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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Sig 556 (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 1/28/2008 6:52:33 PM EDT
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Well I guess this never got posted before but I was thinking of a sig 556 and was wondering what all of you guys think of them. Accuracy dependability and so on? I was wanting to add another I have an armalite target and a rra mid now. Would I be better off with another mid and set it up different or???sig 556let me know what you guys think Thanks |
I think it is cheaply made. Imprecise fit and finish on every single one I have held, plastic rails , ugly compared to what real Sig rifles look like, lack of iron sights (although I think they "remedied" this by recently shipping them with cheapo BUIS.I would be all over it if Sig had actually made a civie version of the 552, but some marketing genius (who hopefully got fired) decided that the US public would like a brand new gun. Buy an AR. |
eeehhhh... I think I was able to overcome most of those problems. Here is my 556. It's not quite done yet.. some barrel mods are next. I am just never satisfied with ANYTHING as it comes in the box. sorry to counter all the negatives posted by folks who don't actually own one, but I've had several "real" 55Xs and the 556 is a good deal for the money. 
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| Have you been getting 1.5 moa from that 556 and how has the reliaility been? Nice looking rig...thanks for the input, I have kind of spoken for one but am thinking about going with an AR again....what gas piston AR upper would you recommend and how much do they run$..... |
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Ten Years ago I could have gotten that kind of accuracy, but the eyes are too old now. I beat and hack on guns more that I shoot them. My bud shoots right at 1" with this one. When I free Float the barrel I expect that circle to shrink a little bit. I've got a LOT of experience with smithing on the 55X guns. SIGARMS did a great job of building a cheaper version of the 551. If they had designed it the way most of the naysayers say it would take for THEM to buy one, those same dudes would be bitching about the cost of the weapon. ETA.. the reliability is unbeatable... AND... The trigger is one of the best stock triggers on the market. If you ask actual owners of these guns, you'll get more accurate answers from guys who are NOT. |
How'd you manage to get that stock on there? I knew the 552 style handguards were available but not the stock. |
Well... You'll have a hard time getting 552 handuards on the 556, as it was designed to use 551 length handguards. Take a look at my website.. it should answer any questions you have. There are a couple pics of a custom 551 I built a few years back, as well. |
The lower was one I had left over from all the parts kits I had for sale a few years back. It was basically "free" and I did all the work, so I don;t have much more than the cost of the 556 in the weapon. Check out my site.. it has lots of info on it: alpinetek.netfirms.com/guns/SG55X/ |
I didn't realize that was a completely different (550) lower. The only 556 parts on it are the upper receiver and bbl. I can't imagine there are a lot of 550 lowers floating around out there. The only thing I actually like about the 556 (the ability to take AR mags) is eliminated anyway so it wouldn't be anything I want personally. Cool website though, and you have done some nice work. |
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Anyone seriously wanting a 556/551/552 Conversion, really owe it to themselves to check out THIS THREAD. You'll have a bit over $4000.00 (about 1/3 the current cost of a preban 551) invested when it is through, but only A FEW of them will even get made! As the supply drops, the Price on these few guns will only get higher from this point in time. |
| Its a good shooter, trigger is different from what Im used to but by no means a bad trigger, balance is off but felt recoil seems less than from a AR, flip up irons for it suck bigtime, M4 stock sucks bigtime; overall I think its got its place but has a lot that could be improved, mainly cosmetics. |
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keith, how do you go about free floating the barrel on a sig 556? Would it be possible with the stock handguards, or the swat railed model? I heard that a few manufacturers were planning on releasing railed free float handguards at the shot show. Any info on your method is appreciated. Thank you. |
I intend to use one of the new manufacturers rail system. I planned to tool my own based on the mounting points for the existing top rail. I discarded this plan when i discovered the (same) intentions of "real" manufacturers!  They can sell me their product much cheaper than I could ever make myself.
