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New 516 wont cycle

20K views 60 replies 29 participants last post by  Esox 
#1 ·
Just purchased a 516 rifle and took it to the range yesterday. The gun never jammed or double fed, but it would not cycle the next round on almost every round that was shot, and it would not lock the bolt back on the last round. I tried different mags and multiple brand/weight rounds,, but nothing did the trick. I changed the gas piston to the adverse condition setting and the rifle began to work as is should. Why is this?

I called Sig today and they suggested nothing. They said to send the gun in for troubleshooting and maintenance even though it is brand new. One thing I noticed is that my gas adjuster and the one shown in the manual look different. I'm assuming its the same concept though. Am I right?...12 o clock position normal and 10-4 position adverse?. Here are some photos ....Any help would be greatly appreciated. I would hate to send in a new rifle and not have it for the next 3-4 weeks.


1st pic- shows gun in normal mode- gun would not cycle or lock back on last round
2nd pic - gun in adverse (if Im correct). Gun cycled and shot perfectly, but per the manual the rifle should not be used in adverse setting for prolonged period of time.
3rd pic - The gas adjuster looks different than mine. Do I have a different version with different adjustment settings?
 

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#36 ·
My 516 has been back to the factory 3 times and its still not working properly.Been cleaned and the gunstore has tested the rifle each time it has returned from the factory and it has failed.The only time it worked well was with 62 grain IMI ammo.otherwise it either fails to feed or become like a real expensive bolt rifle.
 
#37 ·
Sorry to hear about this man. Are you running it completely stock from the factory or have you modified or added any extra parts to it when testing it?

Please list everything you are accompanying with the factory 516 when testing the rifle out. Please also post a picture of the port hole sizes (all sizes) on your gas piston operating rod.

There's not enough gas cycling through your system or there's too much spring compression in your buffer spring.
 
#40 ·
#41 ·
UPDATE regarding Sig 516 failing to cycle.


Well I gave a call to Sig customer service and as soon as i explained the situation the guy (Kyle) said that if I am shooting anything lower grain than 62 that the system will have trouble cycling on the "normal 12-6" gas vent position. He informed me that if firing 55 grain that it is perfectly fine to operate the gun at the 10-4 "adverse" gas vent position. I have now fired over 150 rounds in the adverse position and have had 0 cycle problems or jams at all.

I really only ever plan on buying 55 grain I don't have a use or need for 62 grain or higher. The fact the weapon operates perfectly in the adverse position with the 55 grain makes me happy. The fact the CSR on the phone from sigsauer confirmed it's ok to fire in adverse with 55 grain is enough for me.

Some of my gun expert buddies have never heard anything like this but at the same time none of their ARs had adjustable gas vents
 
#42 ·
SIG Customer Service isn't particularly reliable.

Your firearm should run on most (all) bullet weights, without requiring the adverse setting.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
 
#43 · (Edited)
here are pictures of my gas settings for those interested

http://i.imgur.com/Y4gBWHU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/WMvsxL0.jpg





i understand what you're saying but it's odd that he specifically said 55 grain will have trouble on normal (mine does) and that adverse setting will function perfectly (which mine does too)


i'm open to some expert opinions here the last thing i want to do is damage my new rifle
 
#44 ·
Posted them for you.



 

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#46 ·
I had similar problems with .223 but someone had told me that. 5.56 was a "hotter load." Federal xm193 55gr runs fine at normal gas setting for me.
 
#47 ·
Edsel is right. It should shoot any .223/5.56. I guess I just got lucky and bought one that wasn't built on beer Friday. I was seriously considering buying a 716 Precision but I'm not so sure now after what I've been reading. Might go with an HK. Twice the $$$ but less headaches. I'm just hearing to many bad things over the last few months. Just because my 516 is perfect in every way doesn't mean the next one will be.
 
