2024 Editor’s Choice Award Winning Sig Sauer Cross Trax

Sig Sauer Cross Trax

The ultimate lightweight and packable crossover rifle?

Hybrids like the Sig Cross are really starting to catch on. Bolt rifles are not quite as fast but are easier to suppress, run a variety of ammunition, and can be incredibly accurate. Using the same basic controls and ergonomics of an AR, the speed gap starts to shrink. One of Sig’s latest offerings in the Cross lineup is the new 2024 On Target Editors’ Choice Award-winning Trax model. Designed as a lightweight hunter, it is more than capable of filling a number of roles.

In an effort to nearly half of a pound from the already lightweight standard Cross model, Sig fits the new Trax model with their side-folding Minimalist stock in place of the fully adjustable version, as well as the smaller AR-style handgrip from the company’s MCX Rattler. The one-piece black-anodized receiver is fitted with an AR-style ambi safety, a two-stage match trigger, a massive three-lug 60-degree short-throw bolt. The mag release sits in the forward portion of the trigger guard.

The Trax model starts with Sig Sauer’s proven Cross action, and from there, the company did everything it could to make it lightweight and portable. The lightweight 11.50-inch handguard is minimalist in diameter and skeletonized, with M-LOK accessory cuts on all four sides. Beneath the forend is a 16-inch stainless-steel barrel, chambered in 308 Win and threaded to 5/8 x 24 at the muzzle. Just behind the muzzle threads, the barrel tapers to interface with Sig muzzle devices, but the rifle also comes equipped with a squared-off shim to run any other muzzle device or direct-thread suppressor. The bolt knob is low profile with a handle that keeps things close and snag-free. Their Minimalist Folding Stock is very light, includes a small fixed cheek weld riser, and folds flat around the bolt knob. The trigger is a two-stage adjustable match design that proved crisp and predictable. The action’s top Picatinny rail extends the length of the receiver and onto the rear portion of the handguard, offering plenty of freedom of movement for your optic system. The Cross Trax uses the common AICS magazine pattern, with one five-round Magpul magazine accompanying the rifle.

The 16-inch, stainless-steel .308 barrel gets a 1:10 twist and 5/8”x24 TPI muzzle threads for mounting a brake or a sound suppressor, such as the ultra-light Silencer Central Banish Backcountry shown here. The shorter (than the standard Cross) lightweight skeletonized forend features M-LOK cuts at 3,6,9 and 12 o’clock with plenty of real estate to add a bipod, ARCA rail for a tripod, sling mount, or any other accessory for the job ahead.

Testing Equipment

Our test riflescope was a Sig Sauer Whiskey 6 3-18x44mm with the MOA Milling Hunter 2.0 reticle mounted in the second focal plane. Lightweight, this optic is a perfect match for this handy bolt rifle, with plenty of magnification for the 308 Win cartridge. When testing was completed, I walked away really impressed with the Whiskey 6 on my test rifle, especially given its feature set, light weight, and the very reasonable retail price of $899.99.

To continue with the “light and handy” theme, we used Silencer Central’s Banish Backcountry Suppressor for most of testing. Constructed of a Titanium Alloy, the ultra-short 5.5” long by 1.6” diameter Banish Backcountry weighs in at an almost-not-even-there 7.80 ounces.

Sig’s own Whiskey 6 3-18x44mm riflescope, equipped with the MOA Milling Hunter 2.0 reticle mounted in the second focal plane, proved a perfect match in weight and capability to the Cross Trax. While it’s marketed under the Hunting line, like the rifle itself, this optic would be more than suitable for most uses.

Range Testing

100-yard precision was outstanding, although somewhat challenging with the Minimalist stock. Perfect for carry and field use, it is a bit too minimalist for your average group guru at the bench. With no adjustment and a pretty narrow profile at the shoulder, this stock is most certainly better suited to hunting. Still, my best five-shot group was an impressive half-inch cluster using Nosler’s Defense 175-grain HPBT. Everything else was well under an inch, but the 168-grain and 155-grain seemed to open up group sizes a bit more.

The Cross Trax proved capable of impressive half-MOA precision using Nosler’s 175-grain BTHP load and well under one MOA for the other four tested loads.

Unsuppressed, this rifle basically feels like a light 16” AR. Sig Sauer did a great job of designing the Trax to meet the task of a lightweight hunting rig but swap out the stock, and this could easily serve as a lightweight minimalist police rifle or for ranch protection from varmints, vermin, and predators.

Using subsonic loads, the Trax barely moves and is incredibly quiet — not ammunition most would use for hunting, but it sure was fun. Bolt lockup can be an issue when firing suppressed, so you need to wait a second or two for the pressure to dissipate on rapid-fire strings. However, this was less noticeable with the Banish Backcountry. Having run 308 precision rifles for decades, recoil is relatively soft to begin with, although with a lightweight rifle like the Trax, it’s definitely a little more noticeable.

Accurate, compact, extremely modular, and now even more lightweight, the new Cross Trax is tough to beat for a do-it-all bolt gun. Between the outstanding AR-style ergonomics, well-placed/sized bolt handle, and extremely short bolt throw, you’ve got a platform that can be accurately fired at a surprisingly rapid pace.

Final Thoughts

Bolt operation was smooth out of the box with no binding under hard and fast bolt manipulations. Ejection was positive — run the bolt hard, and it flings brass out of the action with authority. Depending on how you configure it, the Trax is very packable and perfect for long hikes or treks into the backcountry. If you are looking for a lightweight and handy bolt rifle in one of the most popular calibers known to man, then see the new Cross Trax at your nearest dealer. For more information, contact Sig Sauer; Tel.: (603) 610-3000; Web: www.sigsauer.comDave Bahde


Specifications:

Caliber:                      308 Win

Action Type:                Bolt action

Trigger:                      Adjustable

Rate of twist:              1-10

Barrel:                        16-inch, stainless steel

Finish:                        Black anodized

Stock:                         Aluminum Minimalist

Magazine/capacity:      AICS compatible, 5-round

Sights:                        Picatinny rail

Overall Length:           36.5 inches

Weight:                      6.10 pounds

MSRP:                       $1,649.99