It’s a buyer’s market in the AR-15 world right now, a true golden age for America’s favorite rifle!
For any budget, for any goal, any color, and in almost any caliber these days – you can find an AR for you.
But that can be overwhelming quickly.
If you’re looking for a jack-of-all-trades that isn’t your average starter rifle, then the Sig M400 Tread just might be the right rifle for you.
Whether for hunting varmints, dabbling in 3-gun competitions, a recreational rifle, or buying a defensive rifle, in my opinion, the Tread does just about anything and does it for a very reasonable price.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Table of Contents
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Out of The Box and Ready for Work
While waiting on my FFL to finish the background check, out of the box everything was exactly the way it needed to be. My first glances at the rifle went directly to the castle nut mounted to the receiver extension.
I was happy to see that Sig properly staked the end plate to the castle nut. While this is a minor assembly procedure, some companies to save expense no longer stake the castle nut properly.
When a company makes sure the little things are done correctly, it tends to speak volumes on the bigger things inside of the rifle. Speaking of staking, the bolt carrier group upon inspection also looked to be staked appropriately and with the correct Grade 8 hardware. Staking in these spots provides an added insurance policy in reliability and dependability.
Another great touch is Sig’s lower receiver that utilizes a built-in quick disconnect socket. Adding a sling to the rifle with a QD sling attachment is fast and easy. To round off the package, the rifle sent to me also came with a Romeo5 red dot and a PMAG 30 round magazine.
Everything seemed tight, well assembled, and ready to get on the range to do some shooting.
From Front to Back
Looking over the rifle, another item that caught my eye was the 3-Pronged flash hider that comes standard with the M400 Tread. It is highly functional, and not once did I notice a fireball from the rifle, even during a shooting session that was later in the day. It adds some style to the rifle, and it didn’t have a tuning fork quality like other pronged muzzle devices on the market.
The barrel is a 16” 416R stainless steel with a mid-length gas system and 1:8 rifle twist. While 3-Prong flash hiders aren’t known for their recoil compensation, the rifle shot very flat and smooth.
This can be attributed to the mid-length gas system and the appropriately sized gas port.
Sig Sauer is using great barrels for the Tread.
More on accuracy later.
The Tread that was shipped to me came with their standard 15” Tread handguard in MLOK.
Aesthetically, I had my doubts at first.
I am more comfortable with a full top rail on a slim handguard, but after wrapping my support hand around the slim grip, it provided a very stable platform.
Using a C-grip on the ultra-slim handguard gives a shooter a very comfortable grasp on the rifle to really drive the muzzle on multiple targets and reduce muzzle flip.
The Tread’s trigger, while better than most mil-spec triggers, is still very similar to single stage triggers. Weight is on the lower end of mil-spec between 5-6 lbs., but it is a very smooth trigger with little to no grit.
Reset was positive and quick, and shooting fast was no issue with their trigger. Without changing the trigger to a match drop-in unit, I was still able to shoot sub-MOA groups with certain ammunition.
The other controls on the Tread are enhanced as well.
Between the stylish, oversized bolt release, and the fully ambidextrous magazine release, it’s the little things that make this rifle feel good in the hands and while in your shoulder. The ambidextrous safety is also well built and doesn’t feel cheap like some designs of lesser quality.
The grip on the rifle is a nice touch as well compared to typical A2-style grips.
It is Sig’s own design and the angle of the grip is comfortable, but some people may like more of a reduced angle grip. The stock is a Magpul SL-K and it proved to be very comfortable.
It has a smaller footprint compared to other stocks on the market, but its size and weight work well. The stock was comfortable for a cheek weld without feeling fat on the sides.
Accuracy
The barrel on the M400 Tread sent to me was a shooter.
Shooting from a bench with Caldwell bags, I began to test out a few of my personal favorite loads, as well as some Sig Sauer 60 grain HT factory ammo. This was my first time with Sig Sauer ammunition, and it did not disappoint. Optic used was an ACME Machine 6-24x50mm with a first focal plane reticle.
