Question for pros about the Sig 556

[exar]

I just purchased a Sig 556 form Gander and it has no sights(came like that NIB). I then went to Whittakers and discovered that the 556 is supposed to have BUIS on the rails but mine doesn't. The salesman told me I had an older model of Sig that came with rails only and no sights.

Question: Did I get ripped by Gander(they matched cheapest price in town, BTW, I aint paying their full price) and possibly someone removed the sights or did Sig really make an older model with no BUIS?

Another issue: When I was at Whittakers, they had Sig BUIS that I could purchase, but they were $151.00 and he said those were the ONLY sights in the world that would fit my rifle. No alternatives. I was trying to match up other, cheaper, BUIS that fit pic rails and he said they wont work. Is this also true?

I have never owned a 556 and I find it hard to believe a rifle like that was made and sold with absolutely zero sights.

 

[wally]

With the SIG556 excuse for backup sights you ain't missing much. Even the $30 folders from CDNN are much better IMHO.

SIG 556 rocks with an EOTech on it, although bolt handle clearance is marginal.

--wally.

 

[exar]

although bolt handle clearance is marginal.

Agree. I had to get a cheap electronic sight and clearance is very close.

Update: I called Sig customer service and unfortunately BUIS's from Sig are about $150-$200. Even aftermarket ones he said ran around $100. Apparently, I did purchase one of their first run of rifles and these puppies don't come with sights of any kind.

That kind of stuff angers me. Especially since the quality of their pistols has been amazing, IME(I've owned a P229 and still have my P228). I have to spend over a grand to get the dang thing and then another $100 for low end optics to $500-$800 for acceptable to high end optics.

 

[marktx]

I bought a '07 production Sig 556 and it did not come with BUIS and after seeing what the newer ones come with I'm not particularly worried about it.

 

[NetJunkie]

To be honest I'm not sure what the problem is. You knew it didn't have any on it when you bought it, right? Trust me, the stock 556 sights are awful. You'd replace them anyway.

 

[exar]

Thanks guys, I feel a little better about not getting crappy sights that I would have had to replace anyways then.

 

[exar]

To be honest I'm not sure what the problem is. You knew it didn't have any on it when you bought it, right?

Yes, however, the problem was when I saw other apparently newer models that DID have them, I thought I got ripped by Gander and that someone removed the factory sights. Just making sure if I didn't get something that I paid for, that's all. If that had been the case, I would have demanded at least the cost of the non-existant sights back.

 

[George Hill]

"SIG 556 rocks with an EOTech on it, although bolt handle clearance is marginal."

But it clears. I don't see the problem. Get the Bushnell Holo sight for half the price, and you are going to be just fine. It's a great combination.

 

[wally]

But it clears. I don't see the problem.

There isn't until you grab it with the thumb in there and pinch it.

Hows the Bushnell Holo holding up? I've heard mixed things about them, but I'm not one for brand names and have had pretty good luck with the CDNN cheap tube models after a bit of Loc-Tite on the battery compartment screws.

Prices on EOTech have gone nuts, not that they were ever cheap.

--wally.

 

[cslinger]

Pick up a Samson front sight, a decent rear sight (GG&G, Troy etc.) and you will be MUCH happier then if you had the real back up sights that came later from SIG, which as cheezy as they are, are also on the real SIG 55x rifles now.

I personally would go Aimpoint on top but that is just me.

 

[New Mag]

Hi New Here..

I have the BU sights on mine and honesty would only use as last ditch (back up)...

I just put a Leupold Prismatic on mine and love it...can use it ilumnated reticle or not and comes with 3 different height spacers thus giving you 4 options. AND it does not have the clearance issues of the EOTECH.

Check it out.

 

[Wes Janson]

Just wait until MFI finishes their iron sights in October.

http://mfiap.com/smallarms/sig556.htm


And look on the bright side...assuming you don't have a really early (<1300) rifle, your new acquisition might very well have more Swiss parts in it than the newer models, which some people view to be preferable over American components.

 

[Z-Michigan]

The stock BUIS are terrible, something highpoint would be ashamed of.

With long rails, you can buy almost any clamp-on BUIS you want. I don't remember if the front portion of rail is same height as the receiver portion. If so, you have a zillion options. If not, you may need to fiddle with height of the front sight, using either a spacer mount (sold by Bushmaster and others, usually in pairs for a scope) or an extra tall, or short, front sight post.

 

[exar]

I don't remember if the front portion of rail is same height as the receiver portion.

I have my rifle in front of me now. The front rail is embedded and lower (thus not in-line) than the rear rail.

If not, you may need to fiddle with height of the front sight, using either a spacer mount (sold by Bushmaster and others, usually in pairs for a scope) or an extra tall, or short, front sight post.

That sounds interesting. I have a TrueGlo red/green dot sight on it for now until I can find a more permanent fixture. The TrueGlo seems ok (I haven't had the chance to zero it in by shooting yet, just a bore sighting.) with its 5 levels of brightness per color. However, I know I want a much better sight.

I'm in the process of deciding what type and brand: glass, dot, holo, or ACOG (the ACOG would be last ditch because of price and I think there are better substitutes for the money).

I know for sure though I want a quality BUIS. This is how I shoot all my rifles (scoped bolts for hunting are the exception) out past 100yds.

 

[exar]

OK. I shopped around for some quality BUIS's and other sights. I now know what I have to do and no matter what, it's gonna cost a few dozen pretty pennies..

Now, for my next question: I am trying to find out if my Sig was made with Swiss parts from Mother Sig. I discovered some saying that one indication could be that if your bolt is all black on an early rifle, you may have Swiss parts. My bolt carrier, bolt face and lugs are all black but the rear of the bolt (the cylindrical part of the bolt where the firing pin spring and the firing pin are shrouded inside the bolt) appears to be stainless steel ("silver" in color). The pessimist, and logical side in me says this is not considered "all black". Does anyone out there have any info on whether this is considered an all black bolt, or any other indicators for Swiss made parts?

Thanks for all your guys help!!

 

[trinydex]

take it as a blessing that you didn't get the worthless sights version.

get yourself a samson front and a troy rear and be happy.

if i could do it all over again i'd buy the base base base model that you got and do it up the way _I_ wanted to instead of the swat (excess garbage) that i got instead.

The stock BUIS are terrible, something highpoint would be ashamed of.

With long rails, you can buy almost any clamp-on BUIS you want. I don't remember if the front portion of rail is same height as the receiver portion. If so, you have a zillion options. If not, you may need to fiddle with height of the front sight, using either a spacer mount (sold by Bushmaster and others, usually in pairs for a scope) or an extra tall, or short, front sight post.

the factory front sight goes on top of the piston tube in a this dove tail recess. you need to get a samson front if you want to use it. otherwise get the samson rail and run any normal flat top front sight, but you lose some distances between the two sights.

 

[exar]

get yourself a samson front and a troy rear and be happy.

\

Yep. After looking around, the Samson appears to be the winner. The Sig rep even said the factory sights were crap and to get Samson.