SIG SAUER: New Version - the MCX MR

At AUSA 2018, SIG SAUER not only showcased a new machine gun - we reported HERE - but also a reinterpretation of the SIG SAUER MCX as a "Medium Range" (MR) weapon. The history of this weapon is fascinating, as Soldier Systems writes: Initially, it was designed to participate in the Army's Compact Semi Auto Sniper System bid. Now the weapon has been shortened and is intended to participate in the Next Generation Squad Automatic Weapon Prototype Opportunity.

From Semi Sniper to machine gun? This only works if we don't imagine the weapon as a belt-fed machine gun, but rather as a kind of heavy assault rifle, with stronger ammunition and more in the magazine. Between the First and Second World Wars, the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle filled this niche for the US Army, while the M27 IAR (a variant of the HK416) currently serves the US Marines, the RPK74 for the Russians, and the newly introduced RPK16 for the Spetsnaz.

Even more exciting is the hybrid ammunition. It consists of three metal parts, is supposed to save 20 percent in weight, and allegedly has a better muzzle velocity than conventional ammunition. At the same time, it could also be used in existing weapon systems and manufactured with current production means.

The US development agency DARPA had already shown a different type of ammunition with aluminum projectiles and thin-walled steel casings a few years ago, which saved 25 percent in weight, essentially five cartridges to the weight of now four.

A close-up of the new ammunition, which comes in a three-part design in caliber 6.5. SIG SAUER is not completely wrong about this, even though the US Army has now opted for 6.8 SPC to have more impact on target. HERE is the story about the new ammunition.What stands out about the MCX MR is the large magazine. At the same time, the prototype still has a KeyMod Rail. We like it, but USSOCOM doesn't. NSW CRANE had tested KeyMod against M-LOK and found the latter to be more stable. Also, the new Standard-Rail from Geissele for USASOC (essentially Block III, although the designation is not correct and is URG-I) is M-LOK.

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