The first match grade ammo that I put through the rifle was some Barnes Precision 85-grain OTM. This is some heavy stuff to shoot out of an AR15 mag-well, but I haven’t been disappointed with it yet.
It may be a little heavy for some 1:9 twist barrels, but with a 1:7 or 1:8 twist I have had success. My best 5 shot group produced a .42 MOA group at 100 yards. Anything that can produce a sub-.5 MOA group is money in my book.
The second load I put through the M400 Tread was Sig Sauers own Elite Performance Hunting HT loads in a 60-grain copper solid.
My best 5 shot group yielded an impressive 1.07 MOA group at 100 yards. For a factory load marketed towards hunting, this would be a heck of a load for varmints due to its solid copper, expanding design.
Finally, a load from IMI in a Razorcore 77 grain OTM load did not do as well as I was expecting.
It still shot great from the rifle considering it is not marketed for precision work, but I was expecting a little better based on previous shooting with my other rifles. It came in at 1.27 MOA with a 5 shot group at 100 yards.
In today’s industry, with the technology and quality control that we have, it seems most AR15s can be great shooters out of the box.
The M400 Tread is no exception.
Since the rifle is more than capable of minute of angle shooting with appropriate ammo, in my opinion, the M400 Tread’s 416R stainless steel barrel provides excellent accuracy at its price point. For precision work though, I would upgrade to a drop-in system to tighten up your groups.
Performance
After I finished up running accuracy testing, I spent a few days at my cousin’s farm pushing the rifle as hard as I could.
Between shooting for speed to test for failures and running shooting drills on multiple targets at multiple ranges, the Sig M400 Tread kept up with me and ran without a hiccup.
During my time with the rifle, I fed it popular bulk ammo such as Wolf Gold, Federal XM193, and even some 55-grain steel cased Tul-Ammo. It kept eating without any worries, and I was even able to make hits with the Romeo5 at 400 yards on a steel silhouette.
The Romeo5 provided a clear and concise dot that I was able to drive from target to target.
The handguard, which grew on me the more I handled it, provided an excellent wrap-around grip for shooting fast at multiple targets. As stated above, I can not stress how well this rifle stays flat while shooting.
Kudos to Sig for properly sizing the gas port on this mid-length barrel. In a world of over-gassed carbine length barrels, a properly gassed mid-length barrel is a game changer that’s gaining more popularity.
Pros and Cons
At this price point, honestly, there isn’t a whole lot of items I would change on Sig Sauer’s M400 Tread.
The barrel is capable of minute of angle accuracy or better in the right hands and proper ammunition choice. While I prefer 4150 CMV steel for a barrel with either a chrome-lining or a nitrided finish, the barrel on the M400 Tread works well.
The receivers are of great quality, fit and finish. The ambidextrous magazine release, over-sized bolt release, ambidextrous safety, and polished firing control group are all enhanced features that are nice additions to the original design of Eugene Stoner. The trigger would be the first thing I would upgrade, but it is one of the better mil-spec weighted triggers as far as smoothness goes.
I would also upgrade the charging handle to an ambidextrous model from either BCM or Radian. We’ve reviewed both of those and a lot more in the 10 Best AR-15 Charging Handle!
The Magpul stock is a great feature as well which is comfortable to many different body types and it looks good with the minimalist look of the handguard.
This rifle is not marketed to be lightweight but at 7 lbs. and for how well it balances, the M400 Tread is a joy to shoot and be slung on your shoulders.
It would be nice if Sig added an additional MLOK QD point for on the handguard though.
By The Numbers
While running the Sig M400 Tread, it ate everything that I fed it. The round count was relatively low as only about 800 rounds were fired, but between the nitrided bolt and mid-length gas, the Tread’s operation was silky smooth.
