SIG MPX
The SIG MPX is a gas-operated submachine gun designed and manufactured by SIG Sauer, and is primarily chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. It is a gas-operated firearm featuring a closed, rotating bolt.[1] These design features, rare in submachine guns, were chosen to enhance the safety of the user and to have a more reliable firearm.[2] It was designed in 2013 and was released to the general public in 2015.[3] It features the SIG Sauer short stroke push-rod gas system to reduce the recoil and improves the reliability of the weapon.
SIG Sauer MPX | |
---|---|
Type | Submachine gun |
Place of origin | United States, Germany |
Production history | |
Designed | 2013 |
Manufacturer | SIG Sauer |
Produced | 2015–present |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications | |
Mass | 2.7 kg (6.1 lbs) |
Length |
|
Barrel length | 114 mm (4.5 in) 165 mm (6.5 in) 203 mm (8 in) |
Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum |
Action | Short-stroke gas-operated, closed bolt |
Rate of fire | 850 RPM |
Maximum firing range | 370 M |
Feed system | 10-, 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine |
The MPX, in its second generation, features a system that would allow for conversion from 9mm to .357 SIG or .40 S&W. However, since its inception, first party conversion kits have not been made available for either of the two production generations of the submachine gun.[4]
SIG Sauer also used the same gas piston system to develop the SIG MCX carbine.
Design details
The standard variant of the MPX comes with an 8.0 inch (20.3 cm) barrel and is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. It comes with a collapsible stock and a free-floating rail. It has a cyclic rate of fire of 850 rounds per minute (RPM).[5][6]
The MPX is also available with different barrel lengths, ranging from 114 to 406mm (4.5- to 16-inch).[7] The MPX submachine gun is only available for military and law enforcement use, while a semi-automatic only version is also available for the civilian market.
The semi-automatic version of the weapon can be registered as a Short-Barreled Rifle in most states in the United States.[4]
Features
The standard MPX submachine gun comes with a rear and front flip-up sights that is attached to the integrated rail system on the top of the weapon. One available modification is a SIG reflex sight mounted to the rail instead of the flip-up sights.
The MPX has a short-stroke gas piston system in order to increase the accuracy of the weapon which operates in closed bolt.[1] It is designed in this way to prevent water or dirt from entering the chamber and causing malfunctions as well as to use a suppressor with greater ease.[8] It features an ambidextrous selector switch for fully automatic (law enforcement/military models) and semi-automatic. It also features an ambidextrous bolt catch, and the weapons exterior appears to be a cross between an AR-15 and a Heckler & Koch MP5A3. The barrel is free-floating and is surrounded by polymer/steel Picatinny rail (later M-LOK) mounts.
The charging handle of the weapon is at the back of the weapon, based on the AR-15 design. This is to ensure that cocking the weapon does not interfere with any optics mounted onto the Picatinny rail. The weapon's rails are made out of cast steel and the standard weapon overall weighs 2.1 kilograms (4.6 lb).
Variants
Selective fire configurations
MPX (Standard variant)
A pistol variant with a three-position collapsible arm support with a stock like appearance, three-position fire selector if it supports full automatic and an 14” blind pined and welded muzzle brash 16”, 8.0, 6.0 4.5 inch barrel.[9]
MPX-K (Compact variant)
A compact variant with a 114 mm (4.5 inch) barrel.
MPX-SD (Integrally suppressed variant)
A fully suppressed variant with an MP5SD-like integral suppressor, a longer fore-end and an 203 mm (8.0 inch) barrel.
Semi-automatic only configurations
MPX Pistol (Pistol variant)
A semi-automatic only pistol variant with no stock and a 203 mm (8.0 inch) barrel.
MPX PSB (Pistol variant)
A semi-automatic only pistol variant with a SIG SBX pistol stabilizing brace and an 203 mm (8.0 inch) barrel. In the US in 2015 the BATFE warned users of weapons using SIG stabilizing braces that shouldering a weapon fitted with a brace constituted the making of a Title II NFA weapon, reversing a prior ruling that it did not.[10] In early 2017, however, the BATFE withdrew this opinion, once again making stabilizing braces an attractive solution. [11]
MPX-C (Carbine variant)
A semi-automatic only carbine variant, featuring a 165 mm (6.5 inch) barrel with a 241 mm (9.5 inch) muzzle device permanently welded to it, which is actually a modified version of the baffle core of the integrally suppressed variant. SIG contended that this device was a muzzle brake, but in 2013 the BATFE ruled that the component was a suppressor, and classified the MPX-C as possessing an integral suppressor and thus as a Title II NFA weapon. The BATFE rejected an appeal against this ruling in February 2014; SIG responded by filing a civil lawsuit against the BATFE,[12] alleging they had acted in an "arbitrary and capricious manner". In September 2015, Federal Judge Paul Barbadora upheld the BATFE's ruling.[13]
As a result of this SIG has announced a carbine variant with a 406 mm (16 inch) barrel without the muzzle device, designated as the MPX Carbine.[2]
Users
Argentina: Law enforcement in Argentina. Bangladesh: On order for Para-Commando Brigade (Bangladesh) Dominican Republic: Used by Dominican National Police SWAT Unit. Indonesia: Used by Indonesian National Police. India: Mainly by Indian National Security Guard and small amount use by some units of Special forces of India Malta: Malta Police Special Intervention Unit. Poland: Jednostka Wojskowa Grom Singapore: Special Operations Task Force Switzerland: Police Cantonale Genève. Hong Kong: Railway Response Team Peru: National Police of Peru Taiwan: Republic of China Marine Corps Special Service Company Thailand: Used by Royal Thai Police.[14] United States: US Army and JSOC.
References
- Ayoob, Massad (14 May 2014). Gun Digest Book of SIG-Sauer. Iola, Wisconsin: F+W Media. ISBN 978-1-4402-3920-5.
- Staff (14 January 2016). "SIG Sauer Announces MPX 9 mm Semi-automatic Carbine". by American Rifleman.
- Staff (11 April 2015). "Long-Awaited SIG MPX in 9 mm Now Shipping". by American Rifleman.
- Harrison, Iain (2015). "SIG SAUER MPX – Next-Gen Sub Gun". Recoil. 3 (21).
- MPX, SIG. "SIG MPX Brochure (PDF)" (PDF).
- "Modern Firearms - SIG-Sauer MPX submachine gun (USA)". modernfirearms.net. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- Mann, Richard Allen; Lee, Jerry (20 November 2013). The Gun Digest Book of Modern Gun Values: The Shooter's Guide to Guns 1900-Present. Iola, Wisconsin: F+W Media. p. 206. ISBN 978-1-4402-3752-2.
- Sweeney, Patrick (18 January 2016). Gun Digest Book of Suppressors. Iola, Wisconsin: "F+W Media, Inc.". p. 139. ISBN 978-1-4402-4532-9.
- Crane, David (24 May 2014). "SIG SAUER MPX KeyMod Multi-Cal Machine Pistol/Mini Submachine Gun (SMG)/PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) with Silencer/Sound Suppressor at NDIA SOFIC 2014". Defense Review.
- The Rise And Fall Of The SB-15 ‘Sig Brace’ Grand View Outdoors. March 24, 2015.
- "ATF Rules Against SIG MPX", The Outdoor Wire, 14 April 2014
- "Judge favors ATF in Sig lawsuit: It's a silencer", Guns.com, 25 September 2015
- "KomChadLuek 7 Jan 2018".