Sig 556 (UPDATE: official pictures and specs released)
- Thread starter capp325
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- Calgary, Alberta
This rifle is not an improvement on the SG550-series rifles and you can see in the pictures why not:
You can tell by the finish which bits were made in the US and which ones weren't.
The lower receiver is clearly made in the US, and the upper in Switzerland, except they've pretty crudely welded a rail onto the top of it (as you can see as it still retains the dovetail at the front to attach a scope mount, which is now useless). The trigger, the safety and the takedown pins look original to Swiss Arms too.
The barrel pictured and the gas system are Swiss Arms, but they've simply threaded the end and put an AR-15 flash hider onto it (upside down).
The reason it's one pound lighter looks to me because the lower is made of aluminum, and the original is made from sheet steel.
It says the barrel has a 1/9 twist, so I take from that (as the SG550 usually has a 1/10 twist) that SIG Arms in the US is going to make their own barrels, and this is merely a prototype. My reasoning being that 18 USC 922(r) prohibits the assembly of non-importable semi-auto rifles from imported parts, hence the reason they've put so many US parts into it, and 18 USC 925(d)(3) prohibits the importation of barrels for non-importable firearms (or at least now it does with the latest ATF ruling), and this rifle wouldn't be importable, only the various bits from Swiss Arms they use are importable, but sans barrel thanks to the latest reg changes.
One the biggest strengths of the SG550 to my mind has always been the magazines, because they hinge into the lower and lock solidly in place. This thing uses AR-15 magazines, which are held in place basically by a square pin that protrudes through the side of the lower. It's not as good, always been a weak point of the AR-15 and the various other rifles that use AR-15 magazines.
Another strength of the SG550 is the stock, it's fantastically stronger than any AR-15 stock, although one could argue having the AR-15 collapsible stock means that you can adjust reach.
I certainly wouldn't be trading in a SG550 or PE90 or whatever for one of these things.
You can tell by the finish which bits were made in the US and which ones weren't.
The lower receiver is clearly made in the US, and the upper in Switzerland, except they've pretty crudely welded a rail onto the top of it (as you can see as it still retains the dovetail at the front to attach a scope mount, which is now useless). The trigger, the safety and the takedown pins look original to Swiss Arms too.
The barrel pictured and the gas system are Swiss Arms, but they've simply threaded the end and put an AR-15 flash hider onto it (upside down).
The reason it's one pound lighter looks to me because the lower is made of aluminum, and the original is made from sheet steel.
It says the barrel has a 1/9 twist, so I take from that (as the SG550 usually has a 1/10 twist) that SIG Arms in the US is going to make their own barrels, and this is merely a prototype. My reasoning being that 18 USC 922(r) prohibits the assembly of non-importable semi-auto rifles from imported parts, hence the reason they've put so many US parts into it, and 18 USC 925(d)(3) prohibits the importation of barrels for non-importable firearms (or at least now it does with the latest ATF ruling), and this rifle wouldn't be importable, only the various bits from Swiss Arms they use are importable, but sans barrel thanks to the latest reg changes.
One the biggest strengths of the SG550 to my mind has always been the magazines, because they hinge into the lower and lock solidly in place. This thing uses AR-15 magazines, which are held in place basically by a square pin that protrudes through the side of the lower. It's not as good, always been a weak point of the AR-15 and the various other rifles that use AR-15 magazines.
Another strength of the SG550 is the stock, it's fantastically stronger than any AR-15 stock, although one could argue having the AR-15 collapsible stock means that you can adjust reach.
I certainly wouldn't be trading in a SG550 or PE90 or whatever for one of these things.
