Ruger SR-556

[Lone_Gunman]

Has public opinion on this rifle changed?

The first threads on this rifle had nearly everyone poo-pooing it as over priced. Now everyone seems to be liking it.

 

[stubbicatt]

AR guys spend a lot of time and money on their rigs. Accessories, special parts, all that... to overcome perceived deficiencies in the design. To them, this is so important.

Take a pedestrian firearms manufacturer like Ruger, who makes guns for the common man, have them mass produce a rifle at a fraction of the price point of the AR guys' expensive firearms, which works better, has a better warranty, and naturally these guys are going to poo-poo the rifle. After all, it doesn't wear the "Rolls Royce" or "Rolex" badge of their fine firearms, it wasn't carefully crafted out of hand selected parts and accessories. Ruger owners didn't pay the dues to the country club like the rest of these guys did, so Ruger owners can't play golf there!

"Nyah! Nyah!" (as Thurston Howell III would say).

Sorta like a Harvard graduate losing a debate to a community college graduate... ya start to wonder where all that money spent on education went, yes?

If it says Noveske it has to be better than Ruger, yes?

Ego is such a fragile thing. Especially when it results from large expenditures of money.

 

[SaMx]

I'm curious, I keep reading about the ruger's two piece piston, and how it smooths out the operating impulse or something like that.

How does the piston system actually work? Is it a normal short stroke, or is it something different? And is it substantially different from the other piston ARs out there?

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Nice rifle., I like how Ruger gives you all that you need to start off with for *only* around $1600.

 

[Defense Minister]

I like the SR-556, and, for what you get, it's a great deal. People are glad to pay $1300-1400 for Smith & Wesson's M&P15T, which is set up just like the Ruger, but isn't piston operated, and comes with only one USGI mag.

That said, Impact Guns has the Ruger priced at $1499, it is piston operated, and comes with 3 PMAGs. It also has a chrome plated bolt, carrier, and extractor, and comes with a Hogue Monogrip and soft-sided carrying case. That seems like a bargain to me! They actually have the M&P15T priced at $1549. Which one would you buy?

http://www.impactguns.com/store/736676059027.html

http://www.impactguns.com/store/022188127300.html

 

[NC-Mike]

If they are selling at 1499.00, Ruger is going to sell a Lot of them.

 

[Aka Zero]

I bought a few lowers long ago.

Realized it would cost a ton to finish them. Then I saw this..... Maybe I can get just the upper.

Only thing I want different, Magpul ctr stock. Maybe swap out the grip.

Bought my lowers cheap, with laser engraving. Or I would have sold them. Always hated the direct gas system. And jsut kept hating it more. This seem like a winner to me.

 

[cpirtle]

I'm waiting to hear how these guns handle steel-cased Wolf ammo.

I have put close to 200 rounds of various steel cased ammo through mine (.223 & 5.56), including Wolf and some of the Hornady steel cased TAP and it is running 100%.

Also, I've shot at least 6 different kinds of ammo and have not felt the need to adjust the gas setting.

As for price, $1599 at a local shop and I have had it about 2 weeks.

Get one

 

[kwelz]

All the accessories in the world won't make a crap gun good.
I am not saying the Ruger is crap. I haven't shot one yet and have heard mainly good things. I am just saying, don't be fooled by gimmicks. Buy quality. You can add the other stuff later.

 

[lipadj46]

I don't know it sounds like Ruger did their research and put out a solid piston AR right out of the gate. There were many dubious as to how solid the SR-556 would be. Most it seems have been swayed and have accepted the 556 as belonging in the "club". What is left are the regular Ruger haters and people who just enjoy picking on the non milspec/non DI ARs

 

[Gryffydd]

So where are the pictures of your targets? We all want to know if Ruger has made the only inaccurate AR design in production.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Nice rifle, surprised that ruger came out with one, but if its anything like rugers other rifles and pistols it is probably the most indestructable AR 15 clone made to date.

 

[mm6mm6]

"So where are the pictures of your targets?

25 yards, standing, offhand with the factory iron Troy battle sights, 30 rounds in the 10 ring, firing as fast as I could re-acquire the front sight:



100 yards, sandbag rest, 1 1/2" three shot group with two shots almost touching each other:



400+ rounds without any malfunctions. I love this rifle. It's my first AR. And it's my last.

 

[stubbicatt]

Yay! I had great hopes for Ruger, and it seems they haven't disappointed.

