I dont reccomend you buy a Sig 556

If you think the quality of an American made 556 is on par with a Swiss made 550 you are either delusional or smoking something very powerful.

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Are you speaking from experience or just assuming?

If the Sig 550/551 is better quality or worse quality than the 556 then tell us why. I will certainly not claim that the Sig 556 is better or worse because I've never owned, fired or even handled a 550/551 or any of the other 55x rifles.

You may very well be right but this is the internet, if people are who are simply screen names on a forum are going to make bold claims then at least back up those claims with some sort of factual information.

Couple of bad reports? That's why the price has fallen some 40% in the last year? The problems are widespread and the poor sales reflect this.

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There is absolutely no evidence to back up this claim. I really doubt that the price drop has anything to do with reports of problems with the 556, it probably has more to do with the state of the economy right now and the fact that people across the country are becoming less inclined to spend like they once did. Also when you can buy an decent AR for $1,200 or less it only makes sense that Sig would lower the price on the 556 to keep people buying them instead of just buying an AR.

Also keep in mind that the Sig 516 hit the market at almost the exact time that the price dropped on the 556, seems like a big coincidence to me.

I have a 556 on layaway, I am normally a pistol shooter and this will be my first rifle. I am not sure I understand the accuracy issues, is this rifle incapable of hitting a human size target at 100yds? Isn't that the general purpose of this rifle? I am not buying it as a target rifle so I assume I will not be dissappointed.

Lakedaemonian said:

I think the sig 556 looks dumb. & probably would feel dumb too i f I had my hands on one.

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Well that sounds like a well thought out, objective statement...I will definitely not buy one now!

The sig 556 was designed purely for sig to keep up with the passing "gas piston assault rifle" consumer demand.

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It was designed long before the "GP demand", in the 70s IIRC. They import the SA variant (SIG-556) to the US because of demand, but what company doesn't?

Hanzo581 said:

I am not sure I understand the accuracy issues, is this rifle incapable of hitting a human size target at 100yds?

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With ease.

There is absolutely no evidence to back up this claim. I really doubt that the price drop has anything to do with reports of problems with the 556, it probably has more to do with the state of the economy right now and the fact that people across the country are becoming less inclined to spend like they once did. Also when you can buy an decent AR for $1,200 or less it only makes sense that Sig would lower the price on the 556 to keep people buying them instead of just buying an AR.

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The evidence I have is that what other modern rifle on the market has lost 40% of its value in a year? Answer: None. Heck, there's companies like Arsenal getting as much as $1500 for an AK. The economy must have little to do with it if folks are buying $800-$1200 AK's $2,400 SCARs, etc. Why is it only the 556 that's suffering under this economy in your view?

If sales were strong they wouldn't drop the price so much. They couldn't keep them on the shelves when they were new, I waited several months to even see one of the early ones that lacked open sights... and they were gone almost instantly. Not now. They linger on shelves in my area, even at the new much lower price point.

I have had two that ended up having trigger glitches ( one squeeze two or more rounds would fire)

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You call that a trigger glitch? I would imagine once I found out about something like that I might call it FULLY-functional.

sturmgewehr said:

The evidence I have is that what other modern rifle on the market has lost 40% of its value in a year? Answer: None.

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The Mini-14 seems to have come down in price quite a bit over the last year. Regardless, you'd need to show some data to be convincing with that argument since I'm sure that many, many ARs are now considerably cheaper than 12 to 18 months ago. There's no doubt that the 556 price has dropped considerably. My LGS had the SWAT model for $1,850 last year and now I can buy one online for $1,250. I would be quite annoyed if I'd bought one a year ago.

Fact is: nearly all production rifles decline in price after being on the market for a while. This is especially true of highly anticipated new models, particularly with "tactical" rifles/carbines. SIG has simply moved the price-point to meet demand.

The evidence I have is that what other modern rifle on the market has lost 40% of its value in a year? Answer: None. Heck, there's companies like Arsenal getting as much as $1500 for an AK. The economy must have little to do with it if folks are buying $800-$1200 AK's $2,400 SCARs, etc. Why is it only the 556 that's suffering under this economy in your view?

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Easy, the MSAR Stg-556

At the beginning of the year they were selling around $1,700 most places and then almost overnight the price on them dropped to around $1k. I paid around $1,700 for my first MSAR about two years ago and I'm really glad I sold it before the price drop. After the price drop I got one for $1,250 and I probably could have found one for even less if I had shopped around a little more.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the sudden price drop on the MSAR didn't provide a reason for Sig to drop the price on the Sig 556. However I think it's more likely that the price drop on the MSAR stg-556 wasn't a result of the E4 version hitting the market. Usually when a company introduces a new product line they older models go down in price, this is probably the case with MSAR and probably the case with Sig as well.