While I have shot more accurate rifles with higher grade barrels, for the price point, the Tread has an excellent barrel. The mil-spec trigger has a smooth pull but would be a smart first upgrade in my opinion.
The M400 Tread will fit just about anyone. The MOE SL-K is 6-position adjustable and Sig’s grip is a lot like the Magpul MOE. The handguard provides for an excellent C-Clamp grip. The ambidextrous and enhanced controls are a step above other manufacturers.
The Tread is different than other rifles in regards to the handguard. While I was undecided at first, after handling the rifle, I do not doubt the ergonomics. The 3-Prong flash hider is also a great addition compared to a standard A2 birdcage.
Aftermarket accessories can be purchased from Sig, with their 3-Chamber compensate. A shorter, lighter 13″ handguard can also be used over the 15″. Sig also has their own marketed flip-up iron sights.
For the price, Sig’s more entry-level friendly rifle is a good value. Frequently listed at $799, this rifle proved to be very accurate with high-end enhanced features commonly found on more expensive rifles.
Parting Shots
The Sig Sauer M400 Tread AR-15 is a great mid-level rifle that packs an upgraded handguard and pistol grip. The mil-spec trigger is decent and since it’s an AR there’s limitless further upgrade potentials. Reliability has been great and the price also offers great bang-for-the-buck.
If you’re looking to get into the AR-15 game this is a great pick for your first or even second rifle.
If you want a bargain bin AR-15, there are cheaper options than the Sig M400 (check out our Review of PSA’s rifles).
But if you’re looking for a rifle that is ready to go out of the box and is a cut above much of the other starter rifles, then the M400 might be perfect for you.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Do you already have a Tread M400? Tell us about it in the comments! Once you pick your first rifle, don’t forget to get AR-15 Optics and Best 5.56 Ammo!
39 Leave a Reply
Why no backup sights? I get red dot, but sights have to be standard for defensive use.
I bought the M400 Tread at my local gunstore (before seeing this post) for $1050. Other than the proprietary-ness of the handguard I am VERY satisfied with this rifle. If you want to put magpul MBUS sights, you must have access to a manual mill. When I put a pic rail on the front for the sight, the front pic rail was around 1.68mm higher than the rear pic rail. I ended up milling down the front pic until level, then mounting the MBUS. After that, zeroing was a non-issue. The handrail missing mlok slots and lacking a full top pic rail is the one major downside of this rifle. Otherwise it is a dream
Where can I get a manual showing all the parts and a maintenance program for the 400 Tread?
It's a good shooter and I like the lean and mean feel to it. The barrel is white (no finish) but I've addressed that with Sentry Product's Smooth Kote and BP2000. Without more top rail the upgrade accessory path is limited.
I purchased this rifle 6 months ago as a first sig AR style rifle. Upon taking it to the range that week I did forget to clean the barrel before break in! Do not do this be sure to clean first. Then of course my first round of Remington ammo jammed. After that the rifle performed flawlessly. I had a sig whiskey 3 3-9x40 and after zero was a joy to shoot. Upon firing around 100 rounds that day I ran home to upgrade as I saw fit. I installed a Romeo 5 Red dot, Rise armament 3.5lb trigger, QD sling and bought an attachment for the hand guard. I also put a magpul bipod, and foregrip, along with the magpul iron sights. I did make the mistake of buying the wrong rail piece to line up the sights correctly so be sure to get the correct piece from sig for sights. I also swapped the 3 prong flash hider for the sig3 chamber comp. this gun only needs an ambi charge handle and a new BCG to be exactly how I’d like but for my first SIG I am totally impressed and will likely go with another sig for my 7.62 needs.
I bought the Tread 18 months ago and have put quite a few rounds through it. No issues with function and the rifle is quite accurate. I do not like the handguard, though, as the M-LOK ports are poorly placed with a lot of the handguard lacking M-LOK ports, and the handguard is heavy. In trying to upgrade, I found that I can go with the Sig proprietary handguards, or fabricate a wrench to remove the proprietary barrel nut so I can replace it with one from a different handguard. (I want a unique look, and prefer an aftermarket solution.) Sig gets a lot of things right, but this is one issue that might end up with me trading in my Tread for something less proprietary.
