My caracal has been solid

I've owned a 516 since 2010 and never knew this. I've always described my 516 as a 416 you can actually find/afford. I never knew it LITERALLY was that.

I heard H&K stands for hates kustomers. On a lighter note, I have been shopping for an external piston ar for a few years, and I haven't been able to "pull the trigger" on on due to price. After watching this video I'm sold on the Caracal 816.

Few years ago I was in my ffl and they got in a mr556 and I was all about it, had the money and was all ready to start the paperwork, and that little angel in my shoulder started to whisper, and something made me step back and say hold on a sec, and to this day I'm thankful I didn't buy that overpriced nightmare, and this video just reminded me of that lol thanks SAS, another great video.

Five years ago (or thereabouts) Rainier Arms was a Caracal dealer. Looks like that's no longer the case, though. Bought a Caracal CAR814A2 MOE from them in August 2019. Checking my account out of curiosity, I paid $707.87 shipped for that gun. I miss those pre-Covid days.

Studio 0:50 HK 416 21:01 Sig 516 33:07 Caracal 816 Range 45:41 HK 416 49:00 Sig 516 50:08 Caracal 816 54:12 **Bonus** Caracal 816 12.5'' suppressed 55:30 summary

The 516 is a very underrated rifle.

Glad to see someone who doesn't talk shit about Sig every chance they get...

I have a Sig 516 with the 10" barrel, on a registered SBR lower. Love it.

Great video. Would love to see a video exploring the M27 IAR specifically and what your thoughts are on that gun and its adoption by the USMC.

First of all I want to thank you for this comprehensive video. I've had the Sig516 for a while now and haven't shot it that much but I must say that so far it has never failed me. I was surprised with an article i read a few months ago where the 516 is being used by quite a few countries.

I have carried a 516 cqb for years and I’ve never had a malfunction with it, suppressed or unsuppressed. It’s a tank

It’s always a treat when you do a video.

Yeah, I'm definitely tempted to order an 816 upper from Caracal's website. I only wish they sold spare piston parts, too.

1:01 ngl hk calling their gun to the hk416 sounds cool, these derivatives of the sig 516, and caracal 816 are just real cool

I have the "gen 2" sig 516. The thing runs great! I don't remember ever having a malfunction in almost 5000 rds. I'm definitely interested in the Caracal. It would be nice to have the whole set but I just can't justify the money

Thanks, Heather & Chris 👍

I have both the SIG 716 and the SIG 516G2. Both rifles have been extremely reliable and they are among my favorite rifles in my collection. I've always liked these guns and one day would like to own the Caracal 816, HK 416 and SIG MCX Spear and Spear LT's as well.

Love The Longer Videos Thanks Chris n Heather 😊😇😊😀

Really enjoyed and learned, thanks so much

Thank you for the very informative video. I have been waiting for this one , it is excellent.

One of the last few delivering us amazing content about modern firearms. Thank you.

Your videos are always so packed with inside info!! I love them especially the crime series. I hope you’re working on a real in depth one like the Oswald series!!

Awesome comparison!!👍🏼 Thank you

Great educational content. Thank you for sharing.

Great video. Very thorough. Thank you!

thank you

This channel deserves way more views. Doing a great job Chris. ❤

Thank you.

Great videos Sir!

You're looking good, Chris. Whatever you're doing, keep it up. And thank you, as always, for your excellent content.

Ur gonna break some hearts with this one

I bought both a 556xi in 556 as a pistol and the 762 Russian in rifle length. They are sitting in my safe as they are completely unsupported and abandoned by SIG - no parts no service no nothing. Lots of promises and then the middle finger. I loved the guns - they worked flawlessly. I also liked the design that allowed you to fold the stock - like the mcx.

Great video!

Awesome video, thank you for all this information! I knew 416 was proprietary but I didn't realize it was THIS proprietary

Great history lesson!

When the interview with Chris Sirois came and talked about the 816. Bought an upper immediately. Worked nicer than my MCX did. Great review! I do wish there’s aftermarket handguards for it.

Thanks, Chris. Very informative. I think I'll look for a Caracal.

