User Panel
Great write up. I had the same kind of malfunction where the spent case got caught by the returning charging handle with mine when I ran it through a carbine class. Going to use only poly mags in it to avoid wear on that aluminum mag shelf too.
|
|
Son of a b!tch. I thought I was done buying for this year. I built a x39 AR upper already because I wanted something in x39 more accurate than an AK. If some successful suppressed 556R reviews start popping up I may ditch the AR and get the 556R to compliment my 556 and 522.
Thanks for the write up. ETA: How are you going to clean it? I was planning on dunking my AR in a tub of hot water and follow with boiling water like my Mosin minus the stock. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
|
mine had the same failure to eject problem once too. on mine it actually pushed the plastic cover off the charging handle.
|
|
Quoted:
mine had the same failure to eject problem once too. on mine it actually pushed the plastic cover off the charging handle. Could the plastic piece be removed and would that remedy this issue? |
|
Quoted:
Son of a b!tch. I thought I was done buying for this year. I built a x39 AR upper already because I wanted something in x39 more accurate than an AK. If some successful suppressed 556R reviews start popping up I may ditch the AR and get the 556R to compliment my 556 and 522. Thanks for the write up. ETA: How are you going to clean it? I was planning on dunking my AR in a tub of hot water and follow with boiling water like my Mosin minus the stock. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Already done cleaning. I used ALOT of foaming bore cleaner, it's high in ammonia and being a foam kinda sits and works for you, I detail stripped the gun, and just soaked everything while I did work for customers and then cleaned away. Really for the number of rounds that went through the gun it cleaned up fairly easy. The worse part was the gas system, the plug and tube had become bonded with carbon and needed a bit of persuasion to come apart. |
|
Quoted:
mine had the same failure to eject problem once too. on mine it actually pushed the plastic cover off the charging handle. I am wondering if a after market handle with a profile that dips down would fix it? The failure was not a big deal to me, a quick swipe of the charging handle cleared it and the gun was running again. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
mine had the same failure to eject problem once too. on mine it actually pushed the plastic cover off the charging handle. Could the plastic piece be removed and would that remedy this issue? It may well, I'll mess with it tomorrow., I noticed that the mouth of the case put a divot in the plastic portion of the handle |
|
Quoted: Quoted: mine had the same failure to eject problem once too. on mine it actually pushed the plastic cover off the charging handle. Could the plastic piece be removed and would that remedy this issue? the plastic piece can be removed but i dont think it would stop it or that i would call it an "issue". it has happened once in 600ish rnds in mine and only once in 1260rnds in the OPs. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
mine had the same failure to eject problem once too. on mine it actually pushed the plastic cover off the charging handle. Could the plastic piece be removed and would that remedy this issue? the plastic piece can be removed but i dont think it would stop it or that i would call it an "issue". it has happened once in 600ish rnds in mine and only once in 1260rnds in the OPs. It really seemed to be ammo related to me, We'll see how it runs from the bench with US ammo next; and then to feed it a miss mass of steel cased crap |
|
thanks for the great write up, good to see someone putting it to the test. Nice work !