I bought my Tread a few days ago. I promoted my Strikefire II red dot, vortex 3x magnifier, magpul handstop, Inforcer WML light and Fab defense GL-Core stock, all of which were previously mounted on a DPMS Oracle. I also added Magpul polymer sights. This thing runs like a beast! Fired 180 rounds so far and not 1 issue. The 3 prong flash hider actually sounds much different than an A2. Sounds like a .308. I love this rifle.
My biggest issue is the slimmer mlok rail from Sig needed for front sights. The Sig front sights made specifically for the Tread has horrible reviews so I will probably stay away from those. And some of those using Magpul with the slimmer rail section still have zeroing issues. The minor complaint i have is with the grip insert. I would like to be able to carry 2 spare CR123 batteries like with my Magpul grip. This one holds 1, and 1 smaller battery. The one it holds will not stay seated for long. I do, however, find that i prefer the grip angle over Magpul. I will eventually get the 13" handguard, ambi charging handle and a compensator.
I do have to say that the receiver fitment is awesome. No play or wiggle whatsoever. So tight, in fact, that the pivot pin is a mother. It took this rifle to prove to me just how poor the tolerances are on the Oracle. I'm very glad I made this purchase.
Is this the rail segment that is needed for the front sight? I plan on putting the Magpul MBUS sights on it. Would this be the only additional part I need? Thanks.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/sig-sauer-factory-replacement-m-lok-sight-rail-for-m400-tread.html
I bought my tread 3 weeks ago. It's a awesome rifle. I am shooting sub MOA groups with 55 grain Remington UMC ammo. 500 rounds with no stoppages. Even when taking rifle from a warm house to sub freezing outdoor, and also after letting rifle cool down to ambient 22 degree temp and shooting. Everything on it is perfectly finished, fits perfectly. I like the 7 pound weight. It's perfectly balanced. I have a red dot sight on mine, as well as a neat little $20 tactical rechargable flashlight with pressure switch and mount included. Got the light at tractor supply. It is VERY bright and a awesome deal. I would highly recommend it over the $150 and up lights out there. It does everything they do at a fraction of the price. Most of us aren't Navy SEALs and don't need equipment that can survive a nuclear strike. In short the best money I ever spent was this rifle. Best grab yourself one in case black rifles become scarce or impossible to get anymore.
nAVY SEALS DONT USE PRESSURE SWITCH LIGHTS
"For the price, Sig’s more entry-level friendly rifle is a good value." Can we all agree to stop calling an $800 rifle "entry level"? So are these rifles for beginners? Novices? Someone who has never touched an AR before? Or is it just for someone who is not a firearm journalist who gets to shoot all the super high dollar premium guns? I'm not picking on this author in particular. It's almost all of them. I know I'm not alone in this. I have half a dozen AR's of different brands and only one of them is more than $1000. As a long time shooter and combat vet, I'm not exactly "entry level". Are there quality differences and better features on some more expensive models? Absolutely. But they all do the same thing and at the end of the day, my cheapest $450 build shoots only 1/2" bigger groups at 100 yds than my precision SPR. But because I can't go out and drop $2-3k on an AR, my guns are entry level. Anyway, good article otherwise and I'll go have another cup of coffee and calm down.
Yer good. I feel ya.
You say you can't afford to drop $2,000 to $3,000 on an AR15 but in reality you could have. You are stuck in the I have to have it now mentality so as soon as you get just enough money together you purchase a cheap AR15.
You say you have a half a dozen (6) AR15's well lets just say they were all $450 dollars each they weren't but let's use that figure. $450.00 X 6 = $2,700.00 so there you are, you could have one very nice AR15 if you really wanted it.
