We present time-series VI photometry of the metal-rich globular cluster NGC 6316 .
Our color-magnitude diagrams show a predominantly red-clump horizontal branch morphology with no evidence of the blue extensions seen in NGC 6388 and NGC 6441 .
Our data are in good agreement with published estimates of the reddening and metallicity provided the cluster has an absolute distance modulus of 15.50 mag .
We have discovered more than one dozen long-period variable stars in our field of view , and argue that at least seven of them are members of NGC 6316 .
We have also discovered four RR Lyrae variables , although only one of them probably belongs to the cluster .
The specific frequency of RR Lyrae stars in NGC 6316 is found to be less than 0.4 , making it clear that this cluster is a normal , metal-rich globular and is not an analog of NGC 6388 and NGC 6441 .
We recommend long-term photometric monitoring of NGC 6316 to clarify the nature of the RR Lyrae member candidate as well as the pulsation classes of the long-period variables .