Sig Sauer has always represented a gold standard among shooters with a tactical appreciation, so much so that it is a favorite of some of our military’s elite operators. And when guys who depend on their firearms to keep themselves and their fellow soldiers alive, that says just about all the rest of us need to know to trust in the quality of this long time manufacturer who had its roots in Switzerland and has through its history expanded to operations in the United States and Germany.

Known for their quality tactical rifles and pistols, SIG Sauer as it is now officially known, has gone all in on the shooting market in recent years manufacturing everything from ammunition and suppressors to optics and rangefinders. This expansion now allows SIG fans to own an entire tactical system from their beloved brand right down to the cartridges that are loaded in the chamber and magazine.

But tactical shooters aren’t the only ones the company caters to. They recognize there are plenty of applications for their firearms and predator hunting is high among that list. For that reason, the company introduced a dedicated predator model to its SIGM400 line-up several years ago.

The tactical tack driver comes chambered in 5.56mm and is rich with features designed to make the rifle not only durable, but able to perform in the harshest environments—a good thing whether working a dog in the dusty, arid ranges of the Southwest to the humid, briar-choked forests of the Southeast.

Key features include a two-stage match-grade Geissele trigger, Hogue rubber grips, a free-floating forend, an 18-inch, six-groove match-grade heavy barrel with a 1:8 twist. For the ultimate in stealth mode, the Predator version comes threaded for suppressors at 1/2×28 TPI. The extended charging handle latch allows easy operation even with large optics mounted on the flat-top receiver, a necessity when taking long shots at everything from foxes to prairie dogs. A a built-in tensioning device limits the amount of play that can occur between uppers and lowers. All controls are ambidextrous. The rifle retails for around $1,384.

The mag that comes with the predator version, like most hunting ARs and tactical variants, only holds five rounds, but these can easily be swapped out with higher-cap AR magazines, though for hunting, a 10- or 20-round mag is more than adequate. A 30-round mag, while great for eliminating most reload issues, can get in the way when working a set or trying to steady a shot off a large log or make your way through thick brush.

And, when you’re not worried about predators, this true AR-platform rifle, is just as fun and at home on the range or in a local 3-Gun competition.