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When it comes to the Sig 556, people here are so hipocritical and ignorant...its unbelievable. The vast majority of people who say negative things about the Sig 556 are people who have eiether never owned or fired one in thier lives. They break down into two groups, XCR owners who say buy an XCR or "Colt experts" who are smarter than everyone in the firearms industry yet languish in NE/ARFCOM and lay into Sig for not making a 551 clone. Somehow, I don't think John Moses Browning, Ed Sullivan or Reed Knight would pass the time bashing Sig 556's on ARFCOM. In any event, none of the aforementioned replies answer the typical questions asked about the 556. If you don't own one, you have no clue how accurate/reliable they are, so post elsewhere. If you want to bash 556's without owning one, start a thread accordingly. Leave the people who wnat one/are curious about them alone. We would all love a 551 replica or a Blue Star or something...I would also love a Bofors AK5. Ain't gonna happen for any number of reasons...move on. Besides, Sig doesn't even make original 55x's anymore, SwissArms does. Pester them about a US 551 and see how far you get. That being said, the Sig 556 is an amazing gun. While aesthetically different, the operating system of the 556 is identical to the Sig 551, which has a reputation of being one of the most reliable military rifles availible. Being that the Sig 55x is an AK derivative, like the FNC/SCAR, its incredibly reliable.Unlike an AK, the Sig 556 is very accurate. I haven't noticed an accuracy difference between my Sig 556's and AR carbines. With an optic and 75grn Hornady or Mk262, my guns shoot MOA. IMO, recoil and controlibility are greater with the Sig than an AR. Some people don't like the factory 556 magazines, but I do. They have been 100% reliable for me with a variety of ammo and I really appreciate the ability to easy couple magazines together, without using a seperate device. Are they as good as Pmags, H&K or FN/Bofors mags? Probably not, but the factory 556 magazine is easily the equal of a standard USGI 30 round aluminum magazine. A few things to consider about the 556. One, its heavy. Not as heavy as a 7.62x51 Galil, which is a beast IMO, but heavier than a lean and mean AR Carbine. Even though its a little fatter, the gun is still entirely usable and even recoils less IMO. The sight situation isn't perfect, atleast for most people. Why Sig chooses to use the dove tailed FS, I have no clue. A 1913 interface would make life much easier...Still, the Samson FS is a great unit and factory FS's are availible and are also great sights. For someone who doesn't use optics, the 552 style emergency sights probably won't be adequate. They are pretty spartan for someone who shoots iron only and you would do well to replace them with AR BUIS's or add the factory/LPA adjustible rear. Personally, I used Aimpoints/EoTechs/etc, and I really like the emergency sights. They were never designed to eclipse the AR NM rear sight or Swiss diopter, only to give you an option other than dying if your optic fails. Compared to the emergency sights on the G36, they are NM sights. Overall, I love my 556's. One of the best, if not the best, 5.56x45 military type carbines availible. My Sigs have almost entirely supplaneted my AR's, as I believe them to be superior rifles. Don't worry about the 556 not being a 551 clone. The 556 is actually a better/more user friendly weapon. Buy a 556. You will not be disapointed. |
| Just ask the 10,000 or so folks that actually own them... and get the straight poop. Despite the internet commandos constant bashing... with no actual experience behind one, the 556 has quickly earned a reputation for accuracy combined with outstanding reliability. Actual owners experience speak highly of the rifle, and they are built by a company that stands behind their product. |
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By the way, an original style version of the 556, converted here in the states, IS available--and people are already complaining about the price. JUST AS HAPPY 556 OWNERS PREDICTED. My 556 has given me less than 1/2" group at 50 yards with a 4x ACOG. Great gun. You can even change out furniture if you wnat. At today's pricing, heck, even at MSRP when they came out, they are a great value in apiston rifle. As stated previously--I have had my AR longer, but I have twice as many rounds through my 556. |
+1. Very accurate and 100% reliable. |
Mine is accurate and reliable, but....
....I still agree with this guy. Handle one first. It's not a bad rifle, but it's isn't going to do anything better than an AR will, so I would base my decision on ergonomics and ability to do any mods you might want to do. |
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I guess I will go against the grain on this one. I love my 556. Mine is in the 7000 serial range so I may not have certain problems others report with the lower # range. Fit between the upper and lower is tight. No slop, no play. Finish is uniform. The balance feels pretty good to me. It might be considered slightly nose heavy but once you SHOOT it, you will find that there may be a reason for it. Follow up shots are quick and accurate because of it. The nose weight keeps the muzzle planted. As far as MOA, I have no clue. I have not benched it yet at 100 but at 50yds w/an EoTech, unsupported, it shoots better then I can. I consider it no less accurate then any of my ARs. I have not cleaned it yet, but when splitting the upper and lower, the SIG is far cleaner then any AR given the same amount of shooting. We all know why, so no reason to explain that aspect. It is also "big" for a carbine. Feels and handles more like a rifle. That being said, there are certain things I don't like. The factory stock is cheap and ugly. I replaced it with a regular M4 6 pos. stock until I decide if I want an A2 stock or a CTR on it. The BUIS are not the best in the world but they work for what is intended. The handguards I am undecided on. Not sure what or if I want to do anything to them. Basically, I am happy with the 556 and am glad I bought it. |
I have 3 ar's and 1 556 ad both models have their finer points, the sig is heavier, but has less muzzle climb. the 556 is the most accurate of the bunch. and the 556 runs way cooler during rapid firing, ar's are much easier to manuver in tight spaces, and the ar is way easier to take apart and clean, there are enough pic's of ar's floating around, so I have no need to add mine, but below is a pic of my 556. 
