AR-15s little known brother. Gas piston design as opposed to AR-15s direct gas impingement system. Many newer AR-15s are now using a gas piston design.
I have a Sig Sauer 516 which is their version of the AR platform but it uses the gas piston not the direct gas impingement. It does shoot cleaner and you don't get the gas blast coming off the BCG when you are firing. I think it is a slightly better design.
Alan K. - I like it a lot. It shoots very well, never jams and I've used really good ammo and some cheap stuff too. It is a Sig so that is what I expected and why I bought it.