A question for Sig 556 owners......

Status
Not open for further replies.
Zaydok Allen

Zaydok Allen

Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2011
Messages
13,274
So I'll be picking up a Sig 556 and I've noticed that on well used 556's the ejection port looks all scratched and chipped up where the spent casings hit the reciever.

Is this a problem for anyone? Is this a "Stick a piece of electrical tape in that spot and you'll be fine." scenario? Other options? I don't want the finish chipping off of an expensive gun like the 556. Any input?
 
"well used".....says it all...if the rest of it looks well used, having a pristine ejection port would look strange. So far on mine I haven't had that issue, though I have had the usual brass marks, no chipping or paint damage.
 
Don't worry about it and use your rifle the way it was meant to be used.

I have a 550 and 551 (the real Swiss made rifles, not the cheap American knock-offs ;)) and I don't worry about it, because if I did, I'd be afraid to ever use my rifles.
 
The 556 ejects cases quite powerfully and yes, they usually whack the receiver just behind and down a bit from the eject port.
Electrical tape, velcro, these have been solutions used by some.
Others let the area obtain a wear pattern and view it as a sign their rifle is a tool and not a safe queen. You choose your own poison there. ;)
 
I bought an early one and it came from the factory with substantial wear behind the ejection port. It also had to go back to the factory for warranty work.
 
Yep, mine also beats the heck out that part of the reciever. Also generally puts a big dent in the brass. Some people stick some loop-side velcro tape there to soften the blow.
 
Well that sounds like a simple fix. I'll find some velcro tape. Thanks fellas.
 
The Sig 556 is much closer to the operating mechanism of the Kalashnikov rifles than the AR. There is almost nothing in common between the Sig 556 and your average DI AR.
 
You can use the search function here and follow about 6 months of posts relating to two Sig Rifles I have owned.
The first Sig Swat Patrol was assembled incorrectly, the barrel to reciever fit was wrong and the rifle would not zero. After multiple attempts to get the issue fixed I was offered a 556R.
The 556R had teething pains from the begining. First Sig said no Russian steel ammo, then no Russian Magazines. The reciever would shave alluminum everytime a Russian Magazine was inserted.
The Q/C on both of these rifles was so poor that not only did the barrel to reciever fit get by them, both of my Sig Rifles shed machine screws everytime I took them to the range. Now you shouldn't need a toolbox and a tube of red locktite to zero.
All in all they did not perform and I would not trust them as a self defence gun.
 
My only experience is with the one that my Fiancee's brother is holding on to for a friend. This guy bought a standard 556 with the folding collapsible stock for $800. Both the buttstock hinge and the front handguards were broken and would cost $150 to replace.

He did fire it but being the numbskull he is had no clue about the gas system. He operated his rifle like it was a straight pull not realizing that the gas system was turned off. I don't know how well it actually works when the gas system is turned on since I wasn't there shooting but I can assure you that whatever abuse it was subjected to that broke the buttstock and handguards, a Mil Spec AR15 or AK with a military folding stock would have just tanked through it.
The 556R had teething pains from the begining. First Sig said no Russian steel ammo, then no Russian Magazines. The reciever would shave alluminum everytime a Russian Magazine was inserted.
Click to expand...

No steel stuff is just a deal breaker. Most people who shoot AKs use steel magazines or magazines with steel locking lugs loaded with steel ammo. Plastic mags like Tapco are decent but not as strong as combloc magazines.
 
I really wanted to like my 556 classic but just couldn't.

1) it was front heavy
2) despite being heavy it had a harder recoil pulse than any of my ARs or 5.56 AKs. Issue was a mis-drilled gas regulator, which I see was actually more common than I orginally thought. Basically the "adverse" port was drilled in the "normal" position, which I guess is better than being drilled on the wrong freakin' side like some were. Even worse, Sig didn't have replacement regulators and they are almost impossible to get. Sig's solution? open up the "adverse" port to spec meaning now both ports are the same size; not solving the excessive recoil OR extra wear on the lower. I see were newer Sigs still have the same size ports for both settings.
3) controls are all wrong, they are out of reach unless you move your strong hand. Sig could have done better there with a longer saftey lever and redesign mag release (just because you use AR mags doesn't mean you have to use a AR mag release button).
4) furniture was just too cheap - the adjustable folder was a neat concept but was just just too cheaply made. Same with the loose handguards.

Now I will say the gun loved heavy bullets, was very accurate with 75gr TAP. It did well with steel case ammo and 5.56 62gr surplus. Hated brass 55gr stuff though (same as my AK actually). It was reliable. The trigger was good.
 
Well nuts. Thanks guys for pointing out these issues. There is not one single 223 semi auto rifle that is any good at all for me it seems.