But lets take that one step further and say the average cost of your six AR15's was $575.00 dollars each, $575.00 X 6 = $3,450.00 dollars you could have put towards a very nice AR15.
All it takes is a little bit of discipline with your money and before you know it you can purchase very nice quality products.
well put. And don't calm down
Great review, and honest!
There are two types of AR people - those who buy them and those who build them. As far as buying goes, this is upper entry level to mid level as anything sub-$1000 is. Entry/budget level is still $400-500, but the sky is the limit and there’s a bit of a glass ceiling at $1000. Everything else is $2000 plus (whether you agree that they’re twice as good or not), so basically anything under $2000 is roped into the “entry level” category.
Push coming to shove, though it is your rifle, why bother assuming mechanical attention is not required. Of course, cosmetics are more important to some than to others.
I guess I'm the only one that likes to swap back and forth between 5.56 and 300 blackout barrels..??
It's not ALL about cosmetics....
Does anyone know what armorers wrench is needed to remove the barrel nut? My wrench doesn't fit (along with several other manufacture's that I've tried) and I'm needing to disassemble it for some cerakote work....
For home defense, I would think a shotgun would be a first choice followed by a handgun given prior instruction and practice. Problem with rifles is penatration, actually over penatration. You might actually be friends with the people next door, on the other side of those thin walls.
That is factually inaccurate. Using common defensive loads for a rifle will not over penetrate nearly like a shotgun with 00 Buck. A bonded pointed soft point will expand well, provide ample penetration, and amazing terminal ballistics on target.
Anything will pass through a wall given a miss, but 5.56 tends to tumble and break apart, or at the very least lose velocity rapidly compared to defensive shotgun or handgun loads.
That blank spot on the hand guard looks so bad, just terrible. What is their reasoning on this? Everything else is good, just ugly AF.
They make a 15" and 13" full skeleton handrail that looks much better. I have this rifle with the upgraded 15 inch. It's slick.
Tried earlier, didn't work, make one last effort. The M-16 rifle was designed with a 20" long barrel, appropriate gas system, rifle length and barrel gas tap. Seems that 16" long barrels, some shorter than that have become all the rage, I wonder why. While shorter barreled versions have definite military applications, do they well serve civilian rifle requirements? I would think not, though I've been wrong before, and might be wrong here too. Am I?
Shorter barrels are much easier to handle and maneuver with but at the cost of bullet velocity. However, since the AR-15 isn't really designed to be a long-range rifle anyways, the loss of that velocity is not highly important for many applications.
Most of my ARs are 16", one is 14.5", but my 6.5 Grendel and .224 Valk ARs are both 20" since they both are meant for long range use.
Have you given any thought to 24" barrel in your 6.5. I Would imagine the longer sight radius, with iron sights, would help, and likely increased muzzle velocity would also be a consideration. As for "shorter barrels are easier to handle and maneuver.....", that is true and for military use could be a worth while factor. For likely civilian use, does it matter. By the way, I might well be outmoded, as my rifle shooting was with 30-06 and 7.62mm NATO (.308 Win), and 24" barreled rifles. In any case, thanks for your thoughts.
If I was doing a bench rifle I would have gone with the 24", but this is a deer rifle for me and being out West it's a lot of stalking, walking in and out of canyons, and dealing with a good bit of brush. So I wanted a barrel that was a bit shorter to make that all easier. I don't have irons sights on any of my rifles (other than my Lee-Enfield).
I would say that for something like a home defense rifle, maneuverability is critical in a civilian application.
