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516 and M400 owners, any regrets?

38K views 66 replies 54 participants last post by  ptco911 
#1 ·
about not buying the other one? I'll be getting my first AR in a couple months, and I can't decide
 
#4 ·
Get the M400. If your not happy with the DI, you can always throw an adams arms gas piston kit on it and your own quad rail with the price difference. I like the look of some of the rails that are designed to wrap around and work with the piston gas blocks anyway. If you are good with the DI then you just have more $$$$ for accesories, ammo, other toys. Just my .02.
 
#5 ·
Although I have not had my M400 very long I have fired my friends Colt and another friends 3 built AR's.

It's my opinion that the M400 is so much smoother. It's hard to explain in words. I think it's a better rifle than the Colt.

Not knocking Colt because i want one of those too.

Just a newbie to AR's opinion.

Ken
 
#6 ·
For the money, the M400 is the best AR (a true AR is DI) on the market today. Read carefully...I did not say it is the best AR on the market. For what it is, at the price, you won't buy a better gun. The only 516 I have owned was a jam-o-matic. I didn't keep it very long. With that said, I know others who have one and they have had no problems.
 
#7 ·
Thanks guys. I appreciate teh feedback. I'm hunting Sig Sauers saturday. my price point is 699, where i can get a nice PSA rifle with magpul quad and pop up sights.
 
#9 ·
If you're not "dead set" on a M400, I have a Windham Weaponry M4 Carbine and while it's a little over your price range, it's a solid rifle.
 
#11 ·
wow. 4 LGS one Sig AR. the 7.62 piston ar. 2k. just YIKES. I'm thinking the PSA rig, and maybe installing an aftermarket piston system. that is AFTER i pay for the 225 and LDA i just put down cahs for
 
#12 ·
I have owned my 516 for over a year and I have absolutely no regrets and there have been zero malfunctions. I would definitely opt for the Gen 2FDE version of the 516 with the updated thread-less gas block. I can confirm the milspec trigger on my 516 is smoother than my buddy's S&W M&P15...
 
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#13 ·
I purchased an M400 because it was about $300 less than a Colt LE6920 and I was in an unusually thrifty mood on that particular day.

So far, it shoots well at the range, and it is one rifle I don't mind my wife taking to the range on her own (don't touch my Colts without me right next to you!).

However, I don't like the bolt carrier - it is semi- not the full-auto style. Also, the tooth on the extractor seems to be showing unusual wear. The finish on the bolt carrier isn't as nice as the finish on my Colts' bolt carrier. The bolt/screw used to attach the pistol grip to the lower receiver was not as rugged as the one used in my two Colts.

Although the lower receiver has sling swivel attachment spots for ease of attaching a sling, the front sling attachment ring is set at 6 o'clock instead of at 9 o'clock, so it sort of makes it goofy to mount a sling. They also use a carbine buffer, and not an H buffer. No big deal - I replaced it with an H buffer to better control the cycling and it only cost me a little over $10.

Of the items I listed above, the one that bugs me is the wear on the extractor. Why is that happening? Is it just lower quality metal? Or, is it banging/rubbing up against something it shouldn't be banging/rubbing up against? If I wanted to do so, I'd just go and buy another bolt carrier group and drop it in (like a BCM). However, it makes me wonder, "What else is second-rate?" Did they go cheap on the barrel? How would I know?

If this were my only AR, I'd have a lot of regrets. As it is, I wish I had just nutted up and been patient enough to get another Colt. However, being as in love with my Colts as I am (yes, I'm a fanboy, I suppose), I'm kind of glad that I have the M400 for my wife to use. I like to keep the Colts for my older son and me (eventually my younger son will shoot them, too).
 
#19 ·
Got the 516 for $1349 and love it. Learned the hard way that a clean rifle with the correct ammo will function properly. Have had no regrets after talking with these guys and getting the appropriate advice!
 
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#20 ·
I'm quite happy with M400 Enhanced which is straight DI & no gas piston! Just MUO guys please don't shoot!! It's just my trusty '99 Bushmaster DI has had 3000+ rnds & shoots clean enough for my purpose of use with plenty sand here in the South. I did take the gas piston money & bought an Eotech 512 but that's just this man's priorities. As always any of them OOZE Sig's quality, & fit & finish is top shelf! The D-ring single attach point is sheer simple genius. God it is a beautiful piece of work in every way & shoots even better!
 
#21 ·
I bought the SIG516 Gen2 in June and feed it WOLF .223 55 grain ammo, ran it on "Adverse" setting. I know it's ****, but I don't expect to it to FTF on almost every round or every other round or every third round.... blah!!!

Honestly, if I had done my due diligence instead of just bought it because it's a SIG, I might have bought a PWS or LWRC instead. I know the PWS is a few hundred more and the LWRC is almost double, but initially I thought the SIG516 was every bit just as good.

I'm considering getting something else that will eat anything from .223 55 grain to 5.56 77 grain, without having to pull that damn charging handle on almost every round.

Just my own experience and opinion.
 
#40 ·
only pmags i can find for my m400 that works and does not fall out of the rifle is the one it came with, any one else having problems with pmags. the left round will fire but it wont feed the right round or the mag just fall out?
I have had zero problems with all of the PMAGS I use. I have three windowed 30 rounders and three standard 20 rounders. Sorry to hear you're having problems! Did you contact Sig Sauer?
 
#25 ·
Same here......if I waited and bought from the Sig Academy Shop I could have gotten a FDE M400 enhanced for quite a bit less than I paid at an LGS in January

Oh well lol
 
#27 · (Edited)
Luckily I saw when the Kenyon Prince was relected then was the time to bounce. Picked up my M400E on Black Friday for 867. Could not be happier with this rifle. Over 2K rounds own her and she has been a rock! WOuld llove to have a 716 next. The 400 is a workhorse!

On the Pmag issue, I have about 20 I rotate and not a problem at all. Actually never had a GI mag in her. What Gen are the Pmags that are gicing you trouble? I have both old and M2 no issues.
 
#28 ·
I bought my 516 patrol last year brand new cost $1600. absolutely worth every penny. Had a blast customizing it and making it my own. check my album for pics.
As far as your $650 price range you're going to have to find someone very desperate or stupid to get one at that price lol.

Good luck and shoot any ques you might have on the gun. cant remark on the M400.
 
#29 ·
I got my M400 Enhanced before the prices went out of sight. I've not had any problems with it. I would like to put a different trigger in it though, the factory trigger is pretty rough. I did take it out and did a little smoothing and polishing on it. Haven't been shooting for awhile though, don't want to use up all my ammo . Waiting for the supply to open up again.
 
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