Those who think the sig556 is as good as the real deal swiss sig55x rifles need to read here.....


http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=31632
http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?p=770087

While it's nice to have a working sig556 out of the box, its QC issues should not be tested by potential buyers for any price.

Mosey on over to 556 forum and take a look at some actual photographs.

Would a 550 leave the factory with chipping finish, canted sights, non functioning folding stock, damaged carrier?

Pics don't lie.

Here's a pic of the guys third rifle back to him with chipped finish.

Everything is sitting on the shelves right now. My LGS is hardly moving anything.

Everyone bought before Obama and the economy is in the tank.

I'm not suprised the 556 price dropped because of those factors and it is also competing with the wildly popular AR.

The gun forum geeks make up a small portion of the gun buying public. Ego might make one think we are exerting some great influence on Sigs price structure. We're not that important.

Easy, the MSAR Stg-556

At the beginning of the year they were selling around $1,700 most places and then almost overnight the price on them dropped to around $1k. I paid around $1,700 for my first MSAR about two years ago and I'm really glad I sold it before the price drop. After the price drop I got one for $1,250 and I could have found one for even less if I had shopped around a little more.

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Do you have another example? The MSAR has been racked with problems since day one. They've gone through many several different bolt designs and people have had to send theirs in for a number of functioning issues. I know about his debacle first hand. It's why I no longer have one a and our local store stopped selling them. Over on AR15.com there was a long running thread about all the reliability problems people were having with them.

Bad reputations are easily earned and hard to beat.

Yeah, I would expect a price drop on them. I'm sure their sales tanked to, especially now that the real AUG is back on the market.

The ACR is still $2k. The SCAR is still $2,400. AK's are still bringing $800-$1500. DSA FAL's still sell for $2k+, M1A's still bring $1,500+, Colt AR15 Carbines still bring $1,500 or so. I don't see any other rifles dropping 40%. A quick check of Guns America confirms this.

Do you have another example? The MSAR has been racked with problems since day one. They've gone through many several different bolt designs and people have had to send theirs in for a number of functioning issues. I know about his debacle first hand. It's why I no longer have one a and our local store stopped selling them. Over on AR15.com there was a long running thread about all the reliability problems people were having with them.

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I've owned two of them and never had any issues with either one. Most of the reviews I've read on the MSAR's are positive, people who own them generally like them. Also MSAR is well known for having stellar customer service so most issues are people have are well resolved from what I've heard. Also the MSAR requires about a 200 round break-in period.

The ACR is still $2k. The SCAR is still $2,400. AK's are still bringing $800-$1500. DSA FAL's still sell for $2k+, M1A's still bring $1,500+, Colt AR15 Carbines still bring $1,500 or so. I don't see any other rifles dropping 40%. A quick check of Guns America confirms this.

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I remember during the Obama scare people were paying $600-$800 for WASR AK's and now they are back down to around $350 most places. Also AR's were typically selling for hundreds more than they are selling for now. I think Sig finally realized two things, one, that the Obama scare is over and people aren't panic buying like they were before and two, that asking much more than $1k for the Sig 556 is ridiculous when you can buy a decent AR for around the same price. While I don't agree that the 556 is as bad as some people say and a decent rifle for $1k or less, however a $1,500+ rifle it is not.

Well, regardless I think it's fair to assume that we can agree to disagree on the Sig 556 and it's price and quality.

Unfortunately, in the real world that we live in even the best manufacturers of anything put out a crap unit once in a while. It's really hard to tell a 1 in a million from a 1 in 20 problem if you only buy one gun. But it's always a bummer to be the guy with that 1 dud.

sturmgewehr said:

Do you have another example? The MSAR has been racked with problems since day one.

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I suppose I just pick all the bad ones...I plan to get a new MSAR MCS in .45ACP as soon as they come out. Seems as if I just pick all the bad ones...and so far I have just gotten lucky with 'em...wish me luck.

I suppose I just pick all the bad ones...I plan to get a new MSAR MCS in .45ACP as soon as they come out. Seems as if I just pick all the bad ones...and so far I have just gotten lucky with 'em...wish me luck.