David:
I was never a hunter, not opposed to hunting, simply not particularly interested is partaking. As for rifle shooting, I no longer actively compete, however back when I did, my interest lay in National Match Course type competition with 30 caliber rifles, 30-06 and later on with 7.6mm NATO or .308 Win, whichever terminology you prefer, and long range shooting, out to 1000 yards. The above mentioned with both semiautomatic, Garnd and M14/M1-A and bolt action rifles. Seems like NMC shooting has gone to 22 caliber rifles, that I have only very limited experience with. As for home defense, which you mentioned, I wonder if any rifle is really appropriate. I would think that a pump action shotgun would be more effective, and present less danger to others who were non involved. Of course, one would hope not to become involved in such situations. Inconclusion, regarding sights, shooting at one thousand yards with the Garand Rifle, it was Iron Sights. Going to bolt action rifles, in matches where's optical sights were allowed, I once shot a possible score in a match at Camp Perry, 100 with a reasonably high V count on the old 5V target. Usually, with a bolt gun, at 1000yards, 30-06 that is, I did just about as well, or a little better with Iron Sights as with a telescope sight. Getting old is a drag, a note on which I will close.
For home defense yes a short barrel helps, this is not a marksmans rifle that requires a 20+ barrel for reaching out for longer ranges. In a personal defense situation in your home a 16” or shorter barrel has massive advantages. You don’t see SWAT officers storming buildings with a M16A1 and there’s a reason for that. A carbine length or shorter AR definitely has a civilian use.
Have had mine for 3 months, maybe 250 rounds. So far so good. Just a red dot on it. Put a Miculek compensator on it. Stays pretty flat. Was nice to easily remove the rail to clamp barrel for removal of orig flash hider. Tightened down the two screws and the handguard settled in tight and exact same clearance around the gas block as before. Impressed so far. Hanguard grew on me quickly, not sure if I'll upgrade. Wasn't sure which guard felt better, the Sig or my sons DDV11 I had with me that day.
I’m going to be in the market for an AR very shortly and the Tread was on my list. Can you, or anyone, speak of it comparatively to a Radical Firearms AR? I’m just curious if the extra ~$150 is worth it for the Tread or if I’d be better off using that money for new barrel or an optic. Love the article, thanks again.
Stay far away from Radical. Terrible quality control, worse customer service.
Can you tell me where you learned that the barrel material is 416R? None of Sig's marketing material lists it, and none of the more then one dozen other reviews I have read mentioned it. I submitted a question to Sig more than a month ago asking about it. There has been no response.
Ugly hand guard! Serious question, the red dot is it best to have it that far forward?
It's really personal preference. The reason why some people like it further forward is that it eliminates tunnel vision when put further forward and blocks your line of sight less. That way when shooting with both eyes open, the tube of the red dot blends away and leaves just the dot for aiming.
Dude you totally lied about the tuning fork sound. This thing rings harder than the opening to the grinch who stole christmas.
The ringing is something I am concerned about as well. It is the only reason I have not purchased yet. Anyone have more info on this. Even the Sig MCX come with the same flash hider. I want either the MCX or the M400 Tread, but I don't want it to ring.
I picked up my first AR three weeks, ago and it was the Sig m400 Tread! I had first planned on going with a Smith and Wesson Sport, but by the time I added all the extra upgrades that are already on the Tread I would have another $300-400 into the gun. Honestly, I don’t think the Sport was that impressive in the first place. I researched thoroughly and talked to many AR enthusiasts and was told repeatedly that the Sig m400 Tread was the way to go! I absolutely love it! It shoots great and accuracy for me is phenomenal! 100 yds. and in nothing outside the size of a quarter, That’s shooting cheap Federal 55 grain ammo as well! The only thing I would frown little on is the proprietary aspects of the rifle. I had to buy a Sig picatinny rail piece due to the fact that Sig,’s pictatinny rail is lower profiled and this any sections I have to add had to be Sig. I do agree with the comment about adding an additional MLok QD point on the stock! I thought was somewhat an oversight on Sig’s part. Overall though, a great gum for a great price! Very satisfied and impressed!!!
I have the Smith and Wesson AR15, not the sport. Excellent trigger, grip sucked. Replaced it with a Magpul. Kept the irons and added a Vortex Razor. This thing is sweet!