Sig Sauer M400 Tread

The Sig Sauer M400 Tread represents Sig's answer to the budget AR-15 market, bringing their legendary quality control and manufacturing expertise to the sub-$1,000 price point. Introduced in late 2018, the Tread quickly earned recognition as one of the two best AR-15s available under $1,000, proving that Sig's engineering excellence extends beyond their premium MCX and M400 Elite lines. The Tread isn't just a cheaper version of expensive rifles - it's a thoughtfully designed package that maximizes value while maintaining the reliability and accuracy Sig's reputation demands.

The 16-inch stainless steel barrel features a mid-length gas system that provides smoother operation and reduced recoil compared to carbine-length systems common in budget rifles. The 1:8 twist rate handles a wider variety of ammunition weights than older 1:9 designs. Sig includes their 15-inch free-float M-LOK handguard, eliminating the plastic handguards found on competing budget options. The forged aluminum receivers are properly assembled, and Sig includes Magpul SL-K stock and MOE furniture. A unique safety feature is the extractor-support pin within the barrel extension that keeps the extractor pressed against the cartridge case rim - a feature found only on Sig's M400 and M516 rifles in production AR-15s.

Accuracy testing reveals the Tread punching well above its price class: a best five-shot group of 0.42 MOA at 100 yards with Barnes Precision ammunition, with Black Hills 77-grain producing groups under an inch. One reviewer spent 500 rounds including mag-dumping 150 rounds without a single failure. The rifle runs gassy with noticeable gas seepage through the charging handle, and the handguard gets hot during rapid fire, but these are minor issues for a rifle frequently available at $799. The trigger pulls heavy at 7.5 pounds, though the V2 version upgrades to Sig's Matchlite 2-stage trigger. For the price, the M400 Tread delivers premium-quality rifle features on a budget-friendly platform - a rifle that doesn't speak to budget standards.