Brand New issc MK 22 or Sig 522?

[Cougarex7]

Alright, Im new to this forum, so bear with me...
I havent been able to find any forum threads relating to this topic yet, so i figured id just start one...
Looking to get a plinker 22 rifle....i know theres been plenty of m&p 15 22 vs sig 522 threads....and etc.
But basically after all my research, i have boiled it down to the sig 522...(im a sig guy...what can i say)...
Im not even sure why im even debating this being, the issc mk22 hasn't really been around long enough for an honest comparison, but id like to get your all's thoughts...

I was just about to finalize my order for a sig 522 when i came across this new scar look alike .22
There arent many reviews on it yet, a couple youtube vids that show its pretty much a solid gun, but no one is giving its reliability, accuracy rating, or internal specs! Some reviews on budsgunshop.com
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/62188
a couple reveiws on J&G
http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/products_id/5589
But thats about it...
I know the Sig 522 has an awesome track record already...
But if this issc mk22 is just as reliable (well being its not a sig...ill give it some lee-way)...i just like the looks and feel of the FN SCAR...always have...
so this is my dilemma...
Go for the "cool" factor of having a fun/cheep to shoot SCAR look alike without the price...and with the little track record
Or go with something i KNOW will be fun to shoot in the 522 with the proven track record?
Im working on a budget too...(the reason im going with the 22lr in the first place)
I love to go shooting, and i have a friend whos got a Stag - Arms rifle in i want to say 556...and hes only shot the thing twice! Says the ammo is too expensive! I dont want to own a Tactical Rifle and never get to shoot it...so im going with the bigger bang for my buck theory...this is going to be a "just for fun" gun...

i wish nutnfancy would release a table top review on this stinkin issc mk22 already =P i respect that guys opinion...he talks a lot but he knows his stuff and gives some good reviews...

but till then...

any thoughts?

 

[Dutchdiamondback]

Several thoughts. And I'm going to throw in some pictures.

Comparing a Sig against the ISSC is - to put it a bit bluntly - cruel.

You know it's trackrecord. It is viewed by many as maybe the best .22 Tactical plinker around. Comes with a hefty pricetag compared to the ISSC, but if your POU is more then just plinking - then there's your value for money.

As for the ISSC. I have one.



It has a sleeved barrel. Which won't be every ones cup of tea.



It has got lots of railspace to put any kind of tool on it. And you are going to need it because the factory flip ups, stink - period. When folded down, the rifle sights turn into pistol sights. It's POU is a complete mistery to me.



The biggest selling point on this gun: ambidextrous. All controls can be operated by both left and righthandedshooters. The cockinglever can be placed on the left and right hand-side of the gun in 6 positions in seconds.



I only got to shoot it ones. It functions on HV (CCI Minimag, American Eagle HV) but I also tried CCI Blazer and Standard. It had some malfunctions, some were ammo related, but some were FTE and FTFeeds.. Accuracy is not to bad, I had an El Cheapo scope mounted but got nice groups at 25 meters. Certainly not match, but I don't expect it to be. When I was just about to rep things up at the range, disaster struck:



The first series had a hard polymer stock that could not handle a small drop of something like 6" on the shootingtable resulting in a broken stock ( the folding mechanism broke off). I got mine fixed by my gunsmith and the replacement stock is on it's way. Big advantage of this fix: the stock had some play, the gunsmith grabbed the opportunity to eliminate that.

As for maintenance - the manual tries to give me what I call the It's-amazing-Jim-Experience. Only wipe it out and just clean the first few centimeters of the chamber. What were they thinking!?!?!?!?!? So taking it apart can be challenging. But for those of you who like to discover how the technique of this gun works, it could be more then fun. The mechanism in total is complex, but it is not like they threw something in a upper. Complex, chalengging, maybe even fun.



I will have next Friday for a second run at the range and will report back.

 

[CraigC]

Based on reputation and the above post alone, I'd say SIG 522 hands down. Been wanting to get one myself. It's the best of the breed.

 

[hoofchaz]

My stock broke the same way, I fixed mine, and have the new replacement they sent me in reserve for when it breaks again (twice already). It is a plinker, if you are looking for more than that you may be dissapointed. Mine starts to FTF when it is dirty. Spray alittle cleaner in the action and let it drain out and it is ready to go again. It takes maybe 200 rounds.
CHAZ

 

[St.Zu]

I own a Sig522. Magazines are cheaper, more plentiful, and the gun can be found for cheaper than the MK.
Mine is great ant the internals are a cross between an ak and a ar.

 

[Dutchdiamondback]

The Sig 522 cheaper then the ISSC Mk 22?



In my neck of the woods the ISSC retails around 650 Euro's. The Sig is a whoppin' 890 Euros.

