Question For SIG516 Owners: My SIG516 FDE Gas Block Is Different
Got my new SIG516 in FDE today and I immediately noticed the gas block is very different. Not necessary bad, just different. I called SIG and asked them why my gas block is designed differently than what is pictured on the website and from what I've seen on this forum from other owners. The tech said it is different b/c SIG wanted to have/be able to use the same gas block/valve as the new SIG716 and I got one of the "new" rifles. I'm fine with that, I just wanted to know why. BTW...my SIG516 FDE has a born on date of 6/5/2012. Also, there are no "tooling" marks on my bolt carrier from when SIG changed their bolt carrier design (almost sued by LWRC). It looks very nice. I saw some pretty bad tooling marks from when SIG516 owners sent in their LWRC copy bolt carriers to SIG to get "revised".
The tech also said that there is a revised owners manual that shows the NEW gas block/valve design. Mine did not ship with it so he sent me a PDF copy. Now, I also noticed after taking the gas piston and valve out of the rifle that there are NO THREADS OF ANY KIND associated with the gas system. I've been reading tons of reviews by you folks that mentions how the gas valve threads into the gas block and how some folks don't like the threads, but I don't see threads ANYWHERE on this new design. Everywhere is smooth. You will also notice from the pictures that you no longer have to use the tip of a bullet or tool to press the detent to change the gas setting. You just press the big button with your finger and rotate the valve by hand (it's very stiff, so a bullet may help).
Another thing I noticed and have a question about are the gas settings. There are 4 settings on my gas valve as you can see on my photo. According to the manual the large hole is for Normal operation. The medium hole (valve at 12 o’clock) is for adverse conditions (it's in adverse in the picture). The small hole is for suppressed. X is off single shot.
For some reason I would think the large hole would be adverse and the medium would be normal. Are my settings the same as your settings? I always thought NORMAL SETTING was when the valve is in the vertical (12 & 6 o'clock) position. I'm thinking there is an error in the new manual the tech emailed me and the photos showing Position 1 and 2 were accidently switched.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P...UNSET%255D.jpg
Gas setting is at Normal in this pic.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W...UNSET%255D.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E...UNSET%255D.jpg
Adverse setting in this pic (valve is at 12 o'clock).
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5...asSettings.jpg
I think this snapshot from the new "revised valve" owner's manual has the pictures switched incorrectly.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...lvesetting.jpg
Notice in this snapshot of the "old" owner's manual it's switched. Valve in the vertical position is Normal setting.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r...s_settings.jpg