What are the differences between the SAN Classics & Sig 556?

SAN is Swiss and 556 is Sig USA product. We can have Swiss rifles and our neighbors to the south can't. We can't have Sig 556 rifles and they can.
A couple of thousand dollars seperate them also.lol
 
The biggest difference is the magazine, but there are many. I believe that the SAN classics/specials are much superior firearms.
The 556 is a commercial rifle and is much cheesier than the military bred SANs.
 
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ESQ said:
The biggest difference is the magazine, but there are many. I believe that the SAN classics/specials are much superior firearms.
The 556 is a commercial rifle and is much cheesier than the military bred SANs.
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I read a lots of negative comments regarding the Sig 556 on the M4cabinet.net, and there are lots for sale brand new in the USD1000 range.
 
My impression of the 556 (while never having handled one, so YMMV) is that they thought they could cost cut and just milk the 55X reputation whilst supplying the US market with the ability to use their beloved AR mags and accessories.

I'm very familiar with the SAN rifles, but have no interest in the 556 based on what I've heard.
 
A buddy of mine works at Swissarms, they received a SIG 556 for trials. They put it through the same tests as the 550 has to pass.
According to him it did surprisingly well, but still failed in the end because it's just not as durable as the original.
 
The lowers look exactly the same except of course for the magwell. Ive never seen the uppers.
 
The 556 lowers are machined aluminum compared to stamped steel on the 550 series. The uppers are of the same design. Also, I do not believe the 556 is brazed and welded, only welded.
 
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the U.S. rifles are required by law to have a certain amount of U.S parts. the early (low serial number) ones got away with having several swiss parts including full auto BCG's but no longer, over 50% of the rifle is now made in the USA and the QC reflects that, they do take the AR mag but thats a non issue as some AR mags are very robust. Our SAN's are 100% swiss the 556 is NOT. Most 556 owners would give their eye teeth for what we have. Their current BCG and barrels are U.S. made, no where near swiss quality, among having a worse triger, and screws for take down pins etc etc etc.
 
CanAm said:
The 556 lowers are machines aluminum compared to stamped steel on the 550 series. They uppers are of the same design. Also, I do not believe the 556 is brazed and welded, only welded.
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Yes your right on the material but I think it flexes less than the 550 stamped lower. I have no idea which would hold up better being dropped and stomped.

All the trigger parts and take down pins look the same to me.
 
I think you guys are nuts.

I have handled and shot both. You may indeed be correct that there is some quantitative material differences in the construction, but the perceived handling quality is exactly the same. My supposedly inferior 556 classic has a trigger that feels the same as the swissarms, has never malfunctioned after thousands of rounds (including cheap Russian ammo), weighs less, and has $14 mags that drop free with the push of a button. I wouldn't trade straight across if they were the same value, let alone pay an extra $2000 for the swiss parts.

There are no screws for takedown pins. I took mine apart 10 minutes ago and you just push them out with your finger.

Enjoy your swissarms, they are fantastic rifles. I'll continue to enjoy my 556, and will post up here if it "falls apart" after 10,000 rounds, as that's exactly how much ammo I'll be able to buy with the money I saved :)
 
I'm wondering why there is all the #####iness about the 556 on the US boards? Just too different for AR fanboys?
 
We tested the Sig Sauer 556 extensively. I really liked it. But: in every aspect it is a bit inferior to the Swiss Arms. Trigger was not were near as good and had creep. Sights (we use only open sights) were a joke on the 556. Action was not as smooth. Accuracy of the 16" barreled 556 was not as good as the 9" barreled SG552 @ 100 meters. Overall fit and finish was not as good. No nightsights. As I said, I really like the 556, solid, reliable good gun. The only thing that really bothered me was the accuracy, just not on par with the Swiss Arms products. In the end no-one would trade their SG552 for a Sig Sauer 556.

In the US they love 2 things, the 1911 and the M16 FOW. They will forever shoot, defend, fix and tinker with these designs. I'm inspired by the American's sense of Patriotism and devotion to American made and designed guns. Now after 40 years they finally have some really good magazines for the M16 FOW's and it has improved the system dramatically. Very tough to get an American to buy into a non-American made gun.

My 2 cents,

Rich
 
Rich LPS said:
Accuracy of the 16" barreled 556 was not as good as the 9" barreled SG552 @ 100 meters. Overall fit and finish was not as good. No nightsights. As I said, I really like the 556, solid, reliable good gun. The only thing that really bothered me was the accuracy, just not on par with the Swiss Arms products. In the end no-one would trade their SG552 for a Sig Sauer 556.
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My 556 puts down ~1" groups (and I would not call myself the best rifle shooter). How accurate was the 9" swissarms?
 
The important difference between the two is that you can put a SAN upper on a Sig556 lower and have AR-15 magazines for your Swiss Arms! And I guess AR-15 buttstocks, with folding AND collapsing, oh my!
 
Kampfhamster said:
A buddy of mine works at Swissarms, they received a SIG 556 for trials. They put it through the same tests as the 550 has to pass.
According to him it did surprisingly well, but still failed in the end because it's just not as durable as the original.
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The uppers are basically the same, but they're made in the US. The phosphate finish they use is not as durable as what Swiss Arms uses (which means it's more likely to rust). The furniture also does not appear to be as durable. I doubt the barrels are as durable either, although that one is much harder to determine simply by looking at it. The gas pistons and tubes from the ones I've looked at appear to be identical, i.e. imported from Switzerland.

Usually on guns with push-pin lowers and uppers there is a lot of stress put on the pins when the gun is fired, I've seen plenty of M16s with U-shaped pins in them. Aluminum not being as durable as steel, I think you'll also find the lower wears out faster on the 556 due to the stress on the pins.
 
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