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Let us know how it shoots, it sounds cool. I ditched my MSAR back when it had issues as I'm not real patient testing new designs... my mistake was that I didn't think it was a new design but a high quality clone of an existing one.

I'm sure now they have the kinks worked out, I'm just not interested in the 5.56 MSAR anymore given the real AUG is on the market once again. I may have to grab one before something causes them to dry up again.

But the .45 ACP rifle sounds killer. My KRISS sucks... I SBR'ed it and keep it around as a novelty, but reliability isn't one of its strong suits.

It's too bad Sig can't keep their quality consistent. I like my 556 SWAT quite a bit, but my P238 has been one of the problem ones. The 556 is accurate, though not sub-MOA like some ARs. On the other hand, you can fold the stock and stow it in a smaller space. The piston system after 500 rounds keeps the action cleaner than my ARs after half that, it is extremely solid, and the side charging hndle and ambi-safeties are pluses in my opinion.

The only difference between the Sig 556 and 550 are the lowers. Last I heard the 556's were still shipping with the full auto bolt carrier which is interesting since the full auto lowers are not an NFA item, but whatever.

Anyway they are the same, and IMHO they are probably the best carbine chambered in 5.56 made.


If the quality of the American made ones isn't up to your liking and I do admit Sig USA has had some issues, buy a Swiss one.

"That doesn't exclude the possibility that there is a person behind the gun that is the problem and that with another Sig 55x rifle they would be more accurate."

If the "person behind the gun...is the problem" why would "another Sig 55x rifle" make them "be more accurate"?
Were you trying to say that the rifle might be more accurate in the hands of another shooter?

Well, nwilliams, as you can see, I don't know a damn thing about shooting Swiss rifles.

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Krinko what do you usually shoot? I have been having a blast with my K31 an 1911, if my state wasn't so communist I would have a PE57 and 550 in my collection. Anyway thinking about adding a K11 and maybe some Swiss Luger's to the collection soon.

I'm thinking about taking my SCM down to the receiver and building a 550 out of it, do you know by any chance if they changed anything? I think most of the guts are about the same. I know the barrels and gas blocks are a bit different, but the bolt carriers and lowers should interchange. I'm holding off since it will be expensive and even with all the problems my SCM has been a very good rifle. I took it to the Appleseed a few months ago and it kept up just fine, I have about 7k rounds through it and can't really complain. So spending $2k on a parts kit to take apart a good rifle is hard to swallow.

"Krinko what do you usually shoot?"

Hatterasguy,
I use a K31 dating from 1957, equipped with the Swiss diopter and tunnel sights.
-----krinko

Cool my K31 is about the same vintage 1955, if I remember correctly 57 was the last year. Do you have the matching bayonet as well?

Whats a good source for those sights, I was thinking about getting a set.

I love K31's if I didn't leave my wallet home when I went to the gunshow last weekend I would have bought another. My favorite are the ones with really horrible stocks but good metal, once I re shellac them they really shine.

I THINK IF IF YOU LIKE ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN AR-15 YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO ENJOY YOUR KOOL-AID WITHOUT SUGAR.

(Sugar or a forward vertical grip, laser, flashlight, bayonet, cable box, cigarette lighter universal remote and whatever other crap that gets mixed in with the AR flavored variety.)

Not to get off topic BUT people realize that they CAN buy an AR for the same or less than a Sig556. They simply have zero desire to own one. So feel free to quit mentioning it. Among actual Sig556 owners the majority seem satisfied for the most part.

People seem to forget the Sig556, while based on existing rifle, it is actually a fairly new design. (Even the 550 isn't that old a design relatively speaking.) It wasn't until recentmy that the AR has become to thought of as a reliable rifle.

Should Sig experiment with a design on customers paying over $1000?
No.

However, it is better than the way the AR platform was rolled out in Viet Nam.

I would rather my range toy malfunction and get sent back to the factory in a Fed Ex box; than a soldier's field rifle malfunction and HIM get sent home in a wood box.

AR people calling other rifles unreliable is just plain funny to me. YMMV.

ALL THAT SAID, I SAY BUY WHATEVER YOU LIKE AND ENJOY IT!!!

"ALL THAT SAID, I SAY BUY WHATEVER YOU LIKE AND ENJOY IT!!!"

That's easy to say, InkEd, but can you back up this radical claim with proper documentation?
-----krinko

You'll just have to take my word for it.

Let us know how it shoots, it sounds cool

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Will do. I have high hopes, but I won't hold back if it turns out to be a dud either.