Why is the Ruger SR-556 so heavy?

The bullet should have left the barrel before the gas piston starts moving. For a semi-automatic rifle, barrel quality is more important than putting more metal on it.

Now, if the rifle is running auto like the HK IAR M27, some high speed camera footage is probably helpful to figure out how the cyclic rate and barrel whip gonna sync with each other. This will affect the dispersion in burst fire.

Many companies give people heavy barrels because people "think" heavy barrel is more accurate for their usage. If this is what people believe in, why challenge it? Just give it to them and sell! :)
 
Love mine! Although it is a bit heavier than others, never given a bit of problems! Now put a timney trigger in it & your set...factory trigger is way to heavy IMHO
 
The weight is caused by the miracle that is a piston gas system.

An engineering challenge that Stoner solved almost 50 years ago, and for some reason they returned to it for no obvious reasons.
 
greentips said:
The bullet should have left the barrel before the gas piston starts moving. For a semi-automatic rifle, barrel quality is more important than putting more metal on it.

Now, if the rifle is running auto like the HK IAR M27, some high speed camera footage is probably helpful to figure out how the cyclic rate and barrel whip gonna sync with each other. This will affect the dispersion in burst fire.

Many companies give people heavy barrels because people "think" heavy barrel is more accurate for their usage. If this is what people believe in, why challenge it? Just give it to them and sell! :)
Click to expand...

Well I can't completely agree with you on this. A free float barrel free of heavier moving parts such as a piston system does seem to help accuracy. While I do agree generally a better grade barrel is better than a thicker barrel the old saying a cold barrel is an accurate one still holds. A thicker barrel is stifffer (barrel whip), helps stop verticle stringing with many piston systems and stays cooler longer due to suface area/heat sink ability.

The techniques for accurate rifles still hold for semi autos. The DI AR follows most of the same proven techniques when accurized. It's the reason the DI AR rifle is an exception to accuracy limits seen in most semi auto rifles.

What I wonder is the trade offs when used as a carbine. Bullpups are very easy to shoot off hand for example. Is a less accurate lighter/better balanced AR more accurate overall even though it's accuracy ability isn't as good? I've always believed it's a tradeoffs much like the accuracy vs speed tradeoffs. Getting the perfect mix means better overall.
 
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