 

[rbernie]

When I handled one last week ( no shootin' - just handling), it seemed LESS front heavy than the Sig 556 and certainly less so than an HBAR carbine.

I have no need for one, but I was reasonably impressed with what I saw.

 

[cpirtle]

mm6mm6, glad you had pic's of real targets since I have not shot anything but bottles, cans and clays with mine.

I'd pay cash to not have to sit and shoot at paper, but mine's never missed a clay at 100 yards..

 

[Rshooter]

I am thinking about selling my lower if Ruger does not offer uppers. I agree with stubbicat about the naysayers. I can have a spiffed up gun at a blue collar price. I prefer plain AR's and DI rifles but I believe this is a rock solid package at a price set to own the market. My GP and Mini will eat anything I throw at them and ask for more, an AR made like that would be outstanding.

Look out guys here come Rednecks with Rugers.

 

[Semmerling]

THurston Howell?
Ivy League?
Debates?
Rolex?
Rolls Royce?

Give me a break....

How many ARs are out there?
How long have they been produced?
How many companies have worked all the kinks out?
How many have been issued in services around the globe?
How many have been already built by hand?
What is new about the upper?
What is new about the lower?
New about the Choo-choo (rails, more than Grand Central)?
New about the barrel?
Who actually designed and first produced and marketed the gas piston for ars?
where are the parts actually made?

There are legions....LEGIONS....or mass marketed ARs that have been around for decades. Names gone by the wayside that produced your everyman ARs. All those that still remain making reasonably prived ARs. Lots of folks.

Stop the BS about Ruger making a huge difference with this rifle. They had to...they were late to the game...the mini was dying on the vine...the HAD to do something...FAST.
They had LOST a GENERATION of young shooters...all who wanted an AR...

Heck, I bought my first Ar for $400 from Colt themselves some 30 years ago....

Ego? Stop already...its goofy.

 

[TexasEd]

So...your point is what? It seems to me that Ruger is offering a GP AR-15 made in the U.S. Using some after market parts from another U.S. company (Troy) and selling it at a reasonable price with a few bonus items, ( case, 3 mags etc.) Yeah there late in the game but so what! It's a win for the consumer. See how it goes for the next few months and then let's comment. I would think they would not have put it out unless they thought they had it down. Let's take some time and give the boys from NH a chance.

 

[kwelz]

Umm Harsh much?
It is my opinion that the more companies that make ARs of whatever flavor, the better. Choices are good for everyone and every manufacturer who makes an AR makes it that much harder on the antis.

It doesn't have to be groundbreaking, it doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be good. As I said earlier, I am not 100% sold on this rifle for me personally. However I still think it looks like a solid offering and one hell of an olive branch from Ruger to those who are still upset over Bills BS from years ago.

 

[NC-Mike]

When I handled one last week ( no shootin' - just handling), it seemed LESS front heavy than the Sig 556 and certainly less so than an HBAR carbine.

You just reminded me why I don't think I like my Sig so much...

 

[cpirtle]

Interesting to see that about 1/3 of the threads you participate in ultimately get locked. You are off to a good start on this one too..

What is new about the upper?

It's the first production AR upper designed to be gas, not just a retrofit

Stop the BS about Ruger making a huge difference with this rifle. They had to...

So did they make a huge difference or didn't they

Who actually designed and first produced and marketed the gas piston for ars?

What's the relevance?

Heck, I bought my first Ar for $400 from Colt themselves some 30 years ago....

woop-de-doo! I bet you were listening to one of those hi-fi 8 track tapes when you cleaned it the first time too..

So I take it you hate to see new 1911's come out too? You probably bought one for $11 in 1918 so everything since then is irrelevant.. right?

 

[Gryffydd]

This is slightly off topic, but I really didn't want to start a thread just for this...
Is everything on their lower standard enough that I wouldn't have to worry about getting another upper to fit? I would assume so, but you know what assuming does.

 

[kwelz]

Most parts on the gun are standard. Gas system and Bolt are the only non interchangeable parts, and it can actually use standard bolts without the gas rings.

 

[RP88]

I'm personally glad to see Ruger change their colors from how they were back around the AWB period. The price may seem right, but, as others have mentioned, I am wondering just how much quality went inside the rifle - not outside of it. Alot of the price seems to be going for the gas piston system, the rails, TiN'd bolt, sights, etc. When you bring all of that into the picture, you kind of feel like wondering how much the gun underneath all of those accessories is actually worth.