SIG Sauer is making a run of limited edition Texas Ranger P320 pistols to support the Former Texas Ranger Foundation, while also tooling up to deliver a big order of SIG 716 rifles to the Indian Army.
Not to be confused with Native Americans, this is the land forces branch of the Indian Armed Forces headquartered in New Delhi. Amid rising tensions between India and China, India put in an order for 72,000 more SIG 716 rifles.
This doubles India’s original order of 72,000 rifles to 144,000 through a fast-track procurement program arming troops in India’s Northern Command and “other operational areas.”
“We are going to place an order for 72,000 more of these rifles under the financial powers granted to the armed forces,” defense sources told the Asian News International.
Chambered for 7.62 NATO, the SIG 716 is a short-stroke gas piston-operated rifle with roots in AR-pattern designs. India is replacing their INSAS rifles in 5.56 NATO with other guns, primarily the SIG for front-line forces, with AK-203 rifles for support troops.
The AK-203 is a licensed AK-100-style rifle chambered for 7.62x39mm made in India in partnership with Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern.
Back at SIG, the company is also paying tribute to a very storied institution, the Texas Rangers, with the Texas Ranger P320 Limited Edition pistol. A portion of each sale goes to the Former Texas Ranger Foundation which preserves and teaches the history with the Texas Ranger Heritage Center.
For more than a century the Texas Rangers Association, whose members include Rangers and their families, provides “Texans and visitors to the Lone Star state the opportunity to experience first-hand the history, the philosophy and the life experiences of one of Texas’ oldest institutions.”
“For nearly 200 years, the Texas Rangers have served and protected the Lone Star State, my beloved home state, and today the SIG Sauer P320 is in service with the officers of all 13 divisions of the Texas Department of Public Safety, including the Texas Rangers,” said SIG Vice President Tom Taylor.
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“This unique pistol is a true collector’s item and honors the service of the Texas Rangers with a Texas Ranger TXR serial number, customized Texas Ranger engravings, and a challenge coin in the shape of the iconic Texas Ranger badge,” said Taylor. “We are honored to have this opportunity to commemorate the historical significance of the Texas Rangers through the production of this P320 and help to advance the mission of the Former Texas Ranger Foundation.”
These limited edition P320s are full-size pistols chambered for 9mm Luger with a 17+1-round capacity. In addition to the challenge coin, each pistol comes with SIGLite night sights and two magazines.
The top strap of each pistol is engraved with the Ranger emblem and the motto “One riot, one Ranger” along the slide.
For more about these and other SIG products, visit the SIG Sauer website.
I’m surprised that the Indians adopted this SIG 716. It’s seems to be a copy of the HK417 which is nothing more then a product improved AR10 with a piston gas system. The AR10 is now quite dated. It’s biggest weakness was the recoil spring in the buttstock. With this design it’s impossible to make a bullpup or folding stock variant. As for this SIG 716 I checked it out and it has the old M16 style cocking lever which is a rather poor design. Being at the rear of the receiver I can cock one of my AR15’s left handed when it’s in my right shoulder but it’s not that easy. The cocking lever on a military rifle should be on center of the receiver or on the handguard for the most ergonomic application and should be on the left hand side for a right handed shooter. Many of the newer assault rifles like the FN SCAR have cocking levers which are ambidextrous and can be installed on either side of the rifle. However I suspect these SIG 716’s will do well in their field trials.
I find this interesting because every Texas Ranger I’ve seen has been carrying a 1911. Maybe they have changed things and require all Rangers to carry the Sig..I have no idea.