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/VelociRaptor350/556.jpg I really like mine, its in the 7x range and has none of the issues the earlier rifles had. Everything is straight, tight, no finish issues, etc. The handguards have no play in them, my only real issue is im not to fond of the stock, but thats an easy fix and with my tax return it will be changed. Only thing i have added is the TA33R-8 ACOG and a BlueForce Vickers sling. |
How do you guys like the ACOGS mounted your 556's?. I am debating either a 1x4 variable or an ACOG. Not sure which. BTW, was that pic taken at the SWFS range? |
I love the ACOG, only thing i want to add is a Larue mount for the repeatable zero. The picture was Hernando Sportsman's Club. |
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Let's be honest here. The first 556's produced were of disappointing quality, between the finish mis-match, and the rail issues. The current production is decent, but it's still ultimately a bastardized, cheapened 551. Yes, it's fairly accurate, and yes, it's a reliable rifle, but they could have done so much more. The backup irons are practically worthless, and the stock is just plain lame. The SWAT tac-light/foregrip, the polymer magazines, and the holosight are flimsy crap. Sorry, but I've handled and shot the originals, and I've handled and shot enough of the 556's to know by now. The base rifle itself is quite solid, but SIG's design/marketing treatment of the platform is downright criminal. If they were serious about producing the best product possible, they'd be including decent backup irons, Magpul translucent P-Mags, a quality stock (like the CTR), and either a decent optic or none at all. Instead they did an A job on most of it, and then did a half-assed job on the rest. I know why they did things the way they did-to maximized profit-but that doesn't make it forgiveable in my book. I may very well end up getting one eventually, but it still disappoints me that I'll need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to upgrade towards something halfways decent. SIG is compromising quality for quantity, and in the long run I fear that strategy will come back to bite them. |
| I ALWAYS end up dumping hundreds into a new rifle, and my SIG556 will not be an exception. I have a later gun, serial number over #9000, and the fit/finish is superb. The gun function's flawlessly, and it does have the back up sight's, which were damn near right on at 100 yards. With that being said, I was originally on a waiting list back in January of 2006, right after SIG showed them at SHOT. For a year I remained on a group buy, but at that time, I had read report's of quality issue's, and decided to wait. I was one of those that liked the fact that it took/take's AR magazine's, as they are everywhere, and don't cost upwards of $50.00 like the 550 mags. I never liked the furniture, but I have often changed furniture on other rifle's, as well as sight's, that I didn't like. This doesn't bother me. My rifle isn't plagued with quality issue's of the early one's, but I wanted to buy one in person to be safe, rather than ordering one. I have a set of 551 handguard's on arrival, as I like that style better, and will be going with the AURORA front/rear push pin's, front/rear dioptor sight's with Tritium, adding a MAGPUL UBR stock, and will upgrade to a steel rail atop the receiver. These rifle's have quite a bit of potential, but the most criticism seem's to be the issue of the lack of sight's, and grotesque furniture. Overall, it's a great rifle to customize for one's own liking, and I think SIG has done a great job. It's unfortunate that the early one's suffered as it appears to have scared the rifle's reputation a bit. But I'm confident that SIG has gotten these issue's corrected from newer threads on the subject with the later gun's. I'm definitely going to buy another, perhaps even a third. As far as what will be at SHOT this coming weekend, there are rumors; 1) Folding MAGPUL stock on selected SIG 556 rifle's, a folding stock adapter, a new MAGPUL stock that's adjustable in length, with an adjustable cheek riser, two aluminum railed handguard's for the SIG556, including one that's a free floater, and a US manufactured 550/551 style lower receiver that accept's the original SIG mag's, and has a replica SIG folding stock on it. Perhaps' these are just rumors, but we'll know very soon. I think this will be quite an interesting year, and I'm certainly looking forward to it myself. |
Let's be real honest... about 10,000 rifles back... SIG delivered a handful of rifles that had rail issues... and fixed everyone on their dime. But the internet commando's always dredge this up... as if they had first hand experience vs. regurgitation of what they "read" on the internet about it. Gotta love how these "experts" come out of the wood work on every SIG thread... with their expert knowledge on how the 556 doesn't take $100 rock and lock mags (like that is a bad thing!), and how the original was so super duper... yet only a handful were ever imported 19 years ago! In the mean time... 10,000 actual and very satisfied 556 owners rant on how great the current rifle is. As a matter of fact, when was the last time anyone heard an actual owner regret making this purchase... if ever? The only noise you ever hear on the SIG 556 is from internet commando's... regurgitating what some other internet commando posted... usually based on their vast first hand experience of finger fucking one at a gunshow...  You want an honest opinion of the SIG 556? Ask an owner... |
I sell the 556. I saw when the first models began arriving, and had visible issues. Not some friend-of-a-friend hearsay, but first-hand experience. Yes, it was fixed eventually. But it DID happen...and as far as getting them fixed, while I'm not doubting that SIG would, I also doubt that most early adopters sent their rifles in for repair. |
Thats funny, I sure don't see you over at SIG forum calling Dave Bane an "internet commando", since he mentioned the rail issues just a day or two ago.