Cool video, thanks

Excellent review! It bring into propectives on the evolutions of H&K 416 to Sig 516 then to the Caracal 816! Very nice you brought out the technical improvements as the evolution progressed! I have had arguments with people telling how great the H&K416 compare to Sig Sauer 516, my side was the Sig is an improved version of 416 design by same guy Chris Sirous! Being a thirty years LE officer I have used H&K USP pistols and MP5 excellent guns but their availability of parts, support and cost is ridiculous with proprietary parts which is what H&K does which was well brought out in your video! I've have used Sig Sauer P Series, MPX and P320 they are also premium guns but Sig is more responsive, reasonable with support,cost, parts availability. I had never handle a Caracal 816 so I am unfamilar with it, but do believe it is final evolution and probably the best! Chris, Thanks for your fine videos

i love my sig 516, i bought it as a upper from sig when they were discontinuing them great shooter, it oddly has a extra slot of pic rail in the rear of the upper receiver i use a spikes tungsten t2 buffer and it works great with a surefire rc2

I never understood the need for gas rings on a piston, considering the need to use less gas until you mentioned thermal signature..Excellent review..

I remember the Sig516 upoers going on sale for 400usd. The working mans less proprietary hk416. The Car816 uppers are constantly at 1k or more for some reason... The Sig516/716 and Sig 556/751 should be Sigs go to. IMO the MCX with all its generations and no support is a boondoggle

Thank You, and Yes I Enjoyed the Education. Now I have to Subscribe to you. And, now I want a Caracal to add with my Sig 516, PWS's, and Wolf's. So, your education will eventually cost me. Only recently have I even started seeing (or paying attention to the name) Caracal pop up with their hand bangs and never paid attention to them. Now that you have explained who they are and their desire to offer good product, I pulled them up while watching and see that they sent me to a common site I've purchased through that has their (Caracal) offerings. You did an excellent job with the history of each.

As a note. My 816a2 I found at Rainer arms years ago when they distributed came with Samson mfg true back up sights, a standard mil spec charging handle, trigger and safety. Later models I’ve noted have hyper fire triggers, ambi milspec safety, possibly strike industries charging handles and latch plate. Hard to identify. Great rifle, very solid ! I’d love a uae spec quad rail

My Armalite has a firepin spring as well 🎉

The 416 does in fact accept milspec bolts and cam pins. It would have been nice if they used milspec firing pins though. Also the older non vented 416 gas blocks do not vent gasses forward.

I had a 11.5 inch SIG516, it was a very soft shooting and reliable gun, one of the few guns I regretted selling. It was shame SIG gave the gun so little support. With a light weight M-LOK hand guard, it would have been a great duty rifle, would go with that over a MCX any time.

Chris & Heather, another great video production. I loved my Sig 516. I felt it was the best version of the AR... H&K was/is way out of my budget. When I got my 516 it was late 2015. Unfortunately, I had to sell it. Also, as you know I'm committed to RobArm XCR-L system. So my resources have been consolidated to that platform. Again... Great Video...

The reason sig only offers Nitride to civilian customers is it helps their bottom line.

Caracal 816 is the best of the best in ar piston systems . I like my lwrc and LMT , sig , and pof , but that 816 has impressed me.

Chris, keep the content coming! I got my 516 last year because of you (and far prefer it over my LWRC IC-E).

I used an HK416 while overseas. Decent rifle, but really heavy. Knew guys who had guns who weighed as much as a PKM. Another issue was that it threw gas really bad with some of our suppressors. The newer “Golden guns” don’t do this, but the older HK416D’s do. The only suppressor that didn’t have this issue was the KAC NT4, and that was just too heavy. The handguard selection was a bit limited at the time too. I had a Daniel Defense handguard, but most guys had the original quad rail, or the Geissele handguard, which sucks.

My 416 was awesome. I sold it after 5,000 rounds and you couldn't tell it had fired. It did not like steel cased ammo though.

Thanks for another informative and interesting video! Love the long format content for listening too while doing drone tasks like cleaning guns etc. Any way you could look into the new bolts coming out that are Similar to KACs dual ejector? From what I understand patents are expiring and I have seen some interesting concepts from KAK and PSA so far

In Europe we have another small player, ProArms Armory with their PAR MkIII billet receiver out of Czech republic, I like it a lot, has Lothar Walter barrel and the current version runs flawless.

Good vid.

I was able to pick up 2 516 uppers when Sig was selling them as a contract overrun and they are awesome. I just wish the rail was a bit longer.

my 416 in the army differed a bit from this. the pins were not retained with a detent, and of course we had the newer flatter stock

Love all three rifles. I searched everything I could find on the construction of the 816 rifle and the best I can see its a 516 on a Caracal lower. Which is a very nice lower. My buddy has 416 and I have to admit, it shoots very nice. I bought overstock uppers from sig while on deployment and found out they they were leftover from India Contract. A friend of mine that works for Sig says the difference is that Caracal doesn't say Sig on it. Other wise is a 516. Id bet my life on mine. All 4 of them! The new Caracal 11.5 upper has the raised bore axis much like the HK, to accommodate the gas block. I find that very sexy and I will get one.

