Opinions sought on SIG 556 patrol rifle

[CarbineKid]

I made an impulse buy yesterday and ordered a Sig 556 patrol rifle. Since i ordered it I have been reading nothing but horror stories about Sig, and the 556. So now I'm wondering if I should try to cancel the order, or if these guns are GTG. I value any opinions sought on the Sig 556
Thank You

 

[Averageman]

Run, do not walk and cancel that order immeadiatly.
I have owned both the 556 and the 556R and they are very low quality firearms with bad Q/C and even worse Customer Service.
When I get a .556 rifle that doesn't have the barrel properly installed in the reciever, I have a problem. When I have a 7.62X39 rifle that doesn't like steel mags or steel cased ammo, I have a problem.
There is a 50% chance you will send this rifle back like I had to. I waited 6 mos for a replacement.
I sent the first one back and sold the second for a 50% loss.
The Sig 556 line is junk.

 

[*NOVA*]

Plenty of other options out there for hundreds of dollars less. Cancel the order and keep looking

 

[happygeek]

I must be lucky, the Sig 556 I got has been fine, so was the AK74 I got from Century. The AK had a slightly canted front sight post, but not so bad that it couldn't be zeroed. Other than that, my only complaint was that I bought a 556 back when they were going for $1,500; last I checked they were going for under a grand.

Accuracy wise the best I've gotten so far was right about 2 inches at 100 yards with Wolf, but I just recently got my first scope and have only shot the Sig 2 or 3 times with it. It cycles Wolf just fine.

The Sig does prefer P-Mags, it had some issues feeding from the old aluminum M16 mags I had laying around when I first got it but as soon as I got a couple P-Mags it was flawless.

It does have a tendency to ding up the brass shell casings a bit, something to do with the way it ejects. It also flings them a good 10 to 15 yards away in a kinda random fan shape pattern. I've been mostly shooting Wolf steel case so this isn't an issue for me, but if you reload 5.56 it might be an issue for you.

The Sig 556 SWAT Patrol model I got weighs in at 7.5 pounds, the SWAT model with the longer handguards weighs in at 8.3 lbs. This isn't an issue for me since I use my CMMG 22LR AR for the fun tactical shooting stuff when I get a chance to do so. I've really only used the Sig for slow aimed fire at 150 and 200 yard targets. The weight up front with its piston is actually a bonus for that since the weight keeps the muzzle down and dampens recoil compared to a M4. Everyone who's shot my Sig has commented on the lessened recoil.

The folding retractable stock is nice and locks solidly in place. It comes with two different butt pads, the one in my field strip pic is the longer one.

The front handguard rails aren't for putting optics on though as they move around like the standard issue M4 handguards do. I've only used them for putting one of those vertical grips with the spring out bipod on.

As far as cleaning, the bolt stays very clean and cool as pretty much all the gunk stays in the gas block, gas tube, and on the piston. These parts are very quick and easy to field strip and scrub off. The Sig doesn't have an M4 style star chamber that's hard to clean out either, the internals are very easy to clean.



Obviously your mileage may vary.

 

[docnyt]

I guess I lucked out with my 556 SWAT too. Very reliable and accurate. I'm considering buying a 522 just for fun.

 

[InkEd]

My Sig 556 has been great. Listen to actual owners of recent production guns. The eay models were PLAGUED with problems. The current ones run perfectly fine.

 

[Tommygunn]

In the AR field there's people who MUST have MIL SPEC and denigrate anything that is 0.00000000000000000000000001% less, and there's people who feel that way about Sigs.
Chances are your Sig will work fine. Mine does.
Or you could by a non mil spec AR so it will crack a bolt.
Or a Glock because we know they blow up.

 

[wally]

I've got the Sig 556, 556DMR and 556R. No functional issues with the guns and mine have all so far shot nothing but steel cased ammo.

My only complaint is the Bulgarian "slabside" plastic mag shipped with my 556R is crap, but I've had perfect function with a random assortment of comblock steel mags, even a Korean AK mag has functioned perfectly.

I've not had any issues with the "GI" aluminum mags in either of the 5.56 rifles.

 

[Averageman]

Youtube Surmgewere's experiances with the 556R.
And run to cancel that order.

 

[CarbineKid]

Averageman, I read your posts earlier. In fact it was reading your experiences that really freaked me out. The funny part is after that I watched Sturmgeweres video on the 556R. That prompted me to make this post. I am hoping its as inkEd said and the newer ones are fine, because its probably too late to cancel the order.
Thanks guys Keep the opinions coming!!!

 

[G27RR]

Mine runs very reliably. Accuracy is about 1-1.5MOA. I've run it through a 2 day class, over 500 rounds, without need to relube or clean it. It runs cooler and the chamber stays cleaner longer than an AR. You still have to maintain it though, obviously. Little nose heavy but that leads to about zero muzzle climb.

 

[InkEd]

You'll be fine. It's a more reliable design than almost anything else on the market.

 

[Tirod]

SIG isn't in the market to make junk, most aren't. But there is the nagging doubt left when you discover that Customer Service is cheaper than building them right to begin with.

If a 556 is what you want, fine, don't expect it to be one bit more than that. Proprietary designs only have parts available from that maker, won't have many accessories specially created for it, and won't have a large user base. Just like the Kelted double tube feed pump shotgun, they can be really unique, the only one on the block, so to speak. But that is exactly their weak point, they can't be changed or modified at all. They aren't Legos - they stay exactly what they are, like the HK91's that sold for $160 in the 1970's. Not much you could do to them except just live with the design as is. They pioneered the use of poly furniture, but Magpul doesn't offer one thing for them.

 

[G27RR]

I get your point about parts availavility, but the accessory area isn't that limited anymore.

You can get one with a quad rail or add one later. An adapter is available that lets you use milspec AR-15 stocks. It has a flat top for optics.

Not sure what other accessories would be needed that wouldn't work with the rails. Forward grips, lights, lasers, bipod adapters, etc etc would all work.

Som of the things peole like to do on ARs aren't necessary here. No need to think about different types of buffers, extended charging handles, commercial vs milspec parts, etc.

To be clear though, I like ARs, too, and have several.

 

[RX-178]

They pioneered the use of poly furniture, but Magpul doesn't offer one thing for them.

The Magpul stock on mine begs to differ.

 

[InkEd]

Don't forget how easy it is to clean. Pistons stay so much cleaner the DI systems.

The only complaint I have is that is a bit heavy compared to an AR. However, it is right in line with most other non-AR piston operated defensive rifles.

You have a couple stock choices (one being a collapsing AR-style). The foregrips can accept strips of 1913 rail, if you don't get/want a version with a full length or quad rail.

What accessories do you need/want that you can't bolt on a 1913 rail if desired?

Optics? Again, if it fits on a rail....you're good.

The only thing I've seen is some people don't care for the grip. (It's kinda like a SAW grip.) However, if you search there are still a few options.

It's a good rifle and you'll enjoy it.

 

[Gavinn]

The 556 patrol is an amazing weapon. It took a few "generations" to get the kinks worked out, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the current production weapons. (Any manufacturer can potentially produce a lemon, but the chances are extremely slim with a reliable company like Sig.)

The patrol versions allow quicker pointing, easier handling, and is far less front-heavy than the "classic" type models.

AK-type reliability, eats any ammo you throw at it without issue. Incredibly easy to take down and clean, but actually needs far less attention than any AR I've ever been around.

The new standard diopter rear sight is one of the better iron sights around once you get used to it.

There is plenty of aftermarket support for accessories now that some time has passed as well.

I doubt you'll have any misgivings. Enjoy.