Sig 556

[Kansas Bound]

I am interested in purchasing a new AR-15. I see that Buds has the Sig 556 for $1200. Is this a good quality gun or would the money be better spent on something else.

 

[RIDE]

I LOVE mine... Great shooter, adjustable gas piston, very, very, very, very little recoil. Where in KS are you?

 

[Kansas Bound]

Shawnee

 

[rellascout]

They are very interesting but they are not free from flaws. There are still finish issues and there are still canted rails coming out on even the $2000 SWAT model.

The Gas piston is a nice design and it is a sweet shooter. The gas piston design is great for dirty shooting in the harshest of conditions. Think in the desert firing 3000 rounds without cleaning. I find the 556 front heavy but that just might be me.

One thing to consider is that the $1200 556 is not ready to shoot right out of the box. No sights. You need to get an optic. $350+ for something like an Eotech or get the proprietary front iron site and then a rear BUIS. Another $200.

So you are really buying a $1400 to $1800 rifle when you are looking at the $1200 556. If is it your first rifle get an AR and spend the rest on ammo IMHO. If you already own an AR get the 556.

 

[newsavageowner]

I love mine too! Checkout www.sigarms556.com It's a forum dedicated to the Sig556 and will probably answer a lot of your questions on this rifle.

 

[RIDE]

Shawnee

I'm in Wichita... too far away.

But as was said... You'll need some sights (iron or otherwise), It's a great gun.

 

[gravis86]

I own one and love it. I bought mine when they were going for $1300, and got an EOTech. (No BUIS yet). I definitely recommend it.

But for the $1700 total I spent on it, you could get an AR that's just as good, if not better.

 

[Conqueror]

For $1500+ you could even get a piston AR if that's important to you.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

You need to get an optic. $350+ for something like an Eotech or get the proprietary front iron site and then a rear BUIS. Another $200.

Eotech aren't the only optical sights out there....You can just as easily put a $40 Simmons red dot sight on it. Sure it won't look tacticool but then again your wallet is still a lot thicker.

 

[rellascout]

Eotech aren't the only optical sights out there....You can just as easily put a $40 Simmons red dot sight on it. Sure it won't look tacticool but then again your wallet is still a lot thicker.

I understand that there are cheaper options but why buy a precision rifle that cost $1200 and shoot it through a $40 scope. That makes no sense to me.

It's not about being tactical cool its about getting the most out of the rifle. Personally I like the ACOG TA11F on my 556 rifles.

 

[geojap]

I bought one several weeks ago and I love it. Also, I would only listen to people who actually own (or have owned) the rifle about their experiences with it. It seems that there are many people who will tell you all kinds of stories about the rifle, but have actually never owned one. There are definitely some things Sig could (and should) have done a better job with on this rifle. But that does not negate the things that Sig did do amazingly well on this rifle, which is why it is such an incredibly-nice shooting rifle.

Mine is in the 5700 serial number range and it's fine. No issues whatsoever. Fit and finish is great. The Sig 556 isn't a cheap rifle, however. In addition to the steep initial cost, one must also take into account the cost of adding optics and any furniture that you feel inclined to replace. Is it worth it? That is a question that you must answer for yourself. The answer for me is "definitely". This is the sweetest shooting rifle I've ever fired.

I have about $1900 total into mine now. That includes the rifle, a Sightron SII Big Sky 1.5-5x20 scope, Leupold QD rings, Blue Force Gear - Vickers sling, and 10 Magpul mags.

 

[rellascout]

I love when people who "own" something tell others to only listen to "owners" opinions.

You do not have to own a gun to form a valid opinion about it. The Sig is a great gun. It has stumbled out of the gate. There were and there still are some issues. That does not mean perfect rifles are not shipping. They are but people should get the entire story. I have handled enough and shot enough round through several to make meaningful comments on the rifle. Why are you attempting to discredit others contributions? GEogap?

Again the 556 is a great rifle I am just not running out to get one. I'll get one a little later when they will be selling to under $1100. It cannot do anything that my Colt 6920 can't do.

Oh except go the the range straight out of the box.

 

[rmw]

I like mine better than my AR or a HK 93 I used to own . I wish it had a side folder like the swiss gun

 

[The Deer Hunter]

why buy a precision rifle that cost $1200 and shoot it through a $40 scope.

I'm not saying take the easy way out, the Simmons red dot I bought for my shotgun originally and then used on my M44 worked fine. Sure my Benelli probably cost $1300 or so new but the fact is just because your gun cost a lot doesn't mean you have to pay a lot for a scope.

