Ruger's AR 556

[feedthehogs]

I guess no one is interested in how it shoots, only in how it looks by the posts.

Frankly the video review could have done an accuracy test @ 50 or 100yds but it was the typical fluff piece from the gun mags.

However given Ruger's accuracy issues in the past with semi rifles, I imagine its just a given it will be a lead thrower and nothing to write home about.

If one's AR carbine length can't do moa or sub moa @ 100yds with various ammo, why bother no matter what the price?

 

[MachIVshooter]

umm...Glock sued them over the Sigma and they had to pay royalties to Glock and redesign it

Well aware of that. But despite similarities in trigger system, it's pretty difficult to make an argument that this:

Is a ripoff of this:



Any more than any other striker fired design is, whereas this:



Is clearly a copy of this:

right down to internal parts being virtually identical.

 

[chicharrones]

It looks like a nice version of an AR by Ruger.

Let's see, isn't that 3 mainstream firearms companies now that offer DI ARs? Remington, S&W, and now Ruger? This is going to make it tougher for the brands that the mainstream public don't recognize. Plus, almost every gun shop and Wal-Mart, Academy, etc. carry those three brands without fail.

I know a few people that if they do consider an AR, they don't know squat about AR companies other than Colt. If they walk in to an Academy and are shown this Ruger AR, consider it sold. Same with S&W, same with Remington.

IMO, of course.

 

[chicharrones]

Another thought. Will this end the Mini-14?

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Another thought. Will this end the Mini-14?

Well, I know which way I'd choose if I had the choice between an AR-566 at $750 MSRP and a Mini-14 at $900 MSRP. I imagine the Mini will still dominate the ban-state niche though and that isn't a small slice of the population by any means.

 

[chicharrones]

Well, I know which way I'd choose if I had the choice between an AR-566 at $750 MSRP and a Mini-14 at $900 MSRP. I imagine the Mini will still dominate the ban-state niche though and that isn't a small slice of the population by any means.

Good point. Those ban states elude my memory from time to time. Today was one of those times.

 

[Kynoch]

That's the rifle and price point they should have entered the market with.

Absolutely correct. Ruger entered with their horridly overpriced SR series of rifles. I'm sure they have been a sales disappointment. All the while, commodity ARs were cutting into Mini-14/30 sales. They finally reacted...

 

[Kynoch]

Does the gun world really need yet another AR?

That's not the question. The question is can a well-known company build and sell a commodity-priced AR and make money doing it?

 

[Jason_W]

That's not the question. The question is can a well-known company build and sell a commodity-priced AR and make money doing it?

Time will tell.

I can't be the only person out there who is getting really bored with the state of the gun market, though.

 

[Kynoch]

I predicted this. Tuh Duh!

Ruger is loosing their hind-quarters to S&W with their M&P15 lineup. This is their entry to grab that business. The SR556 is a niche due to the piston. Not really an AR, just very AR-like in the controls and sights and mags.

This is a real AR, thus the nomenclature. Ruger is a business, this make business sense.

I think BOTH are being eaten alive in this HUGE market by small, commodity-priced makers (assemblers) of AR variants. Unless politics get in the way, we're on our way to $399-499.99 ARs...

 

[Kynoch]

Well, I know which way I'd choose if I had the choice between an AR-566 at $750 MSRP and a Mini-14 at $900 MSRP. I imagine the Mini will still dominate the ban-state niche though and that isn't a small slice of the population by any means.

Until they create a "ban-state" AR...

 

[nipprdog]

If one's AR carbine length can't do moa or sub moa @ 100yds with various ammo, why bother no matter what the price?

Are you saying you expect moa or sub moa from a basic AR carbine?

 

[Kynoch]

Time will tell.

I can't be the only person out there who is getting really bored with the state of the gun market, though.

Ruger was never really one to innovate from a design standpoint. They have always been good at taking other peoples' designs, cost-reducing them and then selling nice copies of them for less money.

I suspect the total gun market is pretty focused today. The largest segments by far would be AR variants and Glock-copy variants. I suspect just those two segments comprise 50-75% of the ENTIRE US gun market.

That is going to disappoint those wishing for the "new python" or any serious breakthroughs...

 

[BobTheTomato]

Does the gun world really need yet another AR?

Yes....it is so horrible for us the consumer to have yet another choice.

 

[Jason_W]

Ruger was never really one to innovate from a design standpoint. They have always been good at taking other peoples' designs, cost-reducing them and then selling nice copies of them for less money.

I suspect the total gun market is pretty focused today. The largest segments by far would be AR variants and Glock-copy variants. I suspect just those two segments comprise 50-75% of the ENTIRE US gun market.

That is going to disappoint those wishing for the "new python" or any serious breakthroughs...

What Ruger did was actually pretty sound from a business standpoint. All of their "new" products were minor variations of existing products, so if one of those "new" products is a dud, they haven't lost a ton of money retooling equipment.

The actions of the manufacturers don't baffle me. The, for lack of a better term, bland tastes of the gun buying public as a whole do.

