JDI already has parts available. Drop a line to dave (at) johndoeinvestigations (dot) com. They are bringing in lots of interesting stuff in the future…can you say SAPR?
BoringGuy45, I think my Sig556 SBR is my favorite military style semi auto rifle. It handles great and runs like a champ, though I have to say that it’s overgassed. Of course it’s not alone in that department.
I personally love the fact that it takes AR15 magazines. My Classic runs like a champ too, but it is front heavy and has the old more difficult to get to magazine release. Sig USA has obviously earned their reputation for hit or miss quality, but I seemed to have lucked out and am glad that I have both rifles.
Yes I can but only after saying SG 553R…
I’d certainly like to get one at some point if there’s the option of upgrading parts on it. I checked out the 556 forums, and apparently there’s a guy who does redrilled gas valves that apparently have solved that problem. If you haven’t already, check it out.
I like the idea behind the 556. A 55x series that takes STANAG mags was a great idea. One thing about Sig Sauer, for all their problems in quality, they’ve at least been innovative, and not in the Kel-Tec “what the **** is this monstrosity?” sense. I’ve wanted a 55x series of rifle for a long time, but what really has made me obsessed with it lately was the 556xi. It’s an excellent idea that’s been hamstrung by Sig Sauer’s corner cutting. Had it been made with the same quality that you find in ARs from companies like BCM or Daniel Defense, I’d have one by now. Honestly, it looks like it’s a 3rd party, high quality parts kit away from being an excellent rifle.
So, I got to handle a 556xi today. It’s a shame that it’s such a hit-or-miss with Sig quality because I would have put money down on it right there if it really was going to be classic Sig quality. The rifle was light, comfortable, and it appeared that all the controls were in a good place. The trigger, however, sucked some pretty diseased balls. Seriously, it was as mushy and heavy as the worst bullpup trigger you could imagine. I had just gotten done shooting my Geissele SSA equipped AR, so I was somewhat spoiled though.
I couldn’t help but wonder if it wouldn’t be a bad idea for some American parts company to make higher quality replacement parts for the American 556s that would bring them closer in quality to the Swiss rifles. Of course, because of the mishandling of the 556 by Sig, it’s probably not popular enough for any company have a good enough market to do that.
The problem is in the corner cutting that occurred with the entire rifle. The receiver construction of the 556 is not up to par with the Swiss 55x. The early 556s had more welds and were closer in quality to the Swiss receivers, though still not their equal as they lack furnace brazing. The current production trigger on the 556 is also not the equal of the Swiss 55x. Early 556 FCGs were pretty close. The good news is that Shooting Sight makes a match wire EDM tool steel hammer and sear.
Basically someone other than Sig Sauer Exeter needs to make the 55x series domestically for it to be a really good rifle. I do believe that an early 556 can be made a great rifle IF it has been worked over by a good gunsmith to have a steel rail or diopter rear sight welded in place and the critical internal components swapped for Swiss components. The early barrels were made by FN, so these are GTG. Early FCGs, gas pistons, early bolt groups (these were Swiss) are all GTG. So a properly smithed rifle with a Swiss lower should be GTG. The issue is that with all this work you are going to be pushing close to the price of a Swiss 553.
And if you were looking at the 556xi Russian I would think the incoming SG 553R would be a no-brainer considering their cost compared to what it would take to improve a 556xi model.
Exactly.
Incoming from where? Please elaborate.
Not sure what to elaborate on other then what JoshNC has said in other posts, we have a true Swiss Arms importer in JDI Firearms and his order of SG 553R’s in pistol format will be hitting the country in December, at a price of $2200-$2300 depending on the exchange rate. Go to facebook and search for JDI firearms, of course I can say this as I have already prepaid for one I will be SBRing as soon as they hit.
I don’t do Facebook, but I used my wife’s account to find their Facebook page. It doesn’t show anything about a SG 553R. They have a website listed, but it actually goes to some private investigator company. Any other way to get info on this offering?
…
If you look through the posts on John Doe’s facebook page you will see his post where he lists the 100 SG 553 R’s that he his importing. I personally see it as an improved AK platform, with a much better trigger, and am particularly interested in running it through it’s paces.
I’m fond of my two 553’s and 551-A1. I realize they’re a bit antiquated but they’re a ton of fun to shoot and I like the feel of the “classic” forend in hand. So much so, that I’m building a couple of AR’s w/ MOE SL forends which are quite similar in shape.
Still can’t find that, but I did email them. I received a prompt response and quick answers to my questions. I’m going to buy one. It will be a nice companion to my 556 SBR. I really like how the 556 takes standard AR15 magazines and this SG 553 R will take standard 7.62x39 AK magazines.
I searched the internet for any other mention of these coming in and can’t find anything. Usually there’s a lot more talk when things like this happen. Regardless, I do appreciate the information.