In the mid-1800s, three partners went into business. These gentlemen originally built what they thought would be a wagon factory, in Rhine Falls, Switzerland. Well, it was. They produced wagons and railway cars for some years. At the start, this trio had no way of knowing that their company would eventually become one of the world’s largest and most respected manufacturers of small arms.
When the Swiss military needed a new type of firearm, they turned to the Schweizerische Waggon Fabrik (“Swiss Wagon Factory”). The musket which they designed and produced beat the competition and the Ministry of Defense ordered 30,000 units. The company changed its name to Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (“Swiss Industrial Company”, or SIG), and it was on its way.
In 1976, a partnership was formed between SIG in Switzerland and J.P. Sauer & Sohn in Germany. SIG Sauer firearms have been imported into the States since the mid-1980s. Nowadays, the company’s U.S. subsidiary is far from home out in New Hampshire.
Sig Sauer MCX Series Overview
In 2015, Sig designed and produced a series of firearms that utilized the same system that was featured on the previously-released MPX submachine gun. The MCX notably has the option of conversion between different calibers. The semi-auto option is available for the civilian market, while the full-auto capabilities are reserved for armed forces and law enforcement agencies. The MCX comes in the form of a compact carbine, standard carbine, rifle, and short-barreled rifle (SBR). This is a classic Sig move offering such versatility in one line that’s helped them become one of the top gunmakers in the world.
There is also the MCX Low Visibility Assault Weapon, which is available for military and law enforcement only. It’s a full-auto short-barreled rifle, which features built-in suppression. It’s a SIG Sauer SBR with a real combat-proven lineage and is a pretty sweet setup.
The Sig MCX Pistol and Sig MCX SBR are both rather expensive, with an MSRP of $2,233 and $2,235, respectively. For those who can afford the price, what you get in return is one of the best SIG systems available. The MCX series has some features that make it an instant hit – no pun intended.
Sig MCX Virtus
Released in 2017, it is considered the “Gen 2” of the MCX series. The SIG MCX Virtus Patrol, SBR, and Pistol models are the standard, short-barreled, and pistol configurations, respectively. It is currently offered in 5.56mm and 300 BLK, with a polymer grip, alloy forend, and carbon steel barrel.
I enjoyed the two-stage Matchlite Duo trigger on the SIG Virtus. Sure, there are upgrades and aftermarket options available, but for an out-of-the-box trigger, it’s pretty damn good. I am always trying to think of the strange-noise-in-the-middle-of-the-night scenario. In such a situation, the trigger will hardly matter. Home-defense is not a competition, by any stretch of the imagination. You want a weapon that will perform, and perform well.
Specs
- Model: SIG MCX VIRTUS PISTOL
- Caliber: 300 BLK
- Action: Semi-automatic
- Barrel Length: 9″
- Overall Length: 28.5″
- Height: 8″
- Weight: 7 lbs
- Magazine: 30-round AR-15
- MSRP: $1,979
Sig Rattler
The Rattler is an MCX-series semi-auto pistol, available in 5.56mm and 300 BLK. It features a 5.5-inch barrel, and there is the option of a brace/stock and a suppressor. The Rattler proves to be a great – albeit quite expensive – choice for a home-defense system. You can use it in a variety of scenarios, and it’s discreet enough to get around with inside or outside.
It’s not a rifle-length barrel, which means that it will immediately get a resounding NO from certain would-be purchasers. Some folks are only about SIG rifles. It’s a low-visibility weapon that supports 30-round AR-15 magazines, it could act as a weapon for the home, vehicle, or outdoors alike. The PCB (pivoting contour brace) is a real asset, and it helps you be ready for just about anything. With free-float handguard, an M-LOK accessory rail, carbon steel barrel, enhanced SIG trigger, and other MCX goodies, the SIG Sauer MCX 300 Blackout Rattler is an accurate and reliable piece of defense hardware. But I daresay it won’t be everyone’s cup of gin. Some are looking for other attributes and characteristics, so it definitely is not a one-size-fits-all type of weapon.
Specs
- Model: SIG MCX RATTLER PCB
- Caliber: 300 BLK
- Action: Semi-automatic
- Barrel Length: 5.5″
- Overall Length: 23
- Height: 8″
- Weight: 5.1 lbs
- Magazine: 30-round AR-15
- MSRP: $2,299
Conclusion
SIG Sauer rifles are many and varied. There is a lot of history there, of different models that were created and distributed and then dropped. The 300 BLK pistol is a hot item that not only SIG has dealings with, of course. Ever since the BLK 300 was introduced, there’ve been manufacturers who geared their production lines towards that trendy caliber. And so far, it has proven itself worthy of the praise.
