Type Assault Rifle
Ammunition 5.6mm Swiss (Swiss Militia)
5.56mm NATO (export version)
Manufacturer Swiss Arms
Period of use mid 80s - present
Weights and dimensions
Mass (unloaded) 4.100 kg
Length(s) 1000 mm (stock unfolded)
772 mm (stock folded)
Barrel length 528mm
Technical characteristics
Mode of action rotating cylinder head
Maximum range 3,300 m
Practical range 600 m
Rate of fire 600 or 900 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity 905 m/s
Capacity 20 to 30 shots (or 100 shots)
The SIG-550 is the official assault rifle of the Swiss Army (Fusil d'Assaut; F ass 90) manufactured by Swiss Arms (formerly SIG Arms AG). Designed in the 1980s, it was gradually introduced into the Swiss army in 1988, thus replacing the Stgw 57/Fass 57 (also built by SIG). After twenty years of active service, the SIG 550 has been declined in different versions, sold to several intervention groups, and remains an excellent assault rifle. SIG continues to offer it for export and it is still its flagship product in terms of long guns.
The Sig-550 was preceded in the 1960s by the SG 530-1 prototype, which was never put into production, then by the SIG-Manurhin SG-540/542/543 versions intended for export from their design1 and manufactured in France.
Technical
The regulatory SIG 550 in Switzerland uses the Swiss 5.6 mm, designed for a normal range of 300 meters. The "Export" versions, chamber the 5.56 mm NATO. An interesting feature of the SIG 550/551/552 is their translucent plastic magazine (20 and 30 rounds) which can be nested to facilitate rapid reloading. The SIG 550 is effective up to 400 meters with the use of the drum sight and the front sight (600 m with a telescope).
Its main qualities are easy maintenance and precision, certainly obtained at the expense of lightness and maneuverability, essential in urban combat. It is a weapon designed for "guerrilla" type combat with snipers, mobile, similar to snipers. It is also possible to mount a telescope on the SIG-550. All have a fire selector allowing you to choose the desired firing mode:semi-automatic, three-shot burst, automatic or safety. They can also accommodate various aiming aids instead of their standard firing devices. However, they are equipped with a safety device preventing the civilian shooter from using the weapon in a 3-shot burst or automatic, as a matter of safety. The purchase of a weapon that can fire in bursts is subject to a permit (prohibited in Switzerland except with a special permit).
Their magazines are designed in a translucent plastic material so that the shooter can at a glance assess how many cartridges are left in his magazine (which initially contains 20 or 30). Multiple magazines can be nested against each other, although usually users do not exceed three because of the inconvenience caused by too many additional magazines. The stock of the various SIGs is hollow and collapsible to facilitate transport.
It is designed to allow a novice shooter to seat their first 20 rounds in a 50cm diameter target at 300m.
It can be equipped with the American M203 grenade launcher in the Swiss army.
Users
In addition to the fact that it is the ordinance weapon of the Swiss army, the SIG 550 is offered for export in different versions. Many commandos, including the French Navy Commandos who use it in a short version.
The French army in the mid-1980s equipped certain FAR units in external operations with the SIG-550 pending the distribution of FAMAS (Chad, Lebanon ...)