Chambered for 9mm, the Copperhead is even more compact than SIG’s new Rattler. (Photo: SIG)
SIG Sauer is announcing a new, even more compact MPX called the Copperhead. The Copperhead is a 9mm Luger successor to SIG’s Rattler in 300 AAC Blackout.
The Copperhead takes all the Rattler concept and applies them to the pistol cartridge. At launch SIG is offering it in a pistol configuration with a flat dark earth Cerakote finish and a matching FDE two-position stabilizing brace.
“The MPX Copperhead considerably reduces the length, width, and size of the MPX platform making it the most compact addition to the MPX family of firearms,” said Tom Taylor, SIG executive vice president. “The Copperhead is the perfect combination of the features and performance our consumers expect from a SIG MPX in a compact package.”
The Copperhead uses SIG’s new Pivoting Contour Brace, or PCB. (Photo: SIG)
The driving force behind the Copperhead, like the Rattler, is to make the gun as small as possible while still functional for use at close ranges. To that end the Copperhead has a short 3.5-inch barrel with an integral muzzle device.
The monolithic upper receiver also has an integral finger stop. Combined with the angled magwell the Copperhead has an ergonomic design that measures in at just 14.5 long inches overall and weighs a measly 4.5 pounds unloaded.
Like other MPX firearms the Copperhead fires from a closed and locked bolt. It has a short-stroke gas piston system that’s self-regulating to work with all types of 9mm ammunition.
The muzzle device is fixed and part of the barrel. (Photo: SIG)
While it has a fixed right-side ejection port, the other controls are ambidextrous including the safety selectors, magazine release buttons, bolt releases and charging handle. This is an advantage for both right- and left-handed shooters as it allows users to fire weak-sided and from odd positions.
The Copperhead is priced in-line with other MPX products with a suggested $1,835 price point. Prices in-store and online are typically lower than that by a solid margin. It ships with one 20-round magazine.
See Also: SIG’s New Rattler Already Pressed into Military Testing with USSOCOM
The Copperhead is definitely an “unconventional design” as it does sacrifice superior ballistics and the ability to suppress in favor of being as small as possible. Swapping out the barrel would address both of those concerns but at an additional cost.
Out of the box the Copperhead seems more like a fun gun rather than a go-to self-defense solution, especially with the other MPX offerings out there. But as a range gun or pistol-caliber competition gun, it looks like a ton of high-speed grins in a package that would fit in a small sling or briefcase.
At the very least, it would be surprising if some of these features, like the new Pivoting Contour Brace, don’t make it into other MPX and possible MCX designs in the future.
For more information on the Copperhead visit SIGSauer.com.
Legal is legal. The “spirit of the law” was to to infringe the right to keep and bear arms, which is illegal in spirit. Moron labe!
Wow. I see some faulty logic here with some of these comments. People who say \”lets not give the left bullets to shoot us with\” are missing the essential reality. The Left want to take ALL guns out of the hands of the public, and WOULD if they COULD, but they have an especial hatred of what they erroneously term \”Assault Weapons\”. Some of the problems I see with the \”don\’t give the Left bullets\” mentality is that it means we Pro-Gun types are LIMITING OURSELVES and actually doing the Libtard\’s job FOR THEM. The Left are going to hate guns and want to try to ban them, REGARDLESS of what new gun style, type or accessory is designed and sold to the public. Yeah, the Left cry every time some new, cool accessory or military style gun comes out, but they\’re not OK with ANY of those things ANYWAY. If you look at how the Left\’s anti-gun legislation conveyor belt operates, its actually cyclical, which mostly come up on certain occasions, such as the beginning of Congressional and Senatorial terms, after \”mass shootings\”, or individual tragic events involving guns. The introduction of certain legal gun products don\’t usually cause a rush to create new legislation by the Left. These guns and accessories meet the ATF rules for guns which can legally be sold to the public, or they would never be allowed to enter the marketplace by the ATF. Yes, sometimes the ATF changes their minds and either restricts their usage or actually bans them, although that is unusual. We Pro-Gun folks don\’t need to be making the Left\’s job EASIER by adopting some of their flawed thinking. Fact is, the Left ISN\’T going to \”leave us alone\” because we \”self limit\”. The Left are ALWAYS taking notes and adding to the list of weapons and accessories that they really hate, but again, they want to DISARM the American people TOTALLY. Why make it easier for them? I mean, where does that end? When we finally make so many self-limiting statements within the 2A and Pro-Gun community that the manufacturers stop offering new types and styles of guns and accessories because they believe that gun owners no longer want choice, so they go back to just manufacturing stock weapons with basic features and little to no personal choice? We whittle down the guns available until at some point, the Left only have to write a simple Bill which only has to mention a few types of guns and maybe a couple of accessories and get that passed. Fact is, simple Bills are easier to pass that complicated ones, because there is more for political \”fence sitters\” to have to consider when they vote on a complicated Bill, so it is less likely to pass. We shouldn\’t be making it easier for the Libtard\’s to pass anti-gun Bills. We need to be protecting what we HAVE as well as encouraging innovation by gun manufacturers, not DISCOURAGING them from giving us more options, and as a side benefit to us, making the Left\’s job more difficult in getting their Bills passed.A couple of the comments here said something to the effect of \”what does anyone need a gun like this for?\”. Well, while I do think the Copperhead is just about the ugliest looking gun I have ever seen, I CAN see some legitimate uses for it by a civilian, especially as a \”packable\” gun for a \”Bug Out\” bag, or simply to take with you for self-defense when out camping or the like. I can say that this gun, at only 14\” overall, would fit into one of my \”Bug-Out\” bags VERY easily. I can also see the gun as a possible option as a \”Truck Gun\”, since being VERY compact, it would be easier to find room to mount it under a seat and not have to break it down into upper and lower, etc.Bottom line is, don\’t make it easier for the Left to disarm or limit us. All of us law abiding gun owners own weapons which have been approved for sale and our use by the ATF, or we wouldn\’t be able to buy them from our local gun store or FFL holder. If there is a gun or an accessory you don\’t like or understand what use it would be to a civilian, just DON\’T BUY IT. Other gun owners might see a legal and legitimate use for that new gun or accessory, let THEM have their choice. When we use the Left\’s faulty logic to limit ourselves we are ONLY helping the LEFT to whittle away our gun rights and our choice. The Left are going to target our guns, no matter WHAT they are, regardless of what concessions we pro-gun folks might try to make to appease them. The Left will thank you for making their anti-gun agenda that much easier to accomplish. DON\’T HELP THEM.
