sig 556 or ar15

[Z-Michigan]

You've not had any battlefield/dirt/grime/grit experience with either the ak or the ar, have you? I'm willing to bet the tapered chamber comes in really handy if you encounter dirty conditions and you don't have the 'luxury' of having a spotless weapon.
Btw, I have had a failure to extract on my AR.

Nope, I am not a combat veteran and have used neither of them, nor anything else, in combat. And I don't go tossing my guns around in dirt, like in some youtube videos. However, I expect someone who has used both in the sandbox will chime in before too long (or maybe already has, above).

So, given your statement "I'm willing to bet...", have you used either rifle in combat?

 

[mkonops]

If the Sig was legal in my state I would have one. Otherwise, I'm extremely happy with my AR.

 

[MVF]

I was looking at the same question a couple weeks ago- I pick up my AR in a week (CA 10 day wait).

What decided me was- AR is lighter
AR should be more accurate (hearsay based on reviews and LOTS of time online searching)
So much more flexibility- don't like the grip? Lots of options- ditto stocks, handguards, etc
Get a little flush down the road? for the price of an upper you can all kinds of different variations- including gas piston.

That's me- let us know what you come up with!

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

AR15, definitely.

 

[anymanusa]

So, given your statement "I'm willing to bet...", have you used either rifle in combat?

No I have not. I wasn't the one who was espousing the virtues of the AR vs the AK not having seen such an environment though. I'd like to think that if I were displaced from my home, and put into very dire circumstances, where my main concern was having to procure food and water, not baby my rifle, I would be able to sustain such a situation with my AK.

Basically what I'm saying is this: the AK is a more versatile/reliable rifle under a broader set of circumstances when compared to the AR. Am I glad I have an AR? Yes. Am I glad I have an AK? Yes x 2. Which rifle would I carry in a survival scenario? I don't know. That is a very close call, but, I can tell you this, If times got rough, really really rough, I wouldn't hesitate to take the AK as my main rifle, knowing that it will take a severe beating and keep on keepin' on. Not only that, but it will load and reload ammo better and more reliably than the AR variant, time and time again, regardless of what ever bias you may have against it, I've found it to be a nice rifle.

My AR has jammed on soft point ammo on several occasions as well, so far my AK hasn't, but I shall see, as time passes, how well it feeds various ammunitions.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Actually, your statement that started this sub-discussion, replying to someone other than me, was:

oh really? lack of taper on the round preclude that, imho.

Where you asserted that the AR is unreliable because the cartridge case isn't tapered. I and several others disagreed, based on our own experience. Now you're claiming that I'm

espousing the virtues of the AR vs the AK not having seen such an environment though.

Well, the OP didn't even ask about AK's, he asked about the AR-15 and the Sig 556, which is what the discussion was about until you started saying AR's were inherently unreliable. Incidentally, the Sig 556 uses the same cartridge as typical AR's, so if case taper is an issue, the Sig would have no advantage over an AR. Again, OP didn't ask whether he should buy an AK in 7.62x39mm. It would appear your bad view of AR's is based entirely on your own limited, non-combat experience.

So, have a nice day.

 

[New Mag]

I too found myself in the same predicament and came to the conclusion that there was only one solution for me...

I saved up longer and bought them both at the same time

Below are the pics...





The AR is a Rock river CAR A4. The 556 currently has a Bushnell legend 2x7 scope.
The scope is filling the place until I save enough for a more suitible optic...not sure yet but it may be a acog?

As for the rifles the are both excellent and work without issue. Of course the 556 shoots cleaner due to the piston system and has VERY little recoil...it is because of the piston system that it is heavier in the front than RR AR.

Notice I have set up the AR (lighter, 1x optic,) for close in and the 556 sig will be set up for "longer" stuff.


Just my 2 cents.
God Bless

 

[anymanusa]

Actually, your statement that started this sub-discussion, replying to someone other than me, was:

Actually, I think this statement, which is simply wishful thinking, started this subtopic;

My AR is a modified Bushmaster 20" HBAR and it's been every bit as reliable as an AK,

Where you asserted that the AR is unreliable because the cartridge case isn't tapered. I and several others disagreed, based on our own experience. Now you're claiming that I'm

You and an entire army may disagree if you like. This simple fact of the matter is that the tapered chamber make for easier extraction, period, end of story. Now if you haven't had any extraction issues, awesome, good for you. One gold star coming your way, but the the practical/physical application of the weapon is enhanced due to the tapered chamber of the round it fires, regardless of whatever experience you may have had.

your bad view of AR's

I don't have any 'bad' view, I simply look at a firearm based on it's engineered features, and come to the most common sense conclusion; tapered chamber makes for easier extraction, regardless of whatever you or others may have experienced at the shooting range. From a theoretical standpoint, the taper makes the round superior in a battlefield application.

So, have a nice day.

To you as well.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Basically what I'm saying is this: the AK is a more versatile/reliable rifle under a broader set of circumstances when compared to the AR.

And how much real combat experience do you have with both weapons? I don't know anyone who's been downrange with even a decent level of firearms training who thinks the AK is a more "versatile" rifle, and most aren't terribly impressed with its reliability when run really hard and treated badly. From personal experience, AKs can and do jam. All that stuff about burying them in rice paddies for two years and then them running flawlessly is just mythology.

 

[MechAg94]

Actually, I think this statement, which is simply wishful thinking, started this subtopic

And his AR may actually be just as reliable as an AK. How do you know? You have haven't fired HIS AR have you? He wasn't talking about ALL AR's.

Your other AK arguments are pointless since you brought them up in the first place. If you are trying to create an argument just because you are bored, start your own thread. I am sure you will get plenty of participants.

I have a Saiga .223 conversion that is very reliable and has performed very well for me despite its inherently inferior cartridge. It is no less reliable than my Vepr K in 7.62.

On that last point, I would say the AR is a more versatile platform by far. The available configurations and ease of change make it so. If you want to change caliber on an AK, you have to get another rifle.

 

[MechAg94]

In response to the OP, I would rather go for the AR. For that kind of money, you can get a pretty nice high end AR and still have access to more after market parts and accessories.

 

[anymanusa]

And his AR may actually be just as reliable as an AK. How do you know? You have haven't fired HIS AR have you? He wasn't talking about ALL AR's.

is this the twilight zone? Since when does a tapered cartridge hold no advantage when ejecting under less than desireable circumstances?

Your other AK arguments are pointless since you brought them up in the first place.

I didn't bring it up, I was correcting this statement:

My AR is a modified Bushmaster 20" HBAR and it's been every bit as reliable as an AK,

Being a fan of the AR (like I am) doesn't make it reliable. Let's step back into the realm of reality folks.

 

[Art Eatman]

I'm not gonna delete all this off-topic AK stuff, but I'm sore-tempted. Won't be any more that survive, though.

And looking at a .223 round here in my hand, hey, it looks tapered to me.