You could ask Sig Sauers former Special Weapons Coordinator in charge of importation and sales for the 55X Series Rifle, who said "Now, once again I’m not here to trash Sig ... but the quality of the 556 is no where close to the 55X. The gun “is” rock solid and I do own one myself completely decked out with 551 parts, but it is no way in the same category of quality as the 551." You could also ask the guy that last week posted that the finish on his NEW 556 was flaking off the receiver after only 100 rounds of brass. |
Ask him what? If he regretted his purchase just because the ejected brass is hitting the receiver and marring the finish as it normally should? Or, even if the finish had a problem, and heaven forbid he has to send it to Sig, he would more than likely get his complete rifle refinished and returned to him in a few weeks. |
Ok, so what does that mean? Does the 55x have a 100k round life span whereas the 556 will self destruct after 5k rounds? I've owned and shot a lot of rifles, and while there are a couple of things I would like to have seen different on the 556, I must say it shoots and it shoots well. It is very tolerant of the different ammo I've put through it, It’s not magazine sensitive, there are a lot of stock options, it is as accurate as my Colt 6721 and 6920, the FCG doesn't fill up with crap after shooting, its easy to clean, the trigger is great and it is reasonably priced in my opinion. For Christ sake we’re talking about a gas piston rifle based on a proven design that costs just over a grand. While I have nothing against the 55x rifles, I am failing to see the mystique which surrounds them which seems to cause much of the 556 hatred. Could someone who has experience with BOTH rifles tell me what will the 55x rifles will do that the 556 wont do? Lay golden eggs? Yodel? What? Rather than jerking off over the 55x, whining about what the 556 should have been, could have been, or would have been, why not just discuss the 556 based on it’s own merits for what it is rather than what it is not? |
Let me get this straight... the coordinator of sales for imported SIG 55x rifles says the 55x is better than the 556? Well color me surprised!
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Several people actually prefer the two tone finish...like me. As stated earlier, now that your golden child IS available commercially (based on the 556, thank you)--just as many people complain about it costing over $4000.00. The sig is a great piston rifle, easily modded to customer's own tastes. And has sold enough to prove it. I personally like the buttstock--very comfy. OP: these are excellent rifles and more fun than my AUG clone. I highly recommend you get a variant that suits you (if indeed new ones are produced after SHOT). However, you will not go wrong with the current production. |
Because in comparison, the 556 is a disappointment. The sights on the original were outstanding: diopter-style with tritium inserts. The 556 didn't even have any damned sights. The original mags might cost more (primarily because of economies of scale I'd wager), but the capability to link them as well as count rounds made for a nice feature. The hinged triggerguard was a nice touch. And, very importantly, the furniture of the original 550/551 was much, much nicer. The 556's stock looks and handles like a cheap M4 clone that doesn't fit quite right. Some people like the front handguard, and say it dissipates heat better. Be that as it may, in my eyes it neither feels nor looks as good as the original. |
On the original series the trigger guard rotates 90 degrees to the left or right (operators choice) vs. the 556 trigger guard drop out hinge. As for the sights... the 556 now comes with the SIG 552 commando sights, and as for the stock, to most folks, LOP is more important than a folder... but after SHOT folks can have both. Oh yeah, the 556 factory mags snap together like the 55x mags. In the end, the whole comparison to the 55x series is losing steam, now that SIG has sold 10,000 556 rifles in it's first production year... a runaway success by any measure. |
SIG stopped importing 55x rifles in Dec of 2006. They do not compete.
LOL, ok, I see; the finish is supposed to chip off after 100 rounds. Gotcha. |
Nope.. its a characteristic of the entire SIG 55x series of rifles... that is all. Now run along and bash the 55x, FAL, H&K 9x, and others.. for the same characteristic... expert. 
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If the finish chips off ANY modern military rifle after 100 rounds than it has a poor finish, expert...
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Now your just plain trolling... I'm finished feeding you. |
LOL, yeah, thats about what I thought. Just wondering, do you have any proof that the 55x chips it's finish to the metal, other than your "expert" (since you like that word so much) opinion? Being so knowledgeable on 55x and all, you should have one laying around with the chipped finish you could take a picture of. Or maybe any picture, anywhere, of a 55x with the chipped finish? Or is that something you read on the internet and regurgitated >GASP< ? |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Sig 556 (Page 1 of 2)
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