Thinking about getting a Ruger AR-556

[fouled bore]

I have been thanking about buying an AR and being a big fan of Ruger guns, I have been looking at the Ruger AR- 556. I would like to other THR member's opinions on it. The price is right and it appears to have all the right specs as far as I know but again I really don't know a lot about AR rifles.

 

[Jackal]

While the Ruger isnt a bad rifle, there are likely better options for the money. The same money spent at Palmetto State Armory will buy you better specs, simply buying complete upper/lower halfs. Also, with the Colt 6920 OEM rifles dipping down into the $700 range, they are looking really nice.

Also look into the Radical Firearms FGS-12. For $500, its a very high value rifle (not "cheap" though).

 

[mrdemal]

Love mine. Very glad I purchased it. May get another.

 

[BP Hunter]

I have one and am very pleased with it. I honestly don't think bells and whistles are needed for the commercial nonmilitary user. The most I did with mine was I added an Eotech 512.

 

[fouled bore]

So is the Ruger AR- 556 a military spec gun? Can you add all the upgrades to it like any other AR?

 

[Jackal]

So is the Ruger AR- 556 a military spec gun? Can you add all the upgrades to it like any other AR?

No, it does not meet mil-spec standards on many important parts (barrel, bolt, etc). Yes, you can upgrade it like other AR's. Mil spec standards are a good baseline to use, but are not the best available.

Ruger customer service is second to none though, so even if a part fails, it will get taken care of for you.

 

[weblance]

I have a Ruger AR556, and if I were to do it again, I would probably buy the S$W M&P Sport II. The Ruger has a heavy trigger, the barrel is untreated, and the gas block pins fell out the first time I shot it.

Reports are the S$W has a lighter trigger pull, and the barrel is Salt-Bath Nitrided.

 

[Fishbed77]

While the Ruger isnt a bad rifle, there are likely better options for the money. The same money spent at Palmetto State Armory will buy you better specs, simply buying complete upper/lower halfs. Also, with the Colt 6920 OEM rifles dipping down into the $700 range, they are looking really nice.

Nailed it. Also the proprietary parts are a turn-off.

 

[shlike]

Here's my Ruger AR556. I really like this gun. Over 1000 rounds, not a single problem. I'm just an amateur, so I don't know all the nuances of "MILSPEC". I do know that the buffer tube on the Ruger is MILSPEC. I made it pretty with Magpul furniture, then more recently added a Vortex Crossfire II 1-4X scope. It's accurate, reliable, and makes a great range toy for me...

 

[Jackal]

Mil spec is a good baseline for certain parts (7075 buffer tube, hpt/mpi bolt, tested barrels, etc), but its far from optimal in other aspects. Mid length isnt mil-spec. Most aftermarket stocks, grips, barrels, sights, triggers and most parts that IMPROVE the rifle aren't "milspec". Low profile gas blocks and 99% of free floats arent mil spec. Neither are most optics choices.

Bottom line, mil spec is a decent starting point, but I'll take my LaRue (not milspec) over a 6920 (mil spec) any day. Besides, no cilivlian AR15 is truly milspec without the fun switch anyway.

 

[fouled bore]

Nice gun shlile.

I really like the Ruger AR but I will be checking out the others that were posted also. Sounds like being all military spec is really not that big of a deal. I had heard military spec was the only way to go.

 

[Skunkeye]

I recently bought the AR-556 as my first AR. For around $550, backed by Ruger's excellent customer service, I don't think you can go wrong. Every review I've seen has been pretty positive. There might be marginally better deals to be had out there, but I've never been disappointed by any Ruger I've owned, so I figured it was a safe buy until I learn all the ins and outs of the AR marketplace. I never really though of myself as an AR guy, but so far, I'm loving this rifle!

 

[fouled bore]

I have only seen a couple of them in gun stores and both were $550. I see more of the S&W and they are just a little more.

 

[Joshua M.]

Colt Expanse, $640... Add a $20 upper parts kit, for the dust cover, and forward assist, and you have a very nice Colt M4.

 

[fouled bore]

Colt Expanse, $640... Add a $20 upper parts kit, for the dust cover, and forward assist, and you have a very nice Colt M4.

That will be another one I will check out.

 

[giggitygiggity]

"Mil-Spec" does not equate to "the best." Mil-spec is a standardization. It basically says this part can be between this size and that or must have this or that done to this part or that. Mil-Spec ensures that a part or gun is built within certain specifications and ensures compatibility between other Mil-Spec parts. Some manufacturers might make parts outside of Mil-Spec, but their non-Mil-Spec parts could be better than Mil-Spec.

 

[wally]

Mil-Spec ensures that a part or gun is built within certain specifications and ensures compatibility between other Mil-Spec parts

And insures it was manufactured by the contractor with the lowest bid

 

[Quentin]

The purpose of milspec, at least true military specifications, is to keep products/parts up to a minimum acceptable standard and of course reject what is substandard. Too many firearms and components are substandard, whether they're held to military specs or not. Some are as good as or better. You choose what is good enough for you.

 

[Jackal]

I'd avoid the "Colt" expanse, since its not even made by Colt. They are made by Bold Ideas in TX, merely licensed by Colt. About the same as the discontinued "Colt" LE6900 that was made by Anderson.

 

[carlrodd]

Colt Expanse, $640... Add a $20 upper parts kit, for the dust cover, and forward assist, and you have a very nice Colt M4.

the colt expanse does not share a lot of the specs with a Colt 6920, and is definitely not an M4, if these are things that are important to the OP.

 

[webrx]

Have one, love it, very reliable so far, not an AR guy, did not want something to go mod out, wanted an ar to have as a range toy, home defense gun, the Ruger fits that bill and is backed by Ruger CS if I ever have a problem.

I suspect S&W to be equivalent, but it did not have the dust cover or forward assist or BUIS for the same price when I was looking.

For me the Ruger was ready to go out of the box without having to spend more money for accessories I thought should have been standard equipment.

Dave

 

[Milkmaster]

I love my Armi Lite AR but would not poo poo on the Ruger at all. Shoot it and enjoy it!

 

[fouled bore]

I got a Ruger AR556 for father's day. I hope to shoot it this weekend. [emoji2]

 

[Quentin]

the colt expanse does not share a lot of the specs with a Colt 6920, and is definitely not an M4, if these are things that are important to the OP.

Right now the Expanse lower receiver pretty much is the same as the LE6920 lower. My Expanse came with a 6920 stripped lower rollmarked M4 Carbine with the standard LE prefix serial number. But I hear Colt will be changing the LE rollmark soon. The difference in mine is the Bold Ideas target trigger group instead of milspec and a standard weight buffer instead of H buffer. I put a BCM midlength upper on the Colt lower and so far have been running the standard Expanse buffer. The only change, I put on a milspec CTR stock and MOE pistol grip. I'm pleased with the lower and it was the reason I bought the Expanse.

The Expanse upper does fall short of the 6920 upper, it's more on par with the Ruger and S&W economy ARs. That's understandable since the Expanse is Colt's economy AR. It is better than their 6900 of a couple years ago. It is built in Texas by Bold Ideas because union labor in CT would increase the selling price.

When the LE6920 lower is gone it will be harder to recommend the Expanse over other budget ARs. It's still a nice design though.