SIG SG 540
| SG 540 | |
|---|---|
The SIG SG 540 with fixed stock | |
| Type | Assault rifle (SG-540) Carbine (SG-543) Battle Rifle (SG-542) |
| Place of origin | Switzerland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1977–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Lebanese Civil War The Troubles Somali Civil War Ivorian Civil Wars Syrian Civil War Militias-Comando Vermelho conflict |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) |
| Designed | 1970s |
| Manufacturer | Manurhin (France) INDEP (Portugal) FAMAE (Chile) |
| Produced | 1977–2002 |
| Variants | SG 542, SG 543 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | SG 540: 3.52 kg (7.76 lb) fixed stock SG 542: 3.55 kg (7.8 lb) SG 543: 3 kg (6.6 lb) folding stock |
| Length | SG 540: 950 mm (37.4 in) stock extended / 733 mm (28.9 in) stock folded SG 542: 1,000 mm (39.4 in) stock extended / 754 mm (29.7 in) stock folded SG 543: 805 mm (31.7 in) stock extended / 569 mm (22.4 in) stock folded |
| Barrel length | SG 540: 460 mm (18.1 in) SG 542: 465 mm (18.3 in) SG 543: 300 mm (11.8 in) |
| Cartridge | SG 540, SG 543: 5.56×45mm NATO SG 542: 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 650–800 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | SG 540: 980 m/s (3,215 ft/s) SG 542: 820 m/s (2,690.3 ft/s) SG 543: 875 m/s (2,870.7 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 100–500 m sight adjustments |
| Feed system | 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Rear: rotating diopter drum; front: hooded post |
The SG 540 is a 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle developed in the early 1970s by Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG, currently SAN Swiss Arms AG) of Neuhausen, Switzerland as a private venture primarily destined for export markets and as a potential replacement for the 7.5×55mm Swiss SG 510 automatic rifle known as the Stgw 57 in Swiss service.