SIG 516 G3
- Category
- Rifle
- Barrel
- 406 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.49 kg
- Introduced
- 2026
About
What it is, and why it matters
The SIG 516 G3 is the third-generation update of SIG Sauer's 516 gas-piston AR-pattern rifle, launched in 2026 in 5.56 NATO. It runs a short-stroke pushrod piston system with a four-position adjustable gas valve (normal, adverse, suppressed, off), a non-reciprocating left-side folding charging handle, fully ambidextrous controls, a free-floating M-LOK handguard, and the SIG Matchlite Duo curved trigger.
The 516 G3 gives shooters a four-position gas valve that can be shut completely off - a single-shot manual mode that suppressor users exploit to vent gas backward through the action for the quietest possible shot.
G3 generation replaces several aluminum components with upgraded steel parts and adds a steel barrel-nut heat sink and supplemental right-side bolt catch. Standard 16-inch cold-hammer-forged nitride barrel with 1:7 twist; an 11.5-inch barrel configuration is also offered. Overall length 36.5 in extended, 33 in collapsed.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- SIG Sauer
- Category
- Rifle
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2026
- Variant of
- Third generation
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 406 mm
- Overall length
- 927 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.49 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Trigger pull
- 20.0 N
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Anodized
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Effective range
- 500 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Short stroke piston system- Adjustable gas valve four position
Non reciprocating side charging handle
Ambidextrous controls
Free floating m lok handguard
Matchlite duo trigger
Cold hammer forged barrel
Sig flash hider compensator
Threaded barrel
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 84 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 3.49 kg | 3.08 kg | Heavier than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 77 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 927 mm | 900 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 98 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 406 mm | 406 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 98 5.56x45mm NATO rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the SIG 516 G3
How much does the SIG 516 G3 weigh?
The SIG 516 G3 weighs 3.49 kg (7.70 lb) empty.
What caliber is the SIG 516 G3?
The SIG 516 G3 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the SIG 516 G3 hold?
The SIG 516 G3 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the SIG 516 G3?
The SIG 516 G3 is 927 mm (36.5 in) long overall, with a 406 mm (16.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the SIG 516 G3?
The SIG 516 G3 is made by SIG Sauer (Germany).
When was the SIG 516 G3 introduced?
The SIG 516 G3 was introduced in 2026.
How does the SIG 516 G3 operate?
The SIG 516 G3 uses a gas operated short stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
75%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/sig-516-g3' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "sig-516-g3", "name": "SIG 516 G3", "manufacturer": { "id": "sig-sauer", "name": "SIG Sauer", "countryCode": "DE", "foundedYear": 1985, "website": "https://www.sigsauer.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "944f4088befdcee3b0aa7caf122998351ef3d78abc525a2bdec9df81e65a6b30" }, "category": { "id": "rifle", "name": "Rifle", "description": "Long-barreled firearms designed for accurate shooting" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 2026, "barrel_length_mm": 406, "weight_empty_g": 3493, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke"}