|
|
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: mine had the same failure to eject problem once too. on mine it actually pushed the plastic cover off the charging handle. Could the plastic piece be removed and would that remedy this issue? the plastic piece can be removed but i dont think it would stop it or that i would call it an "issue". it has happened once in 600ish rnds in mine and only once in 1260rnds in the OPs. It really seemed to be ammo related to me, We'll see how it runs from the bench with US ammo next; and then to feed it a miss mass of steel cased crap so far every round through mine has been golden tiger FMJ. i still have a few light primer strikes with this ammo. it always goes off the next time through the gun. the second time i brought it to the range i grabbed some fiocchi brass cased boxer primed ammo to try but im a fucking idoit and grabbed the boxes full of spent casings i plan to reload for my x39 bolt gun instead of the boxes with actual ammo in them. i picked up a new pistol yesterday, a RIA 1911 in 9mm i still havnt shot. some things came up and i couldnt make it to the range this weekend, and next weekend ill be on call for work, so now i got a 556R with new iron sights that i cant sight in and a new pistol i cant shoot for 2 weeks. sucks to be me. ill make sure to go to the range by myself next time so i can spend time taking pictures and doing accuracy tests. hard to do when you're teaching 2 new shooters. also havnt cleaned mine yet. i usually clean my rifles once a year, if im in the mood. just keep adding CLP and they are good edit: oh yea someone warned me about the loose screws on mine so i had alraedy locktighted the rail screws before the first range trip. after the second range trip i decided to look at mounting a sling and noticed the rear sling mount can be flipped around, and mine was loose as hell. i almost lost it like you did. i flipped it around (me being left handed) and locktighted it in there. |
|
Quoted:
so far every round through mine has been golden tiger FMJ. i still have a few light primer strikes with this ammo. it always goes off the next time through the gun. the second time i brought it to the range i grabbed some fiocchi brass cased boxer primed ammo to try but im a fucking idoit and grabbed the boxes full of spent casings i plan to reload for my x39 bolt gun instead of the boxes with actual ammo in them. i picked up a new pistol yesterday, a RIA 1911 in 9mm i still havnt shot. some things came up and i couldnt make it to the range this weekend, and next weekend ill be on call for work, so now i got a 556R with new iron sights that i cant sight in and a new pistol i cant shoot for 2 weeks. sucks to be me. ill make sure to go to the range by myself next time so i can spend time taking pictures and doing accuracy tests. hard to do when you're teaching 2 new shooters. also havnt cleaned mine yet. i usually clean my rifles once a year, if im in the mood. just keep adding CLP and they are good edit: oh yea someone warned me about the loose screws on mine so i had alraedy locktighted the rail screws before the first range trip. after the second range trip i decided to look at mounting a sling and noticed the rear sling mount can be flipped around, and mine was loose as hell. i almost lost it like you did. i flipped it around (me being left handed) and locktighted it in there. Not really worried about losing the sling mount, it was popping me and my friend in the nose; so it was going to come off anyways. Glad to hear you've had good luck with the Russian ammo in it, I've got a decent amount of Yugo ammo but want to try out the other stuff for just in case. |
|
Tim,
Awesome review! I am hoping they come out with a Patrol version of the rifle eventually- SBR the Patrol and it would be a 21st century Krink! As to the mag shelf wear, you might want to contact SIG about that- if you got that much wear on only 1200 rounds, I don't think the receivers are going to hold up very well long term and they may want to look at a steel insert at that location. Other than that one issue, it looks like a pretty nice package overall. I am assuming the gun does not have a bolt catch? [ETA] I see in another thread it actually appears to have the bolt catch lever- does it just work manually since AK mags can't actuate it? I wonder if a AR mag adapter would fit properly and you could run 7.62x39 AR mags (more out of curiosity than anything) |
|
Quoted:
As to the mag shelf wear, you might want to contact SIG about that- if you got that much wear on only 1200 rounds, I don't think the receivers are going to hold up very well long term and they may want to look at a steel insert at that location. Other than that one issue, it looks like a pretty nice package overall. [ETA] I see in another thread it actually appears to have the bolt catch lever- does it just work manually since AK mags can't actuate it? We were doing some rough mag changes, using the ak method of pushing the old mag out with the new one. Right now I am going to run poly mags until I figure out another solution As for the bolt catch, the mag does not activate it, but something may be made to work. |
|
How about the stock? Is it the same one they put on the 556 or did they beef it up for the larger round?
|
|
Quoted:
How about the stock? Is it the same one they put on the 556 or did they beef it up for the larger round? I haven't handled the regular 556, from the looks of things it is the same. Seems to have held up fine. |
|
Thanks Tim for the great review and looking forward to your bench report!
