Thought I’d do a review of my Sig 556 after its had a few rounds thru it. So far I’ve run about 1500 rounds thru this rifle: mostly PMC but some Hornandy, Federal, and Tula. So far I’ve had 1 malfunction, a failure to fire. Of course, this occurred during a rifle match, while the timer was running. I didn’t recover the round so I don’t know if it was defective or if it got a light hit.
The assembled rifle. Pretty much stock Sig 556 Classic.
Flash hider wear. Flash hider is from PWS and has been installed since I got the rifle.
Receiver wear from the cartridges impacting the side of the receiver. They all so that and they all dent cases too.
Field stripped. Little more complex than the parent AK design.
Gas piston head.
Gas regulator. No signs of erosion.
Bolt striped. The extractor is not normally removed except to replace it.
Bolt face wear.
Trunnion showing cam wear on the initial rotating cam.
Trunnion showing where the bolt carrier impacts on the right side.
Receiver rail wear.
Ejector.
Bolt carrier.
Receiver buffer plate.
FCG.
To summarize, I’d classify all the wear on this rifle as being parts polishing themselves in. I haven’t seen any signs of peening or other destructive wear. The parkerizing has worn off in places and the paint has too, but there just isn’t any metal being removed in significant amounts.
Thanks for the post. Mine has about 1800 rounds through it and looks about the same as yours. Although I stuck velcro at the rear of the ejection port before I hit 1000 rounds. Not a lot of love for the 556, but it is different than my AR’s and that’s why I got one. And who doesn’t like a folding stock. David
A small square of sticky-back velcro would’ve prevented the finish damage around the ejection port. It could still be of help with your dinged brass, although it won’t eliminate the denting problem entirely.
That’s why I only ever shot Wolf out of my 556. Thing ran 100% but had the accuracy of an open sights AK47 if that, and felt like one shooting it. Why they ran a 1/7 twist barrel on mine I will never know.
I think we’re on the same page here. I buy my guns to shoot, not look pretty and I use my Swiss Arms Bluestar coyote hunting ten months out of the year.
However, I try and salvage as much brass as I possibly can, because it costs me a damn arm & a leg to buy factory, even in bulk. Used brass prices are also crazy up here.
Compounding that is I’m living in Newfoundland, which is pretty much the furthest east you can go and still be in North America (If I start walking east, in about 300 yards and head due east I better know how to walk on water, 'cause otherwise I’m getting really wet! If I had said ability, next land would be Ireland, just a brisk jaunt of several thousand klicks!)
As a result, shipping is absolutely brutal, unless I can find a dealer who offers a flat rate or free shipping if you buy enough stuff.
I’m not proud, but yes, you’ll find me scrambling around in the rocks and dirt looking for that stray piece of brass.
As for MFS stuff, I find it a pain in the butt. It’s very dirty, offers crappy accuracy and, up here, is almost as expensive as much better ammo. For a few bucks more, I’d prefer to go with S&B or AE or PMC.
But for guys who haven’t tried it, use a piece of the “loop” side of the velcro. It really does help cushion the ejection process and minimize the brass denting as much as it is ever going to be possible anyway.
David