 

[kimberkid]

Here in the states both run about $450 but I've seen the 522 under $400

I've got both:

The 522 ... Very accurate and easy to shoot, good trigger but not as good as a 556 ... I've got 4 556's in different configs so be aware I may be bias. I don't care for the stock but it is functional in that its adjustable and it will fit both my 10 year old daughter as well as myself, so eh ... if it really bothered me I'd spend the money for an adapter and use an AR stock. 10, 15 & 27 round Mags are readily available through Black Dog Machine for $20 when they are "on sale" which seems to be most of the time ... there is also a 50 round drum for $80

IMHO, the MKII is the higher on cool factor ... its also accurate and a decent trigger ... the fact that it comes with irons is also another plus ... like other rifles with railed forends, it feels a bit bulky but the tactical crowd seems to like that and being plastic they aren't so sharp that you need covers to handle it like the AR-57 ... at the next gun show I'll pick up a bi-pod adapter and it really won't matter. I wish the cheek riser made a smoother transition into the stock like their pictures and the real SCAR; that hump takes some getting used to, lastly the mags are only available in 10 and 22 rounds; they are proprietary and about $30 each when you can find them ... I've been looking since I got the gun over a month ago. I contacted ISSC and Chris said they had some but I haven't heard back yet if I can call them with my CC number or how I can pay for them, but its only been a couple days, then the weekend.

​

 

[St.Zu]

The Sig 522 cheaper then the ISSC Mk 22?



In my neck of the woods the ISSC retails around 650 Euro's. The Sig is a whoppin' 890 Euros.


I got my sig522 NIB @ a gun show for 400.00 + an extra magazine out the door.
They wanted 600.00 for the MKII.

 

[Canon4487]

Love my 522, picked it up for $375. Put a Simmons 3x-9x .22 Magnum scope and swap back and forth with a cheap Centerpoint red/green-dot. Even came with the extra rails for free. I also like the BDM magizines it uses. But yea it doesn't come with any sights which shouldn't turn ya away from it.

[/IMG]

 

[Dutchdiamondback]

By the way...

This popped up at the Internationale Waffen Ausstellung last month. Sportsrifle manufacturer Anschütz is also taking a plunge into the .22 tactical pond. Special match-stock and a full barrel on a ISSC Mk22-action.

 

[St.Zu]

That looks expensive!

 

[Dutchdiamondback]

Launched another 300 rounds downrange today.

2 failures to fire (which went bang the second time around). Functionality is getting better.

As for accuracy - no justifiable judgement to make. Waiting to get a good source for risers/mounts and optics-options. Having trouble with ITAR-regulation, and no way I'm going to get it from traders here. Besides from not being rich I ain't stupid either. So if Uncle Sam doesn't permit the goodies to come to my Terroristcave here in the Netherlands, I'll be forced to go shoppin in Asia.

 

[Cougarex7]

Awesome, thanks for all your impute guys! I had been tossing it around the past couple weeks, and i decided the mk22 was just not for me, i picked up the sig 522 like i had originally planned...hate that it didnt come with any sights...but my friend had some extra sights im borrowing till i can get some cool optics....but yeah, LOVE IT! Even got my wife out shooting with me =P She had fun, but still roles her eyes at it ;p shes not a big gun girl what can i say...that friend of mine with the 5.56 is gonna pick up that mk22 tho, so its win win! Ill get to "play" with them both =P I have run a little over 400 rounds through that sig already (cci mini mag and winchester bulk), and they all ran flawlessly (gotta love sig's)...ill post some pics when i get that rail mounting kit in and add some tacticool stuff to it...

Thanks again guys, and keep those barrels down range!

 

[mudduck]

I have a Mk-22 and the weapon started to have problems firing. It would not fire at least 1 round out of every magazine I would fire. I could see where the firing pin hit the round, so I just dissmissed it as using bulk ammo. I bought some match grade ammo an went to the range, this time I found that the weapon only would fire about 10 rounds out of a 22 round clip. I took the weapon apart and found that there is an alan bolt in the rear of the weapon that keeps the reciever in place. this bolt loosened up just slightly and would cause a FTF if the reviever moved slightly forward. I found as you shoot this the bolt will loosen, and the looser it gets the more failures you will have. I added locktite tightend the bolt. i have since put over 1000 rounds through it with out 1 FTF or cycling problem usuing match grade ammo. I was very frusterated with the gun at first, and now I would be hard pressed to get rid of it, it is a joy to shoot.

 

[acgeorge]

The bolt and carrier looks alot like the GSG-5. If it only used standard CMMG or Blackdog mags, I would be in for one. As it stands, I will pass. I love my SIG!!! My GSG-5, well, it looks cool, functions well, but is a mechanical nightmare.

Too bad ISSC didnt take a few pointers from SIG.

 

[Dutchdiamondback]

Mudduck a.o.:

I have returned mine to the gunstore and it's not coming back.

The holes at the mentioned location have turned oval and the threading has been damaged.

Metal is of very poor quality.

 

[Inebriated]

A buddy of mine has the 522. Best tactical .22 I've seen. Lightweight, folding stock locks up solid, and it's a very comfortable gun to hold.

 

[docnyt]

I think the OP already answered his question.