The SIG Rattler has the entire makings of a robust weapon. We requested a former U.S. Marine and a real firearms professional to interrupt down what the means for U.S. particular forces now and sooner or later: SOCOM had been on the lookout for a brand new private protection weapon for the final 5 years, and now it has lastly discovered one. SOCOM lately introduced the adoption of the SIG Rattler as their Private Protection Weapon (PDW) of alternative.
Over time SOCOM has examined quite a few platforms, however based on it, solely SIG Sauer’s entry met all of the requirements.
“After years of steady market analysis, USSOCOM HQ has concluded that Sig Sauer is the one vendor that may fulfill USSOCOM’s want for the Business PDW requirement,” SOCOM stated.
The procurement contract will likely be for 5 years at a set worth.
“USSOCOM HQ has been researching and reviewing totally different techniques since 2017. We’ve meticulously reviewed every system for technical acceptance and whether or not it matches the business definition,” SOCOM’s Discover of Intent learn.
“Aside from Sig Sauer, the distributors didn’t meet the technical necessities, and/or the weapons don’t meet the business definition. As a result of nature of this explicit effort, USSOCOM can’t procure PDWs which might be prototypes, below improvement, not in manufacturing, are in restricted manufacturing, or will likely be generally manufacturing in 1-2 years from now,” SOCOM added.
Contained in the SIG Rattler
The SIG Rattler premiered in 2017 and is a mini model of the SIG MCX. (The SIG MCX household additionally contains the Spear, which was adopted because the XM5 within the latest Subsequent Era Squad Weapon (NGSW) contest.) The MCX system is a short-stroke fuel piston gun that has grow to be extraordinarily fashionable in the previous couple of years. The Rattler takes the MCX platform and shrinks it. They trimmed the barrel to five.5 inches with a brief M-LOK handguard and folding inventory system.
The folding inventory is a minimalist, pretty easy, rugged metallic inventory. SIG went above board to make the weapon extremely compact. This contains the pistol grip, which is trimmed and rounded for straightforward concealment. Brief-stroke fuel piston techniques are inclined to work exceptionally properly with quick barrels.
The weapon will be fired with the inventory folded. In contrast to the AR-15 design, the buffer system is stored contained in the higher receiver, very similar to the AR-18. This enables for a really compact weapon which appeared to be the purpose of the SOCOM PDW undertaking. The Rattler is available in each 5.56 and 300 Blackout, and based on the Discover of Intent, SOCOM is buying each calibers.
The Rattler system and the SIG MCX, generally, are suitable with customary M4/M16/AR 15 decrease receivers. Primarily based on the undertaking’s historical past, it looks like SOCOM was on the lookout for an higher receiver group and buttstock equipment to outfit M4A1 lowers. The Discover of Intent states they’re buying full weapons.
The bundle additionally contains suppressors, magazines, cleansing kits, fast barrel change kits, force-on-force coaching kits, and coaching and instruction on the weapon.
What’s a PDW
Private Protection Weapon is a time period that got here round initially within the early Nineteen Nineties. It got here to explain a brand new class of SMG-sized weapons firing PDW calibers. The P90 and MP7 are essentially the most well-known examples of a traditional PDW. The SIG Rattler doesn’t essentially fall into that class, because it’s rather more rifle-like, however nonetheless defines the extra trendy PDW.
The SOCOM undertaking and the Rattler appear to be SOCOM’s try at discovering an SMG-sized, concealable platform for troops pulling particular missions. These received’t be the brand new service weapon of SOCOM by any means, however probably a distinct segment weapon for roles the place secrecy is important and sustaining a low profile is important.
A PDW like this doesn’t provide you a similar vary, penetration, or functionality of a rifle however outperforms a pistol or submachine gun by a big margin.
The 5.56 and .300 Blackout calibers
SOCOM will buy each the 5.56 and the .300 Blackout to be used with the SIG Rattler.
AAC developed .300 Blackout spherical from the bottom up to be used from quick barrels. The spherical reaches its peak potential from barrels as quick as 9 inches. The usage of a .30 caliber projectile additionally makes it straightforward for shooters to decide on between a supersonic or subsonic projectile.
The lighter-weight supersonic projectiles provide better vary and penetration however will not be as quiet when suppressed. The heavier subsonic rounds don’t provide the identical vary and penetration, but, they’re extremely quiet when suppressed. So, the .300 Blackout makes plenty of sense with the SIG Rattler, particularly when suppressed.
Alternatively, the 5.56 spherical doesn’t make a ton of sense. When Remington designed the .223 spherical that ultimately turned the 5.56 NATO load, they optimized it for a 20-inch barrel. Each inch you shave off creates quickly declining efficiency. The Rattler’s barrel will likely be 5.5-inches lengthy, so I wouldn’t be stunned to see keyholing and subpar efficiency in addition to restricted to no fragmentation because of the decrease velocity of the spherical.
The spherical can be going to be very loud, with plenty of muzzle flash and concussion with out the usage of a suppressor. Though the 5.56 is rather more widespread and accessible within the navy pipeline than .300 Blackout, its inclusion continues to be peculiar. I’m curious to understand how the 5.56 weapons will likely be used versus different choices like the Mk-18.
What concerning the LVAW?
The SIG MCX is already within the pipeline for the LVAW undertaking. The weapon has been utilized by Delta Power and is likely one of the smaller variants of the MCX. It’s fairly just like the SIG Rattler, however there are variations: The Rattler’s barrel is a bit shorter. The LVAW makes use of a 6.75-inch barrel in comparison with the 5.5-inch barrel of the Rattler. The LVAW additionally incorporates a totally different handguard, inventory, and pistol grip. The variations are minor however price noting.
Will the Rattler change the LVAW? I’m unsure, however they appear to have the identical mission.
SIG simply retains profitable. First the NGSW, then the MHS, and now the PDW undertaking. They don’t lie after they say they’re a complete techniques supplier.
