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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.com — Dave 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