sig sauer 556

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firemanstrickland

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Hello all,

I need some help. I am looking at a sig sauer 556. I need every single opinion you have on it, history, reliability, accuracy, value, dependability, accessories, personal opinions, whatever you got. please help me! :confused: thanks to everyone.

David
 
I got one new, made on 15Sept2011. My favorite rifle. Great 2 stage trigger for combat rifle. MOA seems to be about 2 1/2 again a combat rifle not a target rifle. I have 1,100 rounds all mil-surp thru it not hic-ups at all. Runs clean, very solid feel in my opinion, son has an ACR and to me 556 feels sturdier. A joy to take apart and clean. It is my SHTF rifle. No optics on mine just the diopter sights, i was hitting steel sheep in New Mexico at 300 yards 7 out 10 round on average. I have no regrets about buying the 556. I believe if Sig could lower the price to $699 to $799 it would be a best buy. I have a H&K g3, DSA FAL, and Rock River N.M. this is my favorite go to gun. Their has been no complaints about QC on the 556 for over well a year now. That why i bought it, Sig worked out all the problems in this combat rifle, in my opinion. I bought it blind thru Bud's. You got to try the trigger, it is great for a combat rifle.;)
 
I have a Patrol 556 in 5.56mm. and a 556R, which is 7.62x39 and uses AK-47 magazines.
These are nice reliable guns for the most part. Early ones had some teething problems and the 556R has had some revisions for durability in the magwell. Early problerms were mainly canted rails, and partial separation of the rail, which are not integral to the receiver as on the AR-15 rifles & carbines.
These tend to be front heavy guns in comparison to the AR type. They use pistons and are "inspired" byt the Kalashnikov design and this is very apparant in the bolt and bolt carrier design. A big difference is the piston disconnects in these guns and the charging handle doubles as the lock key for this purpose. The piston tube is removeable and the rifle itself breaks down easily for cleaning.
Drawbacks;
There aren't as many accessories available for the Sigs as there are for the Ar - 15 style.
The SWAT type Sigs have a continuous weaver across the top so BUIS, front & back, can be used from the AR catalogs, but if the style of the Sig only has the rail on the receiver and a front sight in a groove on the gas block you need a special type of front sight to get the height correct. Midland Industries makes one. You have to be careful though because not just any AR front sight will work.
If you get a newly made one you stand a good chance of getting a nice rifle that will probably be quit reliable. They are not *AS* accurate as the AR type but are still very good.
One nice thing is the Sig has an adjustable gas system so even if you do get it really dirty a flip of the switch allows more gas to operate the piston and it will probably keep you going until cleaning time.
Red dot sights will work, Eotechs will work, that sort of stuff works, various slings will work fine. It's just those BUIS front sights that are tricky.
Any AR accessory that is special to the AR (like handguards, shoulder stocks, etc., will not fit the Sig. That to me is the one main drawback; the relative lack of accessories for the Sig.
 
I've run about 800 rounds thru mine at local rifle matches. So far I've had one FTFire, not sure if it was the cheapo PMC or a light hammer hit.

Early 556's had lots of QC problems. Newer ('11-'12) rifles are better. Look for my review of a friends 556R for details and pics. I'm happy enough with mine that my next rifle is probably going to be a factory 556 SBR.

BSW
 
You will find some QC complaints from early adopters, but I believe SIG has ironed those out. They are very nice rifles. I don't have the 556, but will be ordering a 556 lower for my 551 shortly for added flexibility. The 556R is on my short list of future purchases. Oh, and the 522 is a blast and eats any ammo I stuff through it.
SIG551_522.gif
 
I think these are better than the piston ARs, taking cheap and readily available AR mags is a nice bonus.

Mine has been very reliable, although with 62gr Wolf I need to set the regulator to "dirty" otherwise I get the occasional short stroke (my MSAR is the same) but the 55gr Wolf is fin on the normal setting.

IMHO the Sig 522 is the about best of the "Tactical look-alike" .22lr guns.

My only real complaints about the 556 is the front handguards move fore and aft, I know its only cosmetic, but that this price level I expect a bit better fitting. Easily fixed by removing the handguards and putting a dab of epoxy putty up front before reassembly.

I have the same complaint about the Colt 6920 I've looked at, although the issue is left-right handguard rotation instead of fore-aft slop.
 
Fireman, that's a earlier rifle with the folding and collapsing stock that is a bit wobbly.

The rifle in the pic does not have the diopter rear sight and I have no clue what scope that is.

New Classics can be had for under $1k on gunbroker.

BSW
 
I just bought one for $950 on GB. $1005 to me. Some folks are asking much more.

It is very easy to shoot well shoulder, but it is also very easy to shoot it well with the stock folded and the gun out front using the red dot I have on it. I haven't had it long, but so far it has been 100%. It tosses brass 15 to 20 feet forward and to the right at around 1:30.

The diopter sight is actually pretty nice, with a 300, 200, & 100, peep, as well as an open V for close shooting. I can actually use it with the Nikon red dot I have on it, and can use the red dot through the diopter, but the sight picture is small. That doesn't look like the diopter sight on mine.

It won't make me get rid of my ARs, but I am really liking it. Recoil is less than my BCM upper AR with the same load. I haven't done any hard test, but accuracy seems very good.

It is basically an AK type action, so reliability should be excellent. Taking AR mags is a big plus for me.
 

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I like everything I have seen about them. They are accurate, reliable, and from what I have seen, they have great ergos. By the way, thank you for your work in the fire service. I plan on joining my local department as soon as I finish my undergrad. It is truly one of the greatest and most satisfying jobs in the world.
 
I have one of the earlier SIG 556s, with the M4 style stock. I've put a few thousand rounds through it without any failures that I can recall.

The only problem(s) I've had with it was a very minor tear of the rubber dust lips in the charging handle track. SIG replaced the rubber dust lips while fixing my other "problem", which was merely that the original angled charging handle interfered with my EOTECH (SIG tossed in a straight charging handle when they returned the rifle).
 
I have seen a few guys with early ones at the range cursing a lot.
 
You snooze you loose! I am suprised no one talked about the trigger on there 556. Everyone that fires mine thinks the trigger is great.
 
You snooze you loose!
Click to expand...

Not always; I paid $1,500 for a Sig 556 SWAT model back in fall 2009, really wish I'd have snoozed. I'm just glad I didn't pay the $2,200 it was selling for in the summer of 2009.

You can currently get a Sig 556 and a Sig 522 for what I paid, plus now I have the knowledge that I could have transferred both through the place on post and not thrown $145 extra down the toilet on WA's sales tax :banghead:
 
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