Is the SIG556 the ultimate "AR"?

I like the sig too! But also can't afford it until I sell a couple other rifles. The sig 556 has a great feel to it. I haven't shot one but it sure looks like the next step in Ar evolution.

I like the idea of a gas piston. I have owned Aks and sks(s) and think its an efficient system.

I would like to see the price come down some too.
Frank L

There were a few recent threads that had complaints about disassembly. And I held one, and the weight and it was front heavy.

This is pretty surreal.

I just saw (in the last week) a thread titled "Is the SIG556 the ultimate "AK"?"


Wonder which one it's the ultimate version of?


(none)

Well, for starters, it's not an AR in the AR-15 sense. In all seriousness, you could reprase the question "Is the Sig 556 the ultimate AK" and be just as close.

I've looked at the Sig 556, I could get one if I wanted to, but while they seem nicely assembled I just don't think they offer enough to justify the price. I have three AR's and a Robinson M96; I look at the Sig and I see a rifle that in most ways is less innovative and to me elegant than the M96. My AR's shoot accurately and are reliable, so it's not like I have any AR problem to fix by going to a Sig.

I never thought the ultimate AK would be so much like an AR.

Well, with a gas system and bolt much like a highly-refined AK, and the control placement of an AR, you could say that it's the ultimate blend of both.

I handled one of the folders over the weekend and wan't very impressed with the mechanism. It felt cheap.

The bottom of the line SIG 556 is most interesting to me.

Is the SIG556 the ultimate "AR"?

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No.

Seriously. It's a decent rifle, but it's not significantly better or worse than other top-shelf rifles in its class (don't compare a Sig-556 to a bargain basement budget AR, compare it to a competently assembled AR using good parts that costs about the same). It also has very different balance/ergonomics, which you may or may not like (I don't, I found it to be noseheavy and bulky out of all proportion to its actual size and weight).

I wanted to like it, and failed. But that doesn't mean its a bad rifle.

Mike

after LMT and Bushmaster have their piston uppers out for a while, I wonder what people will think of the Sig556.

Especially LMT with the MRP piston upper.

I like the 556 very much, more then I wanted since I really wanted a PE90/550 for the U.S. market.

That being said I agree with Coronach. It is not significantly better then any other rifle in it's price range. This does not make it a bad gun, hell its a damn good gun but if you are simply in the market for a very high quality rifle of this type but don't care about the linage or name plate do yourself a favor and look at all the options.

My personal take is a decent higher end AR is probably a better serious social rifle as parts and accessories are more available.

Chris....the SIG guy.

I for one would much rather have the 552 compared to the 556 which is some sort of bastard child.

Personally, I'm waiting for the FN SCAR.

One more thing, it is, as described, nose heavy but that nose heavy nature makes for VERY fast follow-up shots back on target. So this is an example of something that is both a pro and a con.

Chris

I have always thought of the MGI Hydra as the ultimate AR15. The 556 might very well be the ultimate AK however.

I like the Sig 556, but I don't see it being the ultimate expression of the 5.56mm assault rifle or anything. I like the trigger on it, but it is kind of chunky and heavy feeling for a 5.56mm 16" barrel carbine (not just ARs -- at also feels heavier handling than, say, a Galil SAR or a 5.56 AK).

I'm enthusiastic about all these cool new rifles we have. But really, the .223 bores me. How about we make a new EBR that fires something fun.....like 7.62x54r/.308? As much as I want to like the AR, when I shoot my M4 I just don't get same kind of smile when I fire my Saiga-12, Garand, or any other heavy hitter.

There were a few recent threads that had complaints about disassembly. And I held one, and the weight and it was front heavy.

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Disassembly of the 556 is ridiculously easy. I've sold quite a few of the rifles in large part by showing how easily and quickly they can be field-stripped, and how simple the design really is.

Seriously. It's a decent rifle, but it's not significantly better or worse than other top-shelf rifles in its class (don't compare a Sig-556 to a bargain basement budget AR, compare it to a competently assembled AR using good parts that costs about the same). It also has very different balance/ergonomics, which you may or may not like (I don't, I found it to be noseheavy and bulky out of all proportion to its actual size and weight).

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And let's be blunt here: anyone who buys a 556 is going to need to replace a decent number of parts to turn it into a respectable rifle. Not necessarily any different than some AR-15s, but still there just the same. The balance issues can and have been addressed, but it ultimately comes down to preference. I strongly believe that SIG could double their rifle sales if they made the 551 handguards standard, included decent iron sights, and standardized the CTR stock on all models.

That being said I agree with Coronach. It is not significantly better then any other rifle in it's price range. This does not make it a bad gun, hell its a damn good gun but if you are simply in the market for a very high quality rifle of this type but don't care about the linage or name plate do yourself a favor and look at all the options.

My personal take is a decent higher end AR is probably a better serious social rifle as parts and accessories are more available.

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In my mind, it's a question of whether you want an AR or not, assuming you're looking for a piston system. There are more than enough good piston ARs on the market at comparable price points and quality, so the question becomes whether you like and prefer the AR format, or want something different.

No. The stock sucks, the handguards are so-so, the iron sights are lousy, and the trigger sucks. At least, that's my impression from handling one. Haven't shot it, so take it for what it's worth.

I was seriously thinking of buying a SIG556 since I like SIG products but now am thinking about the Barrett REC7. I don't really like the look of the barrel on the SIG ... it looks a little "thin". The REC7 looks like it has a heavier barrel. The gas piston mechanism is cool but then again my mini-14 has that!

Never shot one but from handling them I can say they seem pretty nice. Biggest complaint would be that it seems a bit heavy especially in the front.

The Sig 556 is a Rorschach test if I have ever seen one. My response is "none of the above."

It looks entirely FN to me, like an evolved FAL, which would mean it looks like an evolved FNC Indeed, I have always thought it was an evolved FNC.

Ash

It just occured to me that I own two of the guns most maligned on the internet. A .40 caliber Glock and an AR-15. I'm totally happy with both of them. I think I'll pass on the Sig but as a reward to myself I may buy a decent AK later in the year.

I don't really like the look of the barrel on the SIG ... it looks a little "thin".

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It's a lighter profile than many AR barrels, but it seems to hold up fine under rapid fire.