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Posted: 5/12/2008 7:50:06 AM EDT
| Any word on if sig is going to release a 550 or a 551 style butstock for the 556 series? I was told by an email from sig that they are releasing a new drum diopter sight this summer. |
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An instructor at the SIG Sauer Academy stated that SIG is working on the lower receiver changes to allow for a 550/551 folder. That was 3 weeks ago. No timeframe for this change was stated, just that SIG engineering is working on it. The instructor said the same thing about a rear diopter sight. It's coming. |
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OK. So after a couple of years, three or four different variants, a few furniture changes, and we almost have................................................ the original SIG551?!?!?!?  At least they are finally realizing the mistakes that they have made. Maybe the customers will finally get what they want from the factory, instead of spending $$$$ to make it look like a 551. |
Yeah, Lorcins sell like hotcakes too. |
I imagine in some locations they do, just not around here....... |
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Not here. From the Saturday Night Special ban craze ... SECTION 23-31-180. Certain pistols declared to be contraband; forfeiture, seizure, and destruction; disposal restrictions; use for display. [SC ST SEC 23-31-180] No licensed retail dealer may hold, store, handle, sell, offer for sale, or otherwise possess in his place of business a pistol or other handgun which has a die-cast, metal alloy frame or receiver which melts at a temperature of less than eight hundred degrees Fahrenheit. . . . SC's economically disadvantaged are to be kept on their knees. |
It's MFI. Check out this tread: MFI fixes for the Sig 556 |
If they get the lower with folder and the diopter sights in production, I might have togo to the local gunstore and get the 556 that has been there for awhile and do the mods to it.......
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the lower of the 556 has been re-designed to accept AR15 mags, and has had the [necessary] AR15 mag catch added. i was under the impression that there would be no side-folder for the 556 because there is no side on the 556 that the stock can be folded to without interfering with some controls... on the left side the safety/selector would be blocked, and on the right side the mag catch would be blocked. on the originals the AK-type mag catch doesn't care where the stock is. |
Bingo. They didn't make the 556 for people that want a 551. They made it to compete with all the AR's out there. For everyone that wants a 551, chill out, save your pennies for a real one, or move to canada. I'm serious. The 556 is a rifle that was brought to market with the features of the rifles it was competing directly against. You can make your 556 as much AR or as much 551 as you want without actually buying either an AR or a 551. |
+1 I understand the desire for a more original product, but a stock that folds AND adjusts in length is a superior design if one evaluates the subject objectively. |
Appears to be plenty of room to operate the mag release, selector and charging handle. 
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I'd love that as well. but I think we've got a long wait! Doing a 550 type setup would require a different length barrel being produced, as well as adding a longer gas system to the mix. They won't retool another lower for the 55X buttstock, I seriously doubt they'll come up with an completely different barrel/gas assembly. I think more folks (like myself) prefer the 551 over 550, these days.... BUT.... I think I'll try to find a 550 kit and build one for myself, though! THIS ONE needs a big brother! (klik 4 BIG] 
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I love the 556, but Sig has missed the boat here and there. The newer models keep getting better and better, with the exception of the DMR. What a disaster. The original 556 prototypes all used 550 length gas systems and had both 16 and 20 inch barrels. The "Commando" was to have the full length gas system with a 16 inch barrel and would look very similar to a Bushmaster Dissipator or a non-LB 551. Everyone is doing gas piston carbines, but nobody is doing rifles. Admitedly, the need is less pronounced but the benefits are the same, reguardless of barrel length. A Sig 556 with a 16 inch barrel and 550 gas system/handguards would be extremely cool. A 20 inch version would be an excellent DMR platform. Sadly, it doesn't look like this will happen... The current 556 DMR is an abonination. They kept practically nothing of the original 551 on the 556, yet decided to keep the 550 Sniper's ungainly barrel length? A "military type" 5.56 rifle has no business having a barrel longer than 20 inches and for a DMR, 18 is arguably better. The standard SWAT and ER models don't need a 1x7 barrel nearly as much as the DMR variant. A 5.56 DMR should be able to engage targets effectively at 400+ yards and you need 70+ grn bullets to do that...which aren't compatible with 1x9 barrels. Did I mention that a 24 inch barrel with a carbine length handguards/gas system is butt ugly? |
+1 And it seems like the more I procrastinate with this purchase the closer they get. 
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| FWIW, I just spoke to SIG today and the rep stated that there are "rumors" of a Swiss-styled 556 coming out some time late this year. Just my own speculation, but knowing how deadlines tend to go I'd suspect it might be longer than that before it comes out..but who knows. |
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