Sig 556r anybody?

Ive got one, I've only shot a few hundred rounds through it ... It's been flawless, nice trigger compared to battle rifle triggers. Accuracy with wolf, Tula was around 2-3 moa some brass cased Yugo shot 1-2 moa.

I've heard that it wasn't that good and that the design had a few problems originally. I'm not sure if they fixed it or not, but it would definitely be worth checking into before picking one up.

Mine functions fine, but has had some fail to fire issues with some brands of ammo.

Overall I'd say for 7.62x39 if reliability is paramount just get an AK, if accuracy is most important get an AR-15 in 7.62x39. In between the 556R is a nice compromise -- more accurate than AKs, with much better feed reliability than 7.62x39 AR mags simply because it uses "real" AK mags.

For serious usage, a failure to fire is much easier to deal with than a feed jam.

The initial batches had issues but they should have been resolved by now

Telekinesis said:

I've heard that it wasn't that good and that the design had a few problems originally. I'm not sure if they fixed it or not, but it would definitely be worth checking into before picking one up.

Click to expand...

The original problems were mainly QC issues that have since been resolved.

In between the 556R is a nice compromise -- more accurate than AKs, with much better feed reliability than 7.62x39 AR mags simply because it uses "real" AK mags.

Click to expand...

If the report above of it being a 3 MOA gun is representative that is accuracy on par with the Russian AKs (saigas and Veprs) I've seen.

The original problems were mainly QC issues that have since been resolved.

Click to expand...

No. The original problems were primarily design problems that ran across all the rifles, not quality control issues. The most notable design flaws have been fixed but the 556R is still a gun that has cut many corners compared to the Swiss Sig 5xx guns.

Honestly the advent of the 300 BLK takes away a lot of wind out of the 556R's sails IMHO. Ammo cost (if things normalize) will be cheaper for plinking ammo for the 556R but aside from that it has no real advantages over a quality 300 BLK. The inverse, however is not true.

When the 556R was first shown I was giddy for what I had hoped would be the "ultimate" AK. Its been disappointing though. For a serious use gun I think either a quality AK or 300 BLK AR makes more sense to be honest. But that's just me.

The 556r is a favorite over at Warrior Talk forums, where there is a great deal of balanced information which might assist you in your choice.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I had a pressing need for one or a use for one. I have one of the 5.56x45 chambered rifles and it has been boringly flawless for me. I have an acquaintance with the 7.62x39 who put rails on the for end and it has shot without hiccup at least 3k rounds through it.

Good luck.

I've shot a Sig 556R and bought a 556 based on how good the 556R was.

I agree that the Sig USA rifles don't hold a candle to the Swiss ones, but they don't cost $4k+ either.

My 556 only had one minor QC problem, the gas regulator wasn't drilled right. Sig USA fixed it w/o costing me a cent. I only sold the rifle when I bought a FN SCAR, which filled the same role for me and doesn't cut any corners. They do cost more, though.

My reviews:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=668548

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=647001&highlight=556r

BSW

Unless that 300 blk is 4.99 a box for 20. I won't consider the cartridge.

Click to expand...

As a more financially restricted shooter, I can echo that sentiment.

Warrior Talk and balanced information, that is not something you hear put together very often at all. Warrior Talk is a joke, run by a convicted fraud, who uses his forum as one more advertising venue to hock his wares. You aren't going to hear much,if anything on that forum that is contrary to the owner's agenda.

I'm looking for a coyote gun.

Click to expand...

IMHO a Sig 556R is not a real good choice for that activity. Perhaps a better way to put it is there are much much better choices. Both in terms of the gun and the cartridge.

Unless that 300 blk is 4.99 a box for 20. (sic) I won't consider the cartridge.

Click to expand...

I saw brass cased 300 blk for about $12/20. Two points. I doubt you are finding any 7.62x39 of any type for 4.99 a box right now. At least not in any kind of significant quantity. Even my most go to vendors are out of all things 7.62x39 and 5.56. Second, if it is just intended to be plinking/ short range training ammo I guess it is fine to compare brass cased 300 Blk (or whatever) to wolf etc. For hunting, or things that require accuracy etc, there is no real comparing them. The price, pre panic at least, was not the same but neither was performance. There was a rumor that wolf was going to produce 300 BLK. Of course there was a rumor they were going to produce 6.5 grendal (not the match but just regular cheap stuff) and it hasn't happened. I would love it if they did offer 300 BLK though.

