Quoted:
Good day fellow forumers! I am in rifle limbo and was hoping to get some assistance from you more advanced Rifle Jedi (I don't even think I'd classify as a padawan). Is the Sig 516 or 556 worth $200 more than a Stag? I don't know enough about piston or gas driven systems to know where to begin researching nor do I know much about anything else AR related. All I know is that I LOVE shooting ARs and I want one and plan to accessorize one.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Sig 516 and 556 are VERY different.
The 516 is essentially like an AR with a piston kit on it, more standard components, standard manual of arms (if you are used to an AR).
The 556 is basically the internals of an AK-47, wrapped in a modern shell that is more like an ACR than an AR, non-standard components, not the same manual of arms as the 516/AR.
In my opinion, if you can inspect the Sig and make sure it doesn't have any QC issues (Sig quality control has slipped in recent years, making them pretty much industry average, used to be top shelf), either will be a very very good rifle.
I can't say much about Stag, except they seem to be in the middle tier of AR manufacturers, with reviews online that are all over the place, some good, some bad.
If it were my $$$, I would not hesitate to spend an extra $200 to get a 516 over a Stag AR.
The 556 to the Stag or 516 is an apples to oranges comparison, imho. (I DO own a Sig 556 SWAT and love it, just fyi).