NRA Gun of the Week: SIG Sauer CROSS

It has been nearly two decades since the U.S. market received a SIG Sauer bolt action. First came the German-made SSG 3000 in the early 1990s, a patrol-style bolt gun with tactical appeal. Now the famed U.S. maker is offering a new design in its CROSS rifle, a precision platform with design cues that spawn from America’s most-loved sporting rifle, the AR-15.

Unlike traditional bolt-action rifles, the SIG Sauer CROSS Rifle features a one-piece receiver that’s somewhat similar, visually, to the configuration of an AR-15 receiver set. The magazine well is integrated into the receiver design, and an oblong ejection port sits just above the magazine. SIG provides an M-LOK-compatible handguard attached to the receiver. As is with many of today’s AR-10 and AR-15 rifles, the CROSS provides continuous Picatinny rail across the rifle’s top side, extending outward from the receiver onto the fore-end.

A 60-degree bolt-throw is achieved by the CROSS’ three-lug-bolt lockup. A removable bolt handle makes it easy to swap handles and knobs. While this model is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, There’s also a crisp, two-stage trigger built into the design, and users can adjust the pull weight from 2.5 to 4 pounds. Available chamberings are: .277 Fury, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win.

Forward of the receiver, there’s an AR-style interface that uses a barrel nut to free-float the 18-inch stainless-steel barrel. The CROSS, however, does not accept AR-pattern barrels. One of the other novel elements found in the SIG Sauer CROSS Rifle is its adjustable, folding buttstock. Our experience on the range with SIG Sauer's CROSS rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor proved its effectiveness and ease of use. The CROSS is certainly an adaptable platform for young and old shooters to get behind that is feature-laden making it capable of hunting U.S. big-game animals.

Watch our NRA Gun of the Week video above learn more and to see SIG Sauer’s CROSS rifle in use at the range.

SIG Sauer CROSS Specifications
Manufacturer: SIG Sauer
Action Type: bolt-action, centerfire, repeating rifle
Receiver: alluminum alloy, anodized finish
Barrel: 18" stainless steel, threaded 5/8x24 TPI
Stock: adjustable, SIG Precision Stock
Sights: none; Picatinny rail
Trigger: two-stage, adjustable
Magazine: AICS-pattern,, five-round detachable box
Length: 38.5"
Weight: 6 lbs., 12.8 ozs.
MSRP: $1,779