Nowadays it seems everybody on the map is cranking out some sort of semiautomatic modern sporting rifle in .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO. So when SIG SAUER recently announced they were introducing a redesigned and upgraded version of their carbine model chambered in a pistol caliber, my eyebrows perked up.

I can find all sorts of practical uses for such a firearm, and none of them involve competition — even though competitors like the original model. And, having had some very good experience with assorted SIG SAUER handguns over the years, there was never a doubt the company’s long guns would be first rate, and nothing has happened to change this impression.