On the the other hand, don't buy an optic because its cheap. Cheap usually means its not going to hold zero or it will wear out or somethig like that. Although I was quite suprised with the quality of the cheapo red dot I bought.

Too bad SIG didn't bother to have a model already equipped with open sights and charge you an arm and a leg for them

 

[geojap]

Too bad SIG didn't bother to have a model already equipped with open sights

This is my main complaint with the rifle. Not making sure that there was some supplier of very good iron sights designed specifically to fit the 556 was a major lapse on Sig's behalf. I use a scope so luckily it doesn't affect me, but still.

The second thing that bothers me about this rifle is that while the furniture is functional (it does its job), that's as much as you can say for it. It certainly isn't as refined as you would expect from Sig. They could have at least offered the Sig 551 hand guards for sale in the USA, which weigh less than the 556 hand guards, and some say look better. The pistol grip, hand guards and butt stock are all a little fat and piggish for my taste. They can be replaced and they don't affect the rifle being an incredibly sweet shooter when you get it up to the bench and pull the trigger, but still, I'm just sayin'....

Other than that, I don't have a complaint in the world about this rifle.

 

[Wes Janson]

SIG is offering the rifle for sale with backup iron sights already on it. It's available now: I handled it today.

As for the 551 handguards, expect to see them sometime this year from SIG-they're supposed to begin offering them sometime soon.

 

[newsavageowner]

You can always add an ACE folding stock to your SIG556...something you can't do with an AR! I love mine with the folder.



[img=http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/4705/sig556acefolderxx9.th.jpg]


-JC

 

[rellascout]

I am not sure what you are talking about????? That stock was made for ARs. It fits the 556 because the 556 uses a standard AR tube.

 

[geojap]

As for the 551 handguards, expect to see them sometime this year from SIG-they're supposed to begin offering them sometime soon.

I've heard that, but as this ain't my first rodeo, so I'll believe it when I see it. Most probably know this already, but one can also get them straight from Switzerland too. But they aren't cheap.

I'm glad to hear that Sig offers iron sights for the 556. I'll call them up tomorrow and see what they run. Mine came with a somewhat cheesy front BUIS, but not a rear.

 

[newsavageowner]

I was under the impression that the ACE folders do not work on standard AR setups....
From the ACE website:
"Must use alternate recoil system like ZM LR3000 or .22 LR converstions."

Wouldn't the normal AR recoil system with the buffer tube prevent using this type of folder? Am I missing something?

If it will work on standard ARs...I'm going to be making another order from ACE!!!!

 

[geojap]

Since the AR return spring is located in the stock, I'm not sure what he's talking about specifically. It would take a non-traditional action to accomplish a folding stock on an AR. But I'll state up front that I don't own AR-15s, am not an expert on them, and that I don't care to talk about them that much.

 

[Wes Janson]

No, an ACE folder will not work on a standard AR-15. You need to move your recoil system from the buffer tube to elsewhere, as well as cut down the bolt carrier, as I recall. It's not a simple switch.

As for the 556, I've got very good reason to believe we'll be seeing alot more options and configurations in the near future...

 

[anymanusa]

My dad just bought one, I 'fingered' it the other day. Too heavy for my tastes. Seemed like it was twice the weight of my Bushy.

 

[rino451]

First things forst. Is this your first rifle of this sort if at all? If so, I'd say go with the AR and buy ammo with the rest of the $ or save it for accessories. It's modularity will allow you to changes things while you figure out what you like in a rifle. 16", 20" or other; lightweight, heavy barrel, or gov't profile; carry handle or rail (I happen to like carry handle AR's better); etc. I'm not sure that the 556 is as modular and that if it is, that parts are available and affordable. The AR is also very easy to work on yourself and about the only thing that isn't user changeable is the barrel extension.

+1 on spending $ on the rifle and then $40 on a red dot:banghead:. I guess ammo would be an issue as well then...

ETA the 556 does feel a bit chunky...

 

[rellascout]

No, an ACE folder will not work on a standard AR-15. You need to move your recoil system from the buffer tube to elsewhere, as well as cut down the bolt carrier, as I recall. It's not a simple switch.

As for the 556, I've got very good reason to believe we'll be seeing alot more options and configurations in the near future..

100% correct. I never stated that it is was simple switch. What I did state was that you can do it. I was replying to the individual who stated you cannot do this with an AR. The fact of the matter is that you can.