SIG 516 Patrol Rifles in Service with Turkish Special Police Teams

[Zarvan]

Turkish security outlets on social media have recently been posting numerous photographs of Turkey’s law enforcement special operations, the PÖH armed with Sig Sauer 516 Patrol rifles or variants thereof. At TFB we’ve been slowly following the New Hampshire based Sig Sauer in exporting rifles to various LE and Military agencies overseas. Most notably with Pakistani special operations forces with the SIG516 PDW, and Iraqi Special Operations Forces (not mentioned in post) with the M400 serving alongside Rock River Arms carbines. Currently, with the Turkish PÖH, it appears that Sig is slowly taking over the issue 5.56x45mm NATO service rifle issue and becoming more widespread. The rifles being issued are either piston operated, gas adjustable Sig 516 Patrol rifles, or gas impingement Sig 516 Patrol rifles, both with what appear to be 14.5-inch barrels. We’ve also noticed a third party compensator installed on some of the rifles, in addition to the A2 birdcage flashhider. We have one photograph of a Sig 516 being select fire, so this is most likely the case with the others.

This is the single example we have so far of a 7.62x51mm NATO Sig 716 rifle with a 20 round magazine, flanked by two Sig 516s. It would appear that the PÖH, similar to the Army’s Special Operations groups have very low opinions of the MPT76…



Notice the different compensators



Direct Impingement rifles. It is possible that these are part of an earlier purchase that was evaluating the rifles, then the decision was made to purchase the piston operated rifles.

Nothing about the M400 or the SIG 516 makes it that much more reliable or accurate over any other garden variety select fire garden variety on the market, even when compared to other piston operated AR15s. What is most likely the case is that Sig Sauer knows how to legally and efficiently export select fire rifles overseas, with the proper licensing, permits, and end-user certificates as would be required for Iraq, Turkey, and Pakistan. And of course, knows how to negotiate this bureaucratic and political minefield coming out at the other end with a budget price for these countries security services.

These examples are of Sig 516s with Beta C drum magazines, or at least copies of them attached.



Special thanks to Aybars for sharing these links!


http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...-rifles-service-turkish-special-police-teams/

 

[Beno]

Yet again Turkey imports weapons instead of using it's own industries. Why develop the MPT-55 if you're never going to use it?

 

[eagleeye]

I think these are old pictures . They are not buying anymore sig sauer weapons.

 

[kartal1]

Yet again Turkey imports weapons instead of using it's own industries. Why develop the MPT-55 if you're never going to use it?

The special operation forces needs the best equipment possible and my opinion is that their equipment procurement must not be restricted in any way. I am not sure how is the MPT 55 performance next to for example
SIG 516 and HK 416. MPT 55 will be the replacement for the HK 33 rifles mostly used by the commando units that we know they are not with status of special operation forces but instead they are highly trained light infantry units. HK 33 is used by Gendarmerie Special Operations (JOH) and it will be replaced with the MPT 55 most likely. The most professional unit in the Gendarmerie- special operations unit (JOPER) of Gendarmerie Special Public Safety Command (JOAK) have shown interest in SIG 516 in the past. JOAKs standart service rifle is HK 33 but they also have HK 416s in their inventory. Police Special Operations have some SAR 223 in their inventory and as far as I know they are not very happy with them and I believe them after seeing the last commercial video of Sarsilmaz for the 9mm SAR109T. Its very good that we have those designs and all those rifles but the problem is in the quality of production and even for the normal soldier its crucial what to say for special units of this kind. Its bad now but I hope after some time we will have high end guns and the need for procurement from abroad will end. The situation at the moment is reminding me of the embargo from 1974. It gave pretty sweet fruits but this time we will do it faster and better.