The Sig Sauer 516 G3 rifle in 5.56 NATO (brand part no. R516G3-556N-16B-BRZ) is the 16-inch bronze version of Sig Sauer‘s piston-driven AR. A short-stroke gas piston with an adjustable gas system sits under a free-floating M-LOK handguard, and the cold hammer forged barrel carries a 1:7 twist. Sig adds a Matchlite Duo curved trigger, a flash hider compensator and fully ambidextrous controls. A rear and side non-reciprocating charging handle lets you run the rifle from either shoulder, and steel reinforcement at the cam path and feed ramp backs the high-wear areas. For a shooter who wants a piston AR with a distinctive bronze finish, this is the 516 G3 to look at.

Key Specifications

• The chambering is 5.56x45mm NATO, the standard cartridge for the AR-15 pattern.
• The barrel is 16 inches of cold hammer forged steel, a length that keeps the rifle a conventional rifle.
• The rate of twist is 1:7, which stabilizes the heavier 5.56 bullets.
• The muzzle is threaded 1/2×28 with a tapered shoulder, so common muzzle devices and thread-on accessories fit.
• The muzzle device is a SIG flash hider compensator, which tames flash and helps control muzzle rise.
• The operating system is a short-stroke gas piston with an adjustable gas system, so you can tune it to the ammunition or the accessories you run.
• The handguard is a free-floating M-LOK design with an accessory rail, which keeps the barrel free and gives you mounting slots.
• The trigger is a SIG Matchlite Duo curved design, which gives a clean, repeatable press.
• The controls are fully ambidextrous, covering the bolt catch, magazine catch, safety and charging handle.
• The rifle ships with one 30-round polymer magazine and accepts standard AR-15 magazines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 516 G3 a piston rifle? Yes. It uses a short-stroke gas piston with an adjustable gas system, which vents propellant gas away from the bolt carrier group.

Does it take standard AR-15 magazines? Yes. It is built around the AR-15 magazine pattern and ships with one 30-round polymer magazine.

What is the barrel length and twist? The cold hammer forged barrel is 16 inches long with a 1:7 twist rate and 1/2×28 muzzle threads.

Buy the Sig Sauer 516 G3 Rifle, 5.56 NATO, 16-Inch, Bronze, 30-Round

A piston-driven AR with Sig’s finish choices gives you something different from the usual direct-impingement build, and the bronze version stands out on a rack. Order it from our Lubbock, Texas gun shop for fast, insured shipping to your FFL, and see more ar rifles.