Wow. I see some faulty logic here with some of these comments. People who say “lets not give the left bullets to shoot us with” are missing the essential reality. The Left want to take ALL guns out of the hands of the public, and WOULD if they COULD, but they have an especial hatred of what they erroneously term “Assault Weapons”. Some of the problems I see with the “don’t give the Left bullets” mentality is that it means we Pro-Gun types are LIMITING OURSELVES and actually doing the Libtard’s job FOR THEM. The Left are going to hate guns and want to try to ban them, REGARDLESS of what new gun style, type or accessory is designed and sold to the public. Yeah, the Left cry every time some new, cool accessory or military style gun comes out, but they’re not OK with ANY of those things ANYWAY. If you look at how the Left’s anti-gun legislation conveyor belt operates, its actually cyclical, which mostly come up on certain occasions, such as the beginning of Congressional and Senatorial terms, after “mass shootings”, or individual tragic events involving guns. The introduction of certain legal gun products don’t usually cause a rush to create new legislation by the Left. These guns and accessories meet the ATF rules for guns which can legally be sold to the public, or they would never be allowed to enter the marketplace by the ATF. Yes, sometimes the ATF changes their minds and either restricts their usage or actually bans them, although that is unusual. We Pro-Gun folks don’t need to be making the Left’s job EASIER by adopting some of their flawed thinking. Fact is, the Left ISN’T going to “leave us alone” because we “self limit”. The Left are ALWAYS taking notes and adding to the list of weapons and accessories that they really hate, but again, they want to DISARM the American people TOTALLY. Why make it easier for them? I mean, where does that end? When we finally make so many self-limiting statements within the 2A and Pro-Gun community that the manufacturers stop offering new types and styles of guns and accessories because they believe that gun owners no longer want choice, so they go back to just manufacturing stock weapons with basic features and little to no personal choice? We whittle down the guns available until at some point, the Left only have to write a simple Bill which only has to mention a few types of guns and maybe a couple of accessories and get that passed. Fact is, simple Bills are easier to pass that complicated ones, because there is more for political “fence sitters” to have to consider when they vote on a complicated Bill, so it is less likely to pass. We shouldn’t be making it easier for the Libtard’s to pass anti-gun Bills. We need to be protecting what we HAVE as well as encouraging innovation by gun manufacturers, not DISCOURAGING them from giving us more options, and as a side benefit to us, making the Left’s job more difficult in getting their Bills passed.
A couple of the comments here said something to the effect of “what does anyone need a gun like this for?”. Well, while I do think the Copperhead is just about the ugliest looking gun I have ever seen, I CAN see some legitimate uses for it by a civilian, especially as a “packable” gun for a “Bug Out” bag, or simply to take with you for self-defense when out camping or the like. I can say that this gun, at only 14″ overall, would fit into one of my “Bug-Out” bags VERY easily. I can also see the gun as a possible option as a “Truck Gun”, since being VERY compact, it would be easier to find room to mount it under a seat and not have to break it down into upper and lower, etc.
Bottom line is, don’t make it easier for the Left to disarm or limit us. All of us law abiding gun owners own weapons which have been approved for sale and our use by the ATF, or we wouldn’t be able to buy them from our local gun store or FFL holder. If there is a gun or an accessory you don’t like or understand what use it would be to a civilian, just DON’T BUY IT. Other gun owners might see a legal and legitimate use for that new gun or accessory, let THEM have their choice. When we use the Left’s faulty logic to limit ourselves we are ONLY helping the LEFT to whittle away our gun rights and our choice. The Left are going to target our guns, no matter WHAT they are, regardless of what concessions we pro-gun folks might try to make to appease them. The Left will thank you for making their anti-gun agenda that much easier to accomplish. DON’T HELP THEM.
Although I agree that some people may have use for the Copper, modifying a carbine into a pistol using a “pistol brace” in lieu of a stock, but said pistol braces just HAPPENS to also be able to function as a crude stock is a purposeful and deliberate attempt by the industry to circumvent the spirit of the law.
I have my own criticisms of the law but if the industry continues to do this, like they’ve done with bumpstocks, it will ultimately serve to shame our community of enthusiasts and HELP THE LEFT MOUNT THEIR CASE AGAINST GUN OWNERSHIP. That’s not a good thing for us or the cause. That’s the only point being made here.
Tim
I agree with Cyrus, to the extent that manufacturers that continue to push the limits and ride the very gray line between pistol and SBR are not necessarily doing a service to the cause against attacks from the left. But that’s mostly a matter of perception and archaic gun regulations.
On the Copper, I see no point in a 3.5″ bbl on a pistol masquerading as a carbine. Put at least a 4.5″ threaded bbl on it for suppressor use and then I’ll be more interested.
Tim
What a useless piece of ****!
I need this for what? This is exactly the type of gun that gives the Fuckin Left fuel for Gun Control. I own a Bushmaster and a SAR-3 so don’t even try and flame me