SIG SAUER MCX SPEAR LT 16-INCH 5.56 RIFLE REVIEW

June 19, 2023

Disclaimer: I paid for the Sig MCX Spear rifle and PMC ammunition for this review using my own money. I do not have a sponsorship or affiliation with Sig Sauer in any way other than as a customer.

MCX SPEAR LT OVERVIEW

Built for the U.S. military’s Next Generation Squad Weapon program, the Sig MCX Spear, a.k.a. the XM5, will be chambered in .227 SIG Fury (6.8x51mm).

Sig Sauer also released a lineup of civilian market weapons in January 2022. The third-generation SIG MCX SPEAR LT is chambered in 5.56, 7.62, 300 BLK, and 6.5 Creedmoor. The 5.56 and 7.62 variants have an 11.5” pistol/SBR configuration, while the 300 BLK MCX Spear LT sports a 9” barrel. It took me a year and a half to finally source this rifle in 5.56 NATO for my collection, as sites would quickly run out of stock.

This SPEAR LT is my first MCX ownership experience.

MCX SPEAR LT FEATURES

The SIG SPEAR LT uses a short-stroke gas piston to operate. This differs from many other AR15s on the market, which use a direct impingement gas system. The piston adds some weight; however amplifies reliability and makes suppressed shooting a little friendlier (less gas blowback to your face).

The MCX SPEAR LT has Picatinny and MLOK mounting systems, fully ambidextrous controls, a match trigger, and an easy-to-adjust gas piston. The bolt release is an upgrade and is similar to a B.A.D. Lever®. The new rifle also features a foldable stock that can fire in the folded configuration as the recoil spring is internalized.

The rifle makes it easy to configure different barrels, swap handguards, or change the stock.

The MCX comes with a small three-pronged flash hider; however, it’s fundamental feature is being suppressor-ready.

My only negative of the out-of-the-box setup would be the skeletonized folding stock. While it does come with a small cheek riser, the stock was difficult to manipulate into a folding position (you need to depress a button and lift the rear simultaneously).

I would prefer a B5 Systems SOPMOD or Magpul stock instead, and others have made this change to their rifles.

MY RIFLE SETUP

My current Sig MCX SPEAR LT setup in this review includes a 1-6 Gen II Razor HD on a Geissele mount. The gun weighs 8 lbs and 15.2 ounces once fitted with this heavier LPVO & mount.

I do still need a sling, light, foregrip, and suppressor.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

Regarding quality, fit, and finish, the Sig SPEAR LT delivers. The rifle looks stunning and has an assortment of quality-of-life improvements over a lower-priced AR15. The anodized Coyote Brown is undoubtedly an in-vogue color choice as well.

Performance and accuracy were overall very good. The rifle ejected rounds consistently and without any hiccups or malfunctions. It was well-gassed and flat-shooting.

I managed approximately 1.5 MOA groups (5 rounds each) at 100 yards using 55-grain PMC X-Tac ammunition in an unsupported seating position. I also decimated a soda can on the first round at that distance. My next range day would be to dial everything in and stretch this rifle to 300 yards.

A downside to the rifle is its weight, which is 7.18 lbs, which balloons quickly once accessories are added. A typical DI rifle is around 6.5 lbs. That difference matters if you carry your rifle or train with your weapon all day. It doesn’t count so much if you are a recreational shooter.

In terms of aesthetics and cool factor, the Sig MCX SPEAR LT would be one of the more sought-after rifles in the gun world. While the AR15 platform is ubiquitous, this version still manages to innovate.

Lastly, the price and value. I purchased this rifle for a subtotal of $2626.49 on a Memorial Day sale before shipping, taxes, and FFL transfer fees are added. Before finding this deal, the Sig MCX SPEAR would regularly be found out of stock or at a $2,900 – 3,100 price point. Now, add an optic, suppressor, and accessories, and you’re looking at a $4,000 to $5,000 rifle build.

While I make a good income and can afford such a purchase, many working-class Joes would get more bang on some $1,500 rifle build, ammunition, and training.

Yet the Sig SPEAR LT is a high-quality rifle.