Here's the thing, everyone likes to hate on the 416, but if not for the 416 the external piston "AR" wouldn't be a thing. At least not to the degree it is now. Additionally when the 416 came on the scene the AR platform as we know it today didn't really exist, and I think to that end the 416 really drove the endurance/durability race that went on for many years after its introduction. The 516/816 are really just exercises in lessons learned, well executed lessons to be sure.

Absolutely love myCaracal. In fact when I bought it I dealt with Jeff Spaulding directly for questions. That is unheard of these days. My rifle shoots sub 1 MOA closer to 1/2. Ive owned several piston guns including the Rec7 and the Caracal dusts them all by far.

😮 Most owners replace the MR556 takedown pins, and maybe add your grip of choice. 77 gr BH ammo, some light trigger work, quality optic, and you've got a quality DMR rifle that can shoot sub moa.

These videos only further my appreciation for the standardized AR15 platform and magpul.

Every new small arms solutions video continues to strengthen ar15 supremacy

One day we will find out where HK and FN touched Chris.

Ayoooo he posted

I have a Sig 516 14.5" CHF with Lancer carbon handguard. POF roller campin KVP tungsten power buffer Schmeiser multi wire spring Tough ass gun. They're all heavier than they need to be. DI is fine

I still say QPQ is a cheap cop-out. If the Caracal had the hammer forged chrome lined barrel for civilian sales, then it would be a must have.

The SA80 has a captive fireing pin retaining pin. you have to push it out with the combination tool.

Left a comment on the other video also. Picked up a 16” 816 rifle and a 11.5 816 upper. Took long enough. My last comment was in 2020

I can see how ext piston would be nice for supressor use (wouldn't know as i live in a blue state 😖), but for regular shooting it seems to cause more issues than it solves. Thanks again Chris!

We don't get 416 barrels because of export/import restrictions on both sides. Germany only wants to sell marksmanship rifles, MR stands for Match Rifle, that's why we get heavy, non chrome lined barrels because conventional wisdom tells us they're more accurate.

Sig 516 gen 2 most underrated gun

Just remembered I was hoping Caracal would be showing the return of their auto pistols. Loved that unique sight system. Wish I'd never sent mine in on the bogus recall. Did you see handguns at the Caracal booth?

As always well done and great video. I have 3 Sigs 2 516 and a 716 they have been great riles. The 716 / 308 is heavy,, I talking Tank of a gun. I got the Mid West Ind. handguards for the 516s and it was day light and dark differences in weight. They don't make one for the 716 sadly.

19:27 I still have the Military Times paper that head on the cover "This rifle is better than yours, and you can't have it" with a picture of the HK416. I always sorta viewed it as a bit of hyperbole, but I wouldn't have been surprised one way or another. I only kept that issue because it had my name in the list of NCOs that made the rank that month.

I enjoy your work. I know the M1 Garand is a bit retro for you, but I would be interested in your take on it.

The best thing to happen to the HK on the US Civilian Market is the fact that Brownells is delivering a barrel and gas block that are significantly less gassy. HK purists will balk at the BRN clone, but the BRN-4 I have is an absolute dream to shoot. The only thing I'd wish they would do is have the barrels cold hammer forged for the durability and accuracy aspects. Though the barrels from Faxon as they are seem pretty fantastic. If Brownells could crack down on QC for their parts, the BRN-4 would be a better value proposition over the actual HK rifle that we have available.

Ive had and been using my 516 for a decade. I've used it for my patrol rifle and my main rifle for classes to having fun on the range both supressed and unsupressed. Its been nothing but reliable. I have 10s of thousands of rounds on it and it's been great. I have since cut the barrel down to a 13.7 with a pinned and welded surefire 3 prong and put a mid west industries 516 rail on it. It's still my go to rifle. The only draw back is it is slightly heavier than most modern AR type rifles. Love the 516. A supremely under rated rifle and a shame they stopped selling them.

Excellent video! Very helpful for people who done know the historical background. I have 2 questions. How do you feel about other AR Pjston platforms like LWRC and/or LMT? Also, how do you feel about USMC adoption of the HK M27? Are there any improvements on the system? I love the history you provide in all of your videos. It really adds nuance and some contextual background as to why certain choices were made. You add an unbiased look at the history of these firearms, and it's super interesting. Thank you for your content!

