SIG SG 510

SIG SG 510

Sturmgewehr 57 (Stgw 57)
Type Battle rifle
Place of origin Switzerland
Service history
In service 1957–1990
Used by See Users
Wars 1973 Chilean coup d'état
Production history
Designer Rudolf Amsler
Designed 1950s
Manufacturer Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG)
Produced 1957–1983
Variants SG 510-1, SG 510-2, SG 510-3, SG 510-4
Specifications
Weight 5.7 kg (12.57 lb) (Stgw 57)
4.37 kg (9.63 lb) (SG 510-4)
Length 1,100 mm (43.3 in) (Stgw 57)
1,015 mm (40.0 in) (SG 510-4)
Barrel length 583 mm (23.0 in) (Stgw 57)
505 mm (19.9 in) (SG 510-4)
Cartridge 7.5×55mm GP 11 (Stgw 57)
7.62×51mm NATO (SIG 510-4)
Action Roller-delayed blowback
Rate of fire 450–600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 750 m/s (2,460 ft/s)
Effective firing range 640 m (700 yd) iron sights
800 m (875 yd) Kern 4×24 optical sight
Feed system 20-, 24-, or 30-round detachable box magazine
Sights Front post, rear aperture

The SIG SG 510 or Sturmgewehr 57 is a selective fire battle rifle manufactured by Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (now SAN Swiss Arms) of Switzerland. It uses a roller-delayed blowback system similar to the H&K G3 and CETME rifles. The SIG SG 510-1 entered service in the Swiss Army with the designation Fass 57 (French/Italian, for Fusil d'Assault 57/Fucile d' Assalto 57) or Stgw 57 (German for Sturm Gewehr 57).

The Sturmgewehr 57/SIG SG 510-1 was adopted for Swiss military service in 1957 and was, in 1990, replaced by the lighter SIG SG 550, although some reservists used it for several years longer.

Design details

The SG 510 is derived from the AM55 used during the 1950s. It is a selective fire rifle that employs a roller-delayed blowback operating system. Unusually, it was fitted with a shiny stainless steel bayonet.

Features

The weapon is mainly made of pressed sheet-metal components to ease mass production. The SG 510 has a distinctive T-shaped bolt handle similar to the earlier K31. The butt-stock and hand guard of the rifle are rubberized for comfort and durability and the front hand guard is ribbed to provide a better grip.

The SG 510-1/Stgw 57 barrel is rifled along 520 mm (20.5 in) of its length and has a 270 mm (1 in 10.6 in) 4 groove rifling.[1] At the end of the barrel an integral muzzle brake is fitted that reduces recoil by about 25%. The barrel is surrounded by a perforated tubular barrel jacket with two mounting points for an integral bipod—one near the muzzle, and another near the receiver.

SG 510-4 rifle chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO

The SG 510-4 chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO with a 305 mm (1 in 12 in) twist rate barrel was adopted by Chile and Bolivia. The SIG SG 510 is officially classed as an automatic rifle but served as a designated marksman weapon (in Chile with Supra 4×24 scope).

For recoil reduction the fixed butt-stock is fitted with a recoil buffer. The SG 510-1/Stgw 57 sports a large carrying handle at its balance point that can be used during quick position changes or on the march. On the right hand side of the rifle, there is a foldaway 'winter' trigger which enables the operator to use the rifle with arctic mittens. It also improves accuracy, because it reduces the force needed to pull the trigger.

The trigger mechanism has a three-position fire selector switch that is also the manual safety toggle that secures the weapon from accidentally discharging. The user selects the operating mode with a large side lever on the left side of the receiver that can be rotated to select S (safe), E (semi-automatic fire) or M (full-automatic fire).

Sights

Swiss Army Stgw 57 with erected iron sights and PE57 bayonet

The SG 510-1/Stgw 57 has a straight-line stock design, and an elevated iron sights line. Both the front and rear sights can be folded down when not in use. The rear peep sight of the Stgw 57 can be adjusted from 100 m to 640 m. From 100–200 m the sight adjusts in 50 m increments. From 200–300 m in 30 m increments, and from 300–640 m in 20 m increments.[1]

According to the Swiss Army the 50% windage and elevation dispersion shot at 300 m from a machine rest averages 6 cm (2.4 in).[1] For anti-personnel use, the SG 510-1/Stgw 57 typical maximum range for consistent accuracy is 800 m (656 yd).

For designated marksman use, the SG 550 can be equipped with a quick-detachable Kern 4×24 telescopic sight. The sight weighs 730 g (26 oz) and includes a variety of features, such as mounting components, a Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC) elevation adjustment knob for ranges from 100 to 800 m, an illuminated reticle that enables target acquisition in low-light conditions and a diopter eyesight correction adjustment. Included with the sight is a lens hood for mounting on the ocular that reduces image quality-impairing stray light and a gray filter for glare reduction.[2] A night vision sight with an infra red light can also be mounted. The Chilean version can fit a German-made Supra 4×24 telescopic sight.

Accessories

Stgw 57 with folded down iron sights on its bipod.

The Swiss Army Stgw 57 is fed from curved detachable box magazines, made from aluminum and containing 24 rounds. The PE 57 had 5- and 10-round magazines available as well. Magazines with 20-round capacities for the 510-4 in 7.62 NATO and 30-round originally for the LMG25 may operate in the 57 as well. Other accessories include the sling, the bayonet, and a special small-capacity magazine for grenade-launching cartridges.

Rifle grenades can be launched without adding a special provision. Grenade-launching cartridges enable the SG 510-1/Stgw 57 to fire Gewehrgranaten 58 rifle grenades. The rifle grenade 58 achieves a muzzle velocity of 35 m/s and a maximum range of 125 m without the help of a booster charge or 70 m/s and a maximum range of 400 m with the help of a booster charge. The rifle grenade 58 may be fitted with the following warheads:

Civilian use

Upon completion of their military service, members of the Swiss armed forces could obtain ownership of their personal Stgw 57 rifle by paying an administrative fee. These "civilianised" Stgw 57 rifles were converted to a semiautomatic only configuration and are designated PE 57, PE means Privat Einzelfeuer (Private Singlefire). As of 2007, around 40 percent of discharged soldiers choose to retain their weapon (nowadays the SIG SG 550), and the going rate for civilianised SG 510 rifles on the private weapons market is reported to vary between 400 and 500 Swiss francs.[3]

In Switzerland the SG 510 is also used for target shooting matches. For this the standard iron sights can be replaced by target shooting diopter and globe sight sighting lines. When the sighting line radius is kept at its original length Swiss sport shooters refer to a such modified rifle as Stgw 57/02. When the sighting line radius is lengthened by mounting the globe sight nearer to the muzzle it is referred to as Stgw 57/03.

Variants

Users

See also

Related weapons:

References

  1. 1 2 3 Swiss Army Sturmgewehr 57 Manual (German)
  2. ↑ Kern 4x24 telescopic sight
  3. ↑ Stefan von Below (19 October 2007). "Ein Gewehr kostet 60 Franken und fünf Kreuze". Der Bund. p. 21.
  4. 1 2 3 Stgw. 57 / Sig 510 assault rifle (Switzerland). Modern Firearms. Accessed 15 August 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  6. ↑ Giletta, Jacques (2005). Les Gardes Personnelles des Princes de Monaco (1st ed.). Taurus Editions. ISBN 2 912976-04-9.
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