SIG 556
 

I was shocked to search and not find a single mention of this rifle on GIM:

http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/Sho...&productid=247
http://www.gunsmagazine.com/Features/0508/Ftr0508.html

I'd welcome any opinions. On the surface, it seems to be the best of the AR, AK, and FAL, all rolled into one. I walked into the gunshop today, really looking for an AK-47. The prices were high on them ($1200), and the rep was really talking me out of getting anything in 7.62x39. His reasoning was inaccuracy past 150 yards (we know an AK is not a long range weapon). Although I've known the people working at this shop to be extremely knowledgeable, he also mentioned that a ban just went into effect for Russian ammo, which I can find no collaborating info on. Nevertheless, I figure I have plenty of short to medium rage weapons, so I suppose I will get something in a 5.56 with a scope.

So, how come no buzz on here about this rifle? Opinions?

Re: SIG 556
 

As a Sig Armorer and owner, here is my insight:
The internals are modeled after the AK-47...it's pretty safe to say anything metal on the gun is good quality. The magazines are complete junk, I use mine to hold my guns in a vise to work on them. I find the pistol grip angle a little awkard. The top rail some have reported canted. I had to send my gun back to Sig because of excessive play between the upper and lower. The trigger is really nice, much better than any AR-15 trigger. The gun runs really smooth with a Surefire can.

Be aware though, if you run an eotech or similar, you need a griffin charging handle b/c the sig oem handle will mash your hand the first time you charge the weapon (clearance issues). Also, good luck getting parts from Sig to work on your gun. Overall, it is my go to gun, and very accurate, though it tends to like heavier bullets. Hope this helps.

Re: SIG 556
 

Love the gun. Too expensive.

Re: SIG 556
 

I wouldn't kick it out of the safe.

Re: SIG 556
 

WTF?!! Did he just say this without backing it up? Sounds like BS to me...This would be all over the internet by now and I have not found anything on it except the Wolf scare last year...

Re: SIG 556
 

Had a Sig 556P SWAT.. Sold it.. It worked fine, I just wasn't happy with it.

It had the same flip up sight system pictured above, which is total garbage especially for co-witnessing with any optic that I tried.. The Sig red dot it came with was garbage.. Had to wipe that sucker down after any use cause some of the screws on the rail and the sling mount would rust from being touched..

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i9XcNg33JR.../556P-SWAT.jpg

The plus side to the Sig 556P is that it's easy to SBR if you want to file the paperwork.. M4 stock will screw right in same threads.. I just never got around to doing it and since I wasn't really 100% happy with the pistol I just decided to put the money into a different project.

I hear they have a different sight system now.. It might be better, but I don't know.. For some people the co-witness problem is no big deal, but to me it's a deal breaker.

Re: SIG 556
 

An ex-Army buddy of mine has one. So he brings it to my property and lets me shoot it.

The internal parts are high quality all the way. Got to love how easy it is to maintain.

The trigger is nice but quite different. The first few times I tried to slow fire it from the bench on paper, I was having issues. If you squeeze it very slowly it feels like a _three_ stage trigger. I've never shot another gun whose trigger feels quite like that. But you get used to "different" pretty fast and then you start to like it. It's light enough and repeatable. After some practice, I grew to like it a lot.

I hate that front stock. And that stupid M-16 style butt stock. If I owned one I would replace the front stocks with the sleeker original style. They look a lot better IMO. I don't see a need for all that bulk. And the collapsible stock is ridiculous. It's like we have lost track of how disliked that stock was for years on the AR/M-16. We had to put up with it since the buffer tube meant we couldn't use a folder. But to put it on rifles like the 556 (or the AK) that don't have a buffer tube? That's just beyond bizarre. (Exception for those that wear hard body armor. But how many civilians would that be?) The original side folding stock is very nice.

And yeah, the iron sight situation is weird.

The downside to me is cost plus you are getting into a platform with less than 1/100th of the spare parts and accessories of the AR. But I would still like to own one. My buddy picked his up lightly used for a low price. If I had been offered the same deal, I would own one as well. Just haven't been able to spend that much money on another new 5.56mm rifle. Same issue I have with getting a new Steyr AUG!

Gregg

Re: SIG 556
 

I am left handed. I couldnt operate the safety using my thumb. The hinge of the folding stock got in the way. As a result I am now leaning towards the Robinson XCR

Re: SIG 556
 

expensive. just get a good AR and spend the extra $ on ammo
my 2 cents

Re: SIG 556
 

No, that's the 550

This is its retarded, American made cousin.

Takes STANAG mags though, and they fixed the grip in the new iteration (used to feel a little like silly putty).

Re: SIG 556
 

Thanks for the input guys. Nothing here scares me off; it's still a top contender for me. At $1700, it not anymore than the AR's I'm running across. I tend to purchase things that are different than the norm. I'll try to confront the rep about his Russian ammo ban statement for verification; probably BS.

Re: SIG 556
 

If you are looking for something piston driven I would suggest the Ruger SR-556

http://www.defensereview.com/wp-cont...er_sr556_1.gif

MSRP is 1900, but I have seen them for sale recently at a gun show here localy for under 1500. Much better choice than the SIG IMO. AR parts will be much more plentiful than the SIG 556 for sure if something were to go wrong.

With everything that comes with the Ruger it's a great deal at that price.

Re: SIG 556
 

I would love to get a SR-556.