Additionally 300 BLK offers some significant, at least to some users, capabilities over 7.62x39.

I agree that the Sig USA rifles don't hold a candle to the Swiss ones, but they don't cost $4k+ either.

Click to expand...

One would think they could build them much better without hitting $4K. I have a number of FN guns that are very well built and far shy of 4K. Same with a number of AR designs. Even a LaRue OBR which is a very well made gun with legitimate bolt gunesque accuracy doesn't run $4k. In, short I do expect more for the price it commands.

After alot of thought and reading i decided to spend 1/5 the money and got a Saiga 7.72x39 and couldn't be happier.

That said, I'd still do a 556 in 556 NATO. It's a much flatter shooting cartridge than 7.62x39 and it's trivial to shoot out to 220 yards w/o worrying about hold over and or under, unlike 7.62x39 with its rainbow trajectory.

BSW

After alot of thought and reading i decided to spend 1/5 the money and got a Saiga 7.72x39 and couldn't be happier.

Click to expand...

Personally, I think you made the decision. IMO, about the only thing a properly-converted Saiga gives up the the SIG 556R is ergonomics and flexibility of mounting optics. A Saiga is cheaper, just as accurate, and historically more reliable (though I understand newer 556Rs are better than earlier ones).

I want the 556r for 2 reasons. I want to add nightvision. Can't do that with the ak47.

Click to expand...

Why not? All you have to do is mount a picatinny-style scope mount (such a KV-04s).

And the round

Click to expand...

I must have missed something. 7.62x39mm is available in both AK-pattern and SIG 556r rifles.

FYI - I'm not knocking the SIG - if it's what you want, by all means get it! There just seems to be some confusion here.

Fishbed, I was referring to the guy recommending 300 black out. I was told it was hard to mount a "normal" scope on a ak47. I have one on mine. But it's the Russian style that mounts on the side. Sorry if I confused you man.

Click to expand...

Gotcha.

As I mentioned, though, a picatinny mount like the KV-04S allows mounting of pretty much any optic to the AK platform.

Girodin said:

No. The original problems were primarily design problems that ran across all the rifles, not quality control issues. The most notable design flaws have been fixed but the 556R is still a gun that has cut many corners compared to the Swiss Sig 5xx guns.

Click to expand...

Care to elaborate?

I agree that the Sig 556 guns have cut corners compared to the Swiss rifles (of which I have 2), but the U.S. made sigs are still decent rifles.

You know you can buy a railed dust cover for your AK.

Care to elaborate?

Click to expand...

They were in fact design issues. That is why Sig changed the design.

Just off the top of my head they changed:

The magwell, they changed the mag shelf from aluminium that was getting destroyed by the use of steel mags (sig shipped and designed the rifle to work with plastic mags, who designs a gun to take AK mags and doesn't build it to work with the most common and most proven mags around?), to steel.

The chamber dimensions along with extractor, ejector, bolt face, firing pin, and hammer spring. The Sig 556r couldn't reliably run steel cased 7.62x39. Again I'm not sure what kind of genius builds a gun designed to shoot that cartridge and makes it so it will not run with the most common ammo available. These changes were supposed to remedy that issue.

Google should find you the complete list of changes. The point is it was not a QC issue, i.e. it wasn't poorly made, fitted, or assembled parts, etc. Rather, there were flaws in the basic design and the design its self was changed.


Now whether they are now making a good rifle is, in my mind, still an open question. The only person really pushing this rifle is convicted fraud and all round shyster Gabe Suarez. If anything that actually probably hurts the rifles reputation. I'd take anything coming from him, his forum, or his sheeple followers with more salt than is found in the dead sea.

Here is a new one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8txwWja1EbU

I've also read a number of places that the new 556R guns unlike some of the other sigs are bare steel barrels and not in fact nitraded as some say. Its something I've not researched a ton, but would definitely be looking into before I bought.