#48 ·
Sadly, I agree with you, but it's the best bang for buck when it comes to an AR gas piston/short-stroke push-rod system. And it's a good thing that SIG has stepped up in their customer service to make things right for SIG owners, no matter how many times it takes to send it back... :banghead:
 
#50 ·
I just bought a 516, first AR experience. Took it to the range last weekend for the first time, and had a similar bad experience. FTF,FTE in normal piston position. I ran about 4 shots using the charging handle to operate it as an expensive bolt action, then switched to adverse position and didn't have any more issues until my son tried it out and pulled the charge handle, getting a round stuck partially in the chamber and mag. I cleared it, and he did it a second time, but as I watched the second time, he apparently followed the handle instead of cleanly releasing it. I showed him again and did not have any further issues with it at this session. We shot around 190 rounds with it. I am going to clean it carefully and take it out this weekend to see how it performs in normal, now that it's had some break in. I used 55 grain and a few 45 that I bought without realizing the potential issue, however, it did run both in adverse. I'll update after the weekend and if it is still having issues, it's going back to the LGS for a replacement.
 
#51 ·
I also bought a Sig516 Gen 2 since June, but no ammo to test it yet. Got 100 rounds of Federal 5.56 55 gr couple days ago. After reading lots of FTF, FTE problems with this Sig516, I'm kinda concern how's mine going to turn out, I'll take my rifle out to the local indoor range and run it this Friday, cross my fingers. Thanks for sharing all the problems related to the Sig516, I have read and learned alot from the members in the forum. I too will update and share what's going on with mine after I test it this Friday, cheers......
 
#53 ·
Thanks XRLIZARD. After cleaned and lubed up my Sig516 Gen2, I went to the range today. Loaded only 3 rounds/mag. Shot 40 rounds of Federal 5.56 55grs XM193 FMJ Lake City in total, no problem at all in Normal 12-6 clock setting.

Next up is the Winchester 5.56 also 55grs, problem began here, FTF, failed to lock back last round after just 5 rounds or so. I switched the gas port setting to adverse 10-4 clock position, problem went away, shot 35 more rounds at this 10-4 setting without a hitch.

Went back to the Federal ammo, switched the setting back to NORMAL, put 20 more rounds down range no problem.

What I learned from online members and myself is that this Sig516 Gen2 is picky on ammo, stick with high pressure ammo then you are going to have fun, while lower pressure ammo need to adjust to ADVERSE position. Cheeeerrrrrrr..........
 
#54 ·
I own a Gen 2 516 and made sure to use 5.56 exclusively to break the rifle in and had no issues whatsoever. After the break in period I ran some .223 and the rifle functioned fine except with Pmags, the bolt would not stay open after the last round. Switched back to steel GI mags and the rifle functioned flawlessly. I haven't cleaned it yet and it still runs smooth. When you buy a rifle chambered in 5.56 that's what you should feed it.
 
#57 ·
After looking closer I'm still confused and I want to revisit this if you don't mind. I hope the pictures are clear enough to see my confusion.
photo 1 is #1 position @ 1 O'clock
photo 2 is #2 position @ 12 O'clock
photo 3 is #3 position @ 11 O'clock
photo 4 is #4 position @ 10 O'clock
When you say s patrol is that "s" (short) for sig, or is "s" a particular series of the SIG516 Patrol? My rifle's sr# begins with 20F, if that matters.
Anyway, If normal is at the 12 o'clock which would be the second position, and adverse is 11 o'clock which is the third position; what is the first position at 1 o'clock for?
Sorry for my ignorance I want to be clear with this before I fire it again.
Thanks,
 

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#59 ·
Do NOT listen to any of the people telling you to "stick to 5.56mm only"... if it doesn't cycle ALL .223 and 5.56, send it back to Sig and tell them to replace your gas valve.

I had the exact same problems (actually worse, mine wouldn't cycle any 55gr ammo reliably), and I had to send it back to Sig for repairs twice.

It's now fixed and hasn't had a malfunction since. This is what you should expect, and settle for nothing less.

Ignore everyone telling you that you need to clean it, or you're doing something wrong, or to only shoot the ammo that works... this is a $1500 supposedly high quality rifle, if it doesn't shoot .223, it's broken, plain and simple. Send it back.
 
#61 ·
Picked up a 516 Patrol at a great deal. Took it home, gave it a cursory packing grease cleaning, put some TWC on the colt cam pin and bolt carrier friction spots. Ran 600 rounds of various ammo trough it from many different brands of mags. Not one single issue. The nicest part was when I went to clean it afterwards. All the TWC was still white. Gas chamber was done in 150 seconds with a rag and a nylon brush. Awesome firerarm. I'm in love already, but my son claimed it as his new coyote/plinking gun......LOL.
 
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