I'm a guy who likes my guns like I like my women: With curves and without plastic, so the prospect of a gun market that, with the exception of botique makers, is nothing but extra cheap, plastic stocked bolt rifles, ARs, and polymer pistols is a little depressing.

 

[Jason_W]

Yes....it is so horrible for us the consumer to have yet another choice.

Does that really count as another choice? It's just more of the same but from a different manufacturer.

It's sort of like being able to choose between Coke, Pepsi, or RC, but if you don't like cola, you're out of luck.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Until they create a "ban-state" AR

Ares already did; but I'm not sure if they can compete on price and manufacturing capacity.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Let's see, isn't that 3 mainstream firearms companies now that offer DI ARs? Remington, S&W, and now Ruger?

You don't consider Colt "mainstream"? ArmaLite isn't exactly a boutique builder, either. Or Bushmaster. Or DPMS.

 

[TMCCOY]

Does the gun world really need yet another AR?

Free market. Ruger would have had to assess the market and at that price, I"m betting they're going to sell a boatload which is great given the anti-freedom gun haters.

 

[chicharrones]

You don't consider Colt "mainstream"? ArmaLite isn't exactly a boutique builder, either. Or Bushmaster. Or DPMS.

Colt is a well known brand for sure. I did mention them when talking about ARs.

When I think of Colts in the 21st century, I almost always only think of their long term mainstay guns. SAA, 1911, and AR. So, defense and classic cowboy shooting. The other three brands I mentioned offer products like that, but also outside the Colt types. Compared to Colt, those other brands reach a broader base of consumers, IMO.

Speaking of ArmaLite, Bushmaster, and DPMS, mostly people with AR knowledge know of those brands. I do have an ArmaLite myself, but compared to Ruger . . . well Ruger is just more of a household name, IMO. And that is what I really mean. Ruger is another more well known name to the general shooting, or even " non-gun" type gun owning public.

Almost as well known as Chevy, Ford, Toyota.

 

[danez71]

Does that really count as another choice? It's just more of the same but from a different manufacturer.

It's sort of like being able to choose between Coke, Pepsi, or RC, but if you don't like cola, you're out of luck.

I long for the day that non-pistol gripped, center fire semi autos are made again...............

 

[MachIVshooter]

I long for the day that non-pistol gripped, center fire semi autos are made again...............

You prefer heavy, chunky, unergonomic things?

I love and respect the M1 rifle, but for any type of use besides nostalgic blasting, I'll take a .308 AR or FAL every day and twice on Sunday.

Pistol grips and angled or vertical forward grips make the most of human anatomy, and the controls locations on the AR platform and everything since that has mimicked it are far more conducive to ease of use and speed. Using 20 round mags, I'm betting any reasonably seasoned shooter could get 60 rounds out of a .308 AR faster than 24 out of an M1 Garand.

 

[HOOfan_1]

I long for the day that non-pistol gripped, center fire semi autos are made again...............

Mini-14
M1A
Browning BAR
Benelli R1
Remington 750

all of those are currently made

 

[zdc1775]

Yes, because MagPul sells those parts as OEM to Ruger and darn near every other AR manufacturer / assembler. Don't let your dislike of Ruger blind you from reality.

I never said that they did rip off anything of Magpul's. I just gave my supposed answer to a question asked. Unlike most it seems I actually like the idea of ruger building a normal AR-15, especially since it appears that some of its standard accessories, such as the grip, are closer to my preferance that the basic A2 version that all other budget rifles use.

 

[Kynoch]

What Ruger did was actually pretty sound from a business standpoint. All of their "new" products were minor variations of existing products, so if one of those "new" products is a dud, they haven't lost a ton of money retooling equipment.

The actions of the manufacturers don't baffle me. The, for lack of a better term, bland tastes of the gun buying public as a whole do.

I'm a guy who likes my guns like I like my women: With curves and without plastic, so the prospect of a gun market that, with the exception of botique makers, is nothing but extra cheap, plastic stocked bolt rifles, ARs, and polymer pistols is a little depressing.

I agree that it was a very sound business move and it's a move that Ruger knows quite well.

Ruger has always been a second stringer when it comes to say bolt-action rifles with their M77 brand. The standards were long Winchester and then Remington and if you wanted to spend a bit less or were an accuracy purist you went with a Savage.

When Ruger introduced the low-priced American (with a Savage-inspired accuetrigger) I think they were sort of conceding the higher priced bolt market. They are doing very well with their American, it offers a great deal of bang for the buck (pun intended) and it's putting pressure on their aforementioned competitors to offer more for less.

Ruger is now doing the same thing with their new AR. I think they have concluded that the SR (like the M77) is sort of an also-ran and that other peoples' ARs are eating away at their Mini franchise so now they are jumping into the market.

I'm sure a Ruger American in .223 costs nearly the same to build and market as an AR-556. Bud's currently has Ruger Americans for $342.00. I hope that means we're headed for $349.00 or even $299.00 AR-556s...