I do NOT like any of the AR15 rifle series. Although most agree it is a good rifle, I cannot abide. So I have to rule this one out.

The Kalashnikov rifles are no good, to hear the AR guys talk, and magazines are maybe a bit too specialized for my taste. Same for the Mini 14, to hear people speak of it it will not be able to hit the broad side of the barn, magazines are expensive. So I have to rule these out.

The SIG 556 is a roach, so I have to rule this one out as well.

The comments on the SIG are strange to me, I have shot two of them and engaged their owners in conversation, and the one at least had quite a few rounds through it, and worked great. The owners of both said the rifles were nothing special but did everything they were asked to do without any drama.

Maybe the SCAR... maybe that one will be ok. Too bad it is so expensive.

Sigh.
 
FIVETWOSEVEN said:
He did fire it but being the numbskull he is had no clue about the gas system. He operated his rifle like it was a straight pull not realizing that the gas system was turned off. I don't know how well it actually works when the gas system is turned on since I wasn't there shooting but I can assure you that whatever abuse it was subjected to that broke the buttstock and handguards, a Mil Spec AR15 or AK with a military folding stock would have just tanked through it.
Click to expand...


The Sig 556 & 556R do NOT have a gas system that "turns off." The switch on front of the piston tube only regulates the amount of gas it accepts. Normally the switch should be straight up<>down -- that is, vertical. When the gun gets dirty and the function suffers, then you click it over to use the larger hole until you can clean the gun.
If the rifle HAD to be cycled manually then there is something wrong with the gas system ... or possibly that end plug/switch has been installed upside down.
 
It was turned upside down. I consider that being turned off.

The Kalashnikov rifles are no good, to hear the AR guys talk,
Click to expand...

I ignore them. The magazine prices are the only real downside. The AK is an excellent platform.
 
I've had no issues with my 556. I am proud of the finish wear on the receiver as that's evidence that I actually use the thing. It performs as intended and, as a product-improved Kalashnikov, is my "end of the world" rifle.

I like its "nose-heavy" feel as mine has less muzzle flip than my ARs. My large hands have no problem manipulating controls. I like the two-stage trigger. Magazines interchange. Anything that works in my ARs (Brownell's aluminum, MagPul plastic) works in the 556. My SIG mags work in the ARs.

I've had no issues using Hornady Steel Match 55-grain cartridges, M-193s from Lake City or any of my handloads.

It does pitch spent cases forward and to the right, so collecting brass can be a chore but that's a minor complaint.

I think cleaning is easier than an AR as I only use grease at the bolt lug, with a smear on the receiver rails -- much less lube than what I use on my AR BCAs. Gas system components are larger and of more simple design than a Stoner, making it easier to get at the grunge.

The 556 meets my needs and I think it is a good value.
 
I think i saw a video on youtube from sturmgewehr where he had absolutely ridiculous ejection and feed issues with one of those things
 
FIVETWOSEVEN said:
It was turned upside down. I consider that being turned off.
Click to expand...

Well, that will certainly turn off the gas system but it isn't something that normally ought to be done with the 556.
Is there a reason it was set in that position?
 
I haven't had any issues with my Saiga conversion. Here's the real problem... (looks both ways, then continues in a whisper) The real issue is that the AR guys just can't stand how much fun we have with our primitive, cheap, throwaway communist rifles. :evil:
 
Well, that will certainly turn off the gas system but it isn't something that normally ought to be done with the 556.
Is there a reason it was set in that position?
Click to expand...

Couldn't tell you. I can only imagine that the owner learned to field strip it and put the gas key in upside down or the original owner did it for laughs before selling it to the gunshop used. That's all I got.

I think i saw a video on youtube from sturmgewehr where he had absolutely ridiculous ejection and feed issues with one of those things
Click to expand...

That was with a 556R, first generation I imagine. It didn't like the AK's favorite meal, steel cased ammo.
 
I have a Sig 556.and have zero problems with it.It is accurate and boringly reliable.A little muzzle heavy,stays on target during rapid fire quite well.Easy to clean,and needs it darn seldom.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

nwilliams
  • Locked
What's with the Sig 556 price drop?
Replies
23
Views
4K
gallbrick
G
B
  • Locked
PROBLEM w/ SIG 556 Classic Stock
Replies
11
Views
4K
AcceptableUserName
A
H
  • Locked
Question concerning zeroing a Sig 556
Replies
12
Views
2K
happygeek
H
O
  • Locked
Review: Sig Sauer 556 Classic SWAT w/ AAC M4-1000
Replies
7
Views
3K
gvnwst
G
Detritus
  • Locked
Good day, "Aw HECK!!" day...
Replies
3
Views
524
Detritus
Detritus
Back
Top