SIG MCX range report
I was able to get out to the range for a couple of hours on Thursday and break in the new MCX short barreled rifle. From the very start I was impressed with the rifle's handling characteristics. The pistol grip, which looks a bit odd, is actually quite comfortable and I like it more than the MagPul grips I normally use. Because the Bravo Company front grip is QD, I fired the rifle with the front grip and without. The all metal hand guard looks a bit awkward, but it fit my hand just fine so I didn't use the front grip for the rest of the session. The folding metal stock is well designed and while quite slim, it gives a surprisingly good cheek weld. Most of the controls are ambidextrous and oversized. This isn't a big issue for me, but a lot of guys prefer the bigger buttons and this rifle has them. The trigger was great right out of the box: nice and crisp, and with no creep at all. This is among the best factory triggers I've used. The OEM SIG flip-up front and rear sights are good, but there are better BUS on the market and I may switch them over to something else. The majority of shooting was done with a SIG Romeo red dot, which was good enough, but not great. The rifle screams for optics like an EOTech, which is on my list of purchases.
I fired Federal .223 and Lake City M855 ball. The barrel is 1-7 twist and while I think it did a little better with the heavier M855 62 gr. bullet, the barrel is only 11-1/2 inches long so there are compromises no matter what you shoot out of it. I used MagPul Pmags, AMEND2 magazines, and a factory Colt 20 round metal magazine. All fed and functioned fine. I ran the rifle suppressed and unsuppressed, and it was trouble free with both the .30 and .223 caliber Yankee Hill suppressors. Guys on both sides of me commented that the .30 caliber can was a bit quieter, but it is longer and heavier than the .223, which sort of defeats the purpose of an SBR. There is a suppressed setting for the gas system, but the instructions state that it is only need when firing subsonic ammo. I tried the suppressed setting and found that the rifle kicked harder, which means it was getting too much gas and that's hard on the operating system. Because the normal gas setting worked fine, I doubt I'll make an adjustment again. The rifle is modular and you can switch stocks, barrels, and hand guards into a variety of configurations, but I rather like it as-is and won't tinker too much with it. Field stripping and cleaning was nothing out of the ordinary. If you can clean an AR you can clean this rifle.
In summation, I'm a fan of the MCX. It seems to do everything right and doesn't have many faults, or at least none that I could find. Although it is based on the AR, it looks different enough so that it doesn't get lost among the countless other ARs on the range. If you are looking for a gas piston rifle then the SIG is one you should consider.
I fired Federal .223 and Lake City M855 ball. The barrel is 1-7 twist and while I think it did a little better with the heavier M855 62 gr. bullet, the barrel is only 11-1/2 inches long so there are compromises no matter what you shoot out of it. I used MagPul Pmags, AMEND2 magazines, and a factory Colt 20 round metal magazine. All fed and functioned fine. I ran the rifle suppressed and unsuppressed, and it was trouble free with both the .30 and .223 caliber Yankee Hill suppressors. Guys on both sides of me commented that the .30 caliber can was a bit quieter, but it is longer and heavier than the .223, which sort of defeats the purpose of an SBR. There is a suppressed setting for the gas system, but the instructions state that it is only need when firing subsonic ammo. I tried the suppressed setting and found that the rifle kicked harder, which means it was getting too much gas and that's hard on the operating system. Because the normal gas setting worked fine, I doubt I'll make an adjustment again. The rifle is modular and you can switch stocks, barrels, and hand guards into a variety of configurations, but I rather like it as-is and won't tinker too much with it. Field stripping and cleaning was nothing out of the ordinary. If you can clean an AR you can clean this rifle.
In summation, I'm a fan of the MCX. It seems to do everything right and doesn't have many faults, or at least none that I could find. Although it is based on the AR, it looks different enough so that it doesn't get lost among the countless other ARs on the range. If you are looking for a gas piston rifle then the SIG is one you should consider.
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Thanks for the review Mark. Sounds like you're going to enjoy it. 0 -
Nice looking setup you have there,...glad you enjoyed it.
My only Sig, short of handguns, is an old Classic Swat 5.56 with the folding rear stock. It's a piston gun also, and shoots quite nicely although I haven't had it out in a long time. My only gripe has always been that it's not a nicely balanced rifle.0 -
Thanks for the update,well written and thorough. Surprised you like holding forward on the hand guard versus the QD grip. Sounds like the gun performed as well as it looks. That's always a plus. Glad you enjoyed it. 0 -
how's the balance with that skeleton stock and a suppressor on it? 0 -
Thanks for the kind words, Joe. I normally use "stubby" front grips- Bravo Company being my favorite, and use them more as a handstop than as an actual grip. The full length photo of the rifle was taken at home on the day that the rifle arrived. When I got to the range I mounted the front grip farther forward. In any case, I found the hand guard fit my medium sized hands quite well. The Bravo Company front grip really is QD, so on and off is as easy as twisting it to lock/unlock it. What really impressed me was how well it ran suppressed. My direct impingement AR short barreled rifles need an gas-adjustable bolt carrier to get dialed in; that and a few buffer changes, while the piston rifle needed nothing more than screwing on the can and pulling the trigger.
I have more Class 3 stuff coming, so stay tuned.0 -
buschmaster wrote:how's the balance with that skeleton stock and a suppressor on it?
With the 5.56 can, It balances well, with the point of balance just ahead of the magazine well. It balances better than I had thought it would.0 -
Try not to get involved.
OVERWATCHhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy2xZ5NT7F0
TARGET IDENTIFIEDhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBW3bGtNU-I&feature=youtu.be
VEHICLE ASSAULThttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlgRhIlMCBE
TANGO DOWNhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6MEdkoomvg
Think this is something I need.0 -
That is a sweet set up Mark.
Impressive rig.0 -
Looks pretty cool Mark.
I need to get some suppressors. Keep putting it off.0 -
I could not resist adding what would be considered the full sized stock assembly, which is adjustable for length, and it also folds:
The use of the factory case is not a problem, the rifle fits inside just fine with the larger stock:
Changing stock assemblies is as easy as removing a single screw, sliding the new stock into what looks like a short Picatinny rail at the rear of the receiver, and then tightening the screw. It is a well thought out design.0
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