P0WERWAGON
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- burnaby BC كافر
before you get all bent out of shape about the 556, there a some things you should be made aware of. that god aweful rail is held on by some fancy fastening system. in a matter of minutes it can be removed and a real flat top rail installed.
the stock is the typical american icon style. the almighty AR stock. however the original folder is supposed to be able to be bolted inplace of it. same for the pistol grip and the forearm
the twist is 1/9 which is better for heavier bullets anyways. no biggy. as for the mags, standard AR mags fit but some cool snap together Sig ones are sold with the rifle. the rifles in the pictures are proto types, hense no too clean. the production ones are going to get a mag release fence like the AR got.
i kinda like it. get a 18.5 inch barrel and presto, non restricted (provided the CFC sees it as a new rifle and not some variant.)
the stock is the typical american icon style. the almighty AR stock. however the original folder is supposed to be able to be bolted inplace of it. same for the pistol grip and the forearm
the twist is 1/9 which is better for heavier bullets anyways. no biggy. as for the mags, standard AR mags fit but some cool snap together Sig ones are sold with the rifle. the rifles in the pictures are proto types, hense no too clean. the production ones are going to get a mag release fence like the AR got.
i kinda like it. get a 18.5 inch barrel and presto, non restricted (provided the CFC sees it as a new rifle and not some variant.)
Keep in mind that the gun on display is just a prototype. The .308 Swiss Arms they showed last year was also crudely welded together despite not having any U.S. parts.cybershooters said:
I don't get why people compare this gun to the original 550. The 550 is prohibited and the Canada-legal Black Special costs three grand. This gun’s closest competition is AR-15, AR-180B and the XCR.
capp325 said:
We already have examples of swiss completed rifles, and they are absent of any crude welds or poorly manufactured parts. Whether or not the US made guns will be good or bad depends on a great many things, while the swiss rifle is a production made test fired and sighted in at the factory piece of engineering.
Oh no lets not compare the rifle to its closest cousin, thats not fair!!
I can't wait to hear about the list of problems this new US abortion will have. AR180B receiver cracks, XCR failled to get a government contract, M96 has the barrel fly off, AR15 needs special mags, springs, floorplates and slings to function properly for some people
Just look at the sig GSR (1911), it was the first time SIG USA tried to make its own gun by itself. Result was a POS.
I just thank god in Canada we get the good versions of these rifles.
Don't get me wrong, I don't disagree with the premise that many modern North American-made consumer products (not just guns) are low quality junk. Having said that, their poor quality is a result of the lack of attention to quality control that seems to be endemic among American managers and has nothing to do with the location of the plant. Many foreign carmakers like Toyota, Honda and BMW have North American plants that put out quality products. My dad's BMW X5 built by a bunch of rednecks in upstate South Carolina, for example, has been more reliable than my mom's 3 series built by bratwurst-chewing Germans in Munich.Scarecrow said:I can't wait to hear about the list of problems this new US abortion will have. AR180B receiver cracks, XCR failled to get a government contract, M96 has the barrel fly off, AR15 needs special mags, springs, floorplates and slings to function properly for some people
Just look at the sig GSR (1911), it was the first time SIG USA tried to make its own gun by itself. Result was a POS.
I just thank god in Canada we get the good versions of these rifles.
The problem with AR-180B, XCR and M96 is not that they are made in the U.S. but that they are made by American companies that no longer care about quality. If you compare American-made Sig Sauers and Berettas to their European counterparts, you'd be hard-pressed to find any difference in quality. The early production GSRs that you are referring to weren’t even made by SIG – they were subcontracted to Caspian. The newer SIG-made GSRs are much better.
Will the 556 turn out to be a quality gun? Who knows. Only time can't tell. What I do know, however, is that I won't be buying any Black Specials in the near future. I would hate to see the resale value plummet when SIG comes out with essentially the same gun for half the price
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Smoothbore
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My take:
If you have $3000 to spend on a Swiss-made rifle--go for it. I am happy that you get to own the best. Really.
If the rest of us can get a Swiss-designed rifle that strikes a good balance between quality and cost--then be happy for us.
Most people here must balance quality and cost all day long in the purchases they make. If you do not, then please don't call other options but the best, crap.
It has promise. Tootall please ask if they are planning to sell it in Canada and warn them about the "Variant" BS.
Thanks.
If you have $3000 to spend on a Swiss-made rifle--go for it. I am happy that you get to own the best. Really.
If the rest of us can get a Swiss-designed rifle that strikes a good balance between quality and cost--then be happy for us.
Most people here must balance quality and cost all day long in the purchases they make. If you do not, then please don't call other options but the best, crap.
It has promise. Tootall please ask if they are planning to sell it in Canada and warn them about the "Variant" BS.
Thanks.
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