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Time will tell if the SIG Sauer MCX-Spear rifle can compete for a slice of the commercial firearms market against America’s favourite civilian purchasable rifle, the AR-15.
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The Switzerland-based firearms manufacturer has just released the 7.62mm NATO and 6.5mm Creedmoor calibre civilian versions of the new XM7 service rifle, after it was chosen to replace the M4 carbine in the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons program in April last year.
SIG Sauer chief marketing officer and executive vice-president, commercial sales, Tom Taylor said the new MCX-Spear is an adaptable multi-calibre rifle featuring rear and side non-reciprocating charging handles, folding stock, magazine release, interchangeable barrel, and a 20-round magazine.
“The SIG Sauer-MCX family of rifles has become synonymous with innovative engineering and premium quality in a reliable and proven carbine,” he said.
“The next generation has arrived with the new MCX-Spear, offering enhanced AR-10 capabilities in the MCX platform for the first time on the commercial market.”
SIG Sauer has a 10-year contract with the US Army for an initial $20.4 million delivery order and contracted supply of up to 250,000 XM7 rifles and XM250 light machine guns.
The company has an intimidating task ahead in the commercial firearms market as it competes against the .223 or 5.56x45mm NATO calibre, 30-round magazine, semi-auto juggernaut that is ArmaLite Rifle style AR-15 rifles.
The AR-15, essentially a heavily customisable civilian version of the M4 and Vietnam-era M-16, currently holds court as one of the most popular, well-known and iconic weapons in America.
US citizens are clearly comfortable with the rifle for hunting, sport, and home defence as there were reportedly around 20 million AR-15-style weapons in the country as of 2020, according to the US National Shooting Sports Foundation.
To add to the MCX-Spear’s popularity, SIG has opted to release another commercial variant chambered in .227 SIG Fury in late January this year.
SIG Sauer president and chief executive officer Ron Cohen said the MCX-Spear was developed with direct input from US warfighters to provide more power, distance, and accuracy to replace the current M4 rifle platform.
“This is a rare opportunity for passionate consumers to own a piece of history,” he said.
“This first production run [of] MCX-Spear, and all of the revolutionary technology behind its development, is being offered to the commercial market in a configuration that is a near match to our NGSW-R submission.
“Further, this is the only rifle submission to the program that is designed and engineered in the United States by a company with the manufacturing scale and proven adherence to military-grade quality requirements, which is a tremendous source of pride for everyone at SIG Sauer.
“The revolutionary SIG Fury ammunition is the most technically advanced leap in small arms ammunition in over 150 years, this turns your intermediate rifle platform into magnum performance without the added weight or length while still using 20-round magazines.”