I wouldn't say that Sig and Caracal necessarily sought out exclusively to improve the 416 with their changes so much as to work around the existing intellectual property of HK while delivering a piston gun, having said that, the two things are not mutually exclusive either. Parts commonality with the standard AR platforms accomplishes that as well as giving the benefits of better supply logistics, but on occasion those proprietary parts are, inherently, a better design. When that happens a decision has to be made about what is more important. Incidentally there's nothing inherently wrong about having to work around your previous intellectual property, a strong case could be made that this is why John Moses Browning's designs are as vast, and cover as many different ways of approaching a problem as they do. I have a 11.5" 816 and while I'm not a huge piston AR guy, it is by far my favorite so I'm not knocking either Caracal or Sig.

Id love to try the 817..

I don’t want the MCX/virtus. Give me a new production run of 516’s with market support and modern handguard options.

All I hear is buy a LMT lol

I have SIG516s. Have not "pulled trigger" on 816 but it is 300 better, obviously!

My first AR was a Sig 516. I regret ever selling that rifle

I liked my HK MR556 and Sig 516 Gen 1 but I have gripes about the HK and some problems with the Sig 516. I don’t have the 3rd rifle so I can’t speak on that one. The HK takes all of its own brand parts that are all expensive 😢 otherwise I like it. The Sig has a lot of better things where I can put whatever stock and trigger and charging handle on it. The Sig Gen 1 that I have had issues jamming 😅 the Sig is also great since it has QC’s on the lower frame, in the forearm and in the stock. The QC points are not all over my HK 😮. I haven’t had any problems with ammo on the HK so far. 😅 I have to take my Sig to the shop again

You can really tell the 416 is heavily over gassed compared to the other two.

the mr223 has a commercial spec buffer tube, thought it was the same for the mr556 or hk 416

I wish you had also reviewed LWRCi’s piston AR in this video. Maybe next time.

A thousand thanks for this video. I have owned each and never understood the differences. Your review is how I discovered Caracal. Would you please consider doing another contrast / compare with Caracal and POF, LWRC, and LMT? Thanks

Has the UAE released any AARs about the Caracal 816s use in action with the Houthis?

HK is basicly the gun version of snap on tools. Extremly over priced, and not as good as cheaper options.

Hey Chris How would you compare the rifles in this video to the LMT and other external piston driven rifles?

Question? Regarding the hammer, I'm wondering about how hard that hammer is? After heavy usages? Regarding the magazines, has anyone out there made a powder metaled magazine? Regarding the high cycling rate, is it possible to make a more improved buffer spring? If not a heavier 1? Regarding that firing pin, why did HK go with a spring over that firing pin? Is that to help with the over gas? I believe NORWAY picked up the Rifle as well? Is it true that there is accuracy differences, among cold hammer chrome lined vs nitrate lined barrels? Regarding the different bolt carrier groups, have they ever done a R&D regarding different metals? Regarding that STRESS test between the SIG and the HK, who knows about their HEAT treating process? Regarding Caracal, are they making every part in HOUSE? Regarding the M lock vs Quad Rail, WHY doesn't Caracal let the consumer select what hand guard they want? I'm assuming LET'S SAY I purchase a upper from CARACAL, it will fit on my standard AR LOWER? I'm assuming that the engineers in ABU DHABI do a ENVIRONMENTAL TEST CHAMBER TEST? Regarding the popularity of Caracal, is it because they are still in their infant years?

Larry vickers said the HK416 came into service because SEALS were going through their barrels on full auto ......Could you get a KS -1 ? Now, being used by UKSF would be much appreciated 🇬🇧

I’m completely content with my LMT piston MARS-L. I’m not buying another lower that’s not fully ambi. I’ve run the hell out of my 12in barrel on a shovelnose upper.

Yes, the HK 416 has proprietary parts. It has to. That’s how it works since it is an entirely different operating system compared to the direct impingement (internal piston) M4 carbine. I don’t see that as a downside. Instead, as you point out, HK sucks when it comes to spare parts and getting American consumers what they want (CHF chrome lined barrels, adjustable gas blocks). HK could have done themselves a favor by using an IBM model on the 416 platform and license out production to Haenal, Caracal, etc for spare parts.

USMC M27 IAR (Infantry Automatic Rifle) aka the HK 416… Kill. 🎶Meet me down by the railroad track, track. 🎶