brethren often generates heated discussion debating the pros and cons of each AR operating method.   The SIG Sauer 716 Patrol follows the short-stroke piston-driven path similar to SIG’s 516 5.56mm AR introduced a couple of years ago.

Firing from the prone position supported by a bipod produced consistent hits out to 300 yards on TacStrike 1/4 scale steel targets.

SIG Sauer will be offering various models of the SIG 716, including a 12-inch barreled SBR (short barrel rifle) version and Precision Marksman model with 20-inch barrel.  The SIG 716 Patrol has a 16-inch hammer forged barrel featuring 1:10 right hand twist with an A2-style flash hider.  It features a “flattop” receiver and offers finish options of either Flat Dark Earth or Olive Drab Green.  The SIG 716 Patrol evaluated herein features lower and upper receivers machined from 7075-T6 aircraft grade aluminum forgings coated with standard black anodized finish.  The chrome-lined hammer forged barrel is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO with a Nitride finish.  The short-stroke push rod operating system with adjustable gas valve is the heart of the SIG 716 setting it apart from other AR designs.

SIG Sauer’s refinement of the AR design, and even other AR piston designs, consists of a 4-position gas valve that allows a user to adjust gas port settings.  Settings are normal, adverse, and suppressor use still allowing the action to cycle, but without the overpressure associated with suppressors.  The 4th setting totally cuts off gas from the action and maximizes suppressor efficiency by not allowing the action to cycle automatically.  The gas valve is adjustable by hand when clean, but takes a little more torque once several magazines are fired.  A bullet tip, or something similar like an empty case neck, is needed to rotate the gas valve between different settings once the SIG 716 has seen some use.  Normal (#1) is the gas valve straight vertically with adverse (#2) to the right looking at the rifle from the muzzle end.  The suppressor setting (#3) requires the detent to be pushed in with valve turned to the left of the normal (#1) position.  Gas off (#4) setting is further around left of the suppressor (#3) position with gas valve horizontal in orientation.

The SIG 716 Patrol rifle utilizes a self-regulating, short-stroke gas piston operating system, ensuring reliability in the harshest theaters of operation.  SIG literature points to several industry leading technological innovations incorporated in the 716 by seeking to engineer a complete solution to the deficits found in the direct impingement AR family of rifles.  The principal improvement comes from eliminating the venting of hot, carbon-laden gases into the receiver and bolt carrier group.  This reduces the cleaning requirements associated with the direct gas impingement AR.  It also means the bolt carrier group and associated springs are not subjected to the searing heat of the tapped gasses; this being one of the major causes of small parts failure.  The SIG 716’s four-position gas setting further ensures a user can adjust to changing environmental conditions; not to mention better employment of a suppressor if a mission dictates this.  The SIG 716 Patrol has several standard items incorporated in its design for better performance that shows attention to detail.  Ambidextrous magazine release buttons are a nice addition in terms of ergonomics.  This combined with proprietary SIG Sauer M1913 free floated quad rail design that is notched together at the receiver ensures accuracy will not be negatively affected by heat from extensive firing or “torque” applied from vertical forward grips or other accessories.  A further enhancement in this regard is the front sight placement on the gas block versus the free floated rail minimizing sights being impacted by heat or other factors associated with handrail shifting.

The SIG 716 Patrol has several standard items incorporated in its design for better performance. Ambidextrous magazine release buttons are a nice addition in terms of ergonomics as well sling stud points located in three positions on each side of the rifle combined another location on the Magpul buttstock. This combined with proprietary SIG Sauer M1913 free floated quad rail design that is notched together at the receiver ensures accuracy will not be negatively affected by heat from extensive firing or torque applied from vertical forward grips or other accessories.

The free-floated forend rails allow for mission specific configuration with lights, lasers, target designators, and other items.  The 716 Patrol comes standard with folding BUIS open sights, Magpul pistol grip, and Magpul ACS collapsible rear stock and accepts Magpul PMag 20-round magazines.  One is shipped with the rifle.  Several more of the Magpul magazines were acquired for this evaluation.  Magpul’s PMag 20LR magazine is quickly becoming the standard .308Win/7.62x51mm AR magazine with several manufacturers setting up their lowers to utilize the Magpul product.  Quality magazines are a linchpin for a reliably functioning semiautomatic or select-fire weapon.  The 16-inch barrel SIG 716 weighs approximately 9 pounds and measures 39.75 inches with stock fully extended and 36.5 inches with stock collapsed.  The 16-inch barrel maximizes portability and handling while maintaining 7.62x51mm ballistics and terminal performance.  Potential law enforcement and security conscience civilians should consider the 16-inch barrel SIG 716 Patrol for their primary weapon.  This is due its power, accuracy, and multi-mission capability considering likely engagement distances – even in terms of precision shooting.  Concerns related to over penetration could be addressed with ammunition selection; the new Winchester PDX 1 Defender loading for the .308Win. featuring the SplitCore Technology 120gr bullet comes to mind.

In an effort to exploit the SIG 716 Patrol’s versatility, a Leupold Mk 4 2.5-8x was mounted.  A low power setting for quick target acquisition at close range, a turn of the knob to 8x for longer or precision shots as the mission dictates.  The flat-top receiver’s Picatinny rail allows for one of the sturdiest and versatile scope to rifle connections on the market.  Of course, other optics are possible in lieu of the Mark 4 Leupold, such as the Trijicon ACOG or Leupold Mk CQ/T.  Others could choose to go with a red dot optic in a strictly CQB role.  This limits what the SIG 716 Patrol offers in terms of power and effective range.   It is too easy to keep the Leupold Mk 4 in place and mount an offset mount bracket featuring a Leupold Deltapoint or similar pattern red dot offered by other manufacturers.  This allows a quick rotation of the rifle in the shoulder pocket a few degrees accessing the red dot optic with minimal effort or disturbance of handling.  Another option would be a quick release mount to remove the Leupold Mk 4 and deploy the excellent BUIS open sights if forced to move indoors before resorting back to mounting the magnified optic of choice.