×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

SIG SG 542 (Sturmgewehr Model 542)


Battle Rifle


Switzerland | 1980



"The SG 542 represented a less-popular 7.62x51mm alternative to the SG 540 5.56mm SG offering."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the SIG SG 542 (Sturmgewehr Model 542). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
650
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire
2,690 ft/sec
820 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity
Physical
The physical qualities of the SIG SG 542 (Sturmgewehr Model 542). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
1,000 mm
39.37 in
O/A Length
7.83 lb
3.55 kg
Weight
Delayed Blowback
Action
7.62x51mm NATO
Caliber(s)
20- / 30-round detachable box
Feed
Adjustable Iron; Optional Optics
Sights
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the SIG SG 542 (Sturmgewehr Model 542) Battle Rifle family line.
SG 540 - Improved SG 530, chambered for the 5.56mm ammunition round.
SG 542 - Based on the SG 540 but chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round.
SG 543 - A shortened version of the base SG 540 with folding butt.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 10/13/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The SG 542 was a fixed-stock battle rifle development in the SG 540 rifle series except chambered to fire the 7.62x51mm NATO round. Though an adequate weapon in its own right, the system never found the favor in export orders the way that the SG540 5.56mm type did. The SG540 series, as a whole, was a direct attempt to improve upon the preceding SG530, simplifying the breech mechanism and making the new weapon series cheaper to produce and thusly more fiscally responsible on the commercial market.

The SG542 fired from a 20- or 30-round straight detachable box magazines. Muzzle velocity was reported at 2,690 feet-per-second and a cyclic rate-of-fire of 650 to 800 rounds could be reached. Beyond the SG540 and the SG 542 existed the SG 543 which represented a shortened version of the base SG 540 and featured a folding butt.

Outwardly, the SG542 was a highly conventional rifle. As a "battle rifle" it simply incorporated the rifle-caliber cartridge into its design and, thusly, the internal mechanism had to be reworked to accept and fire the large powerful round. The cartridge allowed for engagement of targets beyond the range inherent in the 5.56mm cartridge while also providing selective, repeating fire in the process. Attaching a scope to the upper receiver and the SG542 could be used by a squad-level sharpshooter or designated marksman. The receiver held all of the major internal working components and included the feed mechanism as well as the trigger group. The forend was shrouded in a smooth casing which encompasses the top-mounted gas cylinder and the low-mounted barrel assembly. Sights were affixed at the rear of the upper receiver and the extreme end of the gas cylinder. The barrel was capped by a flash suppressor. The stock was fixed in placed and ergonomically shaped.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the SIG SG 542 (Sturmgewehr Model 542). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): SIG-Sauer - Switzerland
National flag of France National flag of Switzerland

[ Switzerland; France ]
1 / 1
Image of the SIG SG 542 (Sturmgewehr Model 542)
Right side profile view of the SiG SG542 Battle Rifle

Going Further...
The SIG SG 542 (Sturmgewehr Model 542) Battle Rifle appears in the following collections:
HOME
SMALL ARMS INDEX
SPECIAL FORCES
ARMS BY COUNTRY
ARMS MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE ARMS
ARMS BY CONFLICT
ARMS BY TYPE
ARMS BY DECADE
COLD WAR ARMS
MODERN SMALL ARMS
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)