I am seriously considering this rifle, but concerned about the mag shelf & money already invested in metal mags. Is there a successful drum mag tested yet? Obviously I'm new here and again thanks for all the participants feedback. MC |
|
Quoted:
Thanks Tim for the great review and looking forward to your bench report! I am seriously considering this rifle, but concerned about the mag shelf & money already invested in metal mags. Is there a successful drum mag tested yet? Obviously I'm new here and again thanks for all the participants feedback. MC Honestly the more I think on it, this must be why SIG shipped the gun with the Polymer magazine; how could they not know that a steel mag would tear up an aluminum shelf. It's not a deal breaker for me as I have AKs that I can use the steel mags with and I know in a pinch I could use steel mags for the SIG 556. I am considering having the area milled out and a new one piece steel insert made. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks Tim for the great review and looking forward to your bench report! I am seriously considering this rifle, but concerned about the mag shelf & money already invested in metal mags. Is there a successful drum mag tested yet? Obviously I'm new here and again thanks for all the participants feedback. MC Honestly the more I think on it, this must be why SIG shipped the gun with the Polymer magazine; how could they not know that a steel mag would tear up an aluminum shelf. It's not a deal breaker for me as I have AKs that I can use the steel mags with and I know in a pinch I could use steel mags for the SIG 556. I am considering having the area milled out and a new one piece steel insert made. Youre left with a limited selection of mags if you cant use steel. The bulgarian circle 10's have steel, and so do the US palm mags (stainless steel). not sure about the tapcos, but if thats the only thing you can use I think I'll pass. I believe this is a serious issue that needs to addressed, I for one was interested in one but not anymore. |
|
Nice review. I was wondering how the mag interface worked. If you take it easy the aluminum should hold up ok I think. Not a fan of the bolt on parts Sig has used though. The PTR-32 I have is all steel of course with nicely welded in mag adapters. That said it remains to be seen if it can be made to reliably run with a variety of mags. Looks like the Sig is GTG in this regard. Think I'd have to get a patrol version if offered. Its a maybe on the standard otherwise.
|
|
Thank you very much for the excellent report. I doubt any of the gun magazines would have mentioned the aluminum lower receiver wear where the magazine fits. I am looking forward to your range report in regards to accuracy when you get the chance. If it shoots decently, and I am sure it will, then I will have to get one of these if Sig addresses the magazine well wear issue in an updated version. Again, thanks again for posting a very thorough review.
|
|
Quoted:
Thank you very much for the excellent report. I doubt any of the gun magazines would have mentioned the aluminum lower receiver wear where the magazine fits. I am looking forward to your range report in regards to accuracy when you get the chance. If it shoots decently, and I am sure it will, then I will have to get one of these if Sig addresses the magazine well wear issue in an updated version. Again, thanks again for posting a very thorough review. If the stars align I will be shooting tomorrow morning at the local range. Will only have a couple hours though. |
|
Got 2 boxes of the Hornady SSTs, trying to find the tine to go shoot them
|
|
There have been issues reported with Wolf so...
I ordered a box of every type of 7.62x39 JG sales had in stock(They were out of wolf but I have that) Hopefully I can run a test this week. I'll try to get video. Also will try and find the time to test out the Hornady SSTs |
|
Did some measuring this morning.
Sig556R Firing Pin Protrusion; .065 AK Firing Pin Protrusion; .08 Got out to the range to shoot some Hornady SST, very nice, grouped right around 1 inch My ammo from JG showed up after I left the range so the wolf remains to be tested. The Hornady loading are steel cased so it isn't the steel that is the issue. |
|
Quoted:
Did some measuring this morning. Sig556R Firing Pin Protrusion; .065 AK Firing Pin Protrusion; .08 Got out to the range to shoot some Hornady SST, very nice, grouped right around 1 inch My ammo from JG showed up after I left the range so the wolf remains to be tested. The Hornady loading are steel cased so it isn't the steel that is the issue. AIM has these for sales but I've seen both good and bad reviews. So I was hesitant. I have to say this may change my mind. |
|
and here i came to read about gripes complaints and faults to sway my opinion against getting one.......damn looks like I'll have to pony up for one.
|
|
Thanks for the testing Tim, it's unfortunate that you had so many FTI and FTE's. It would seem that as long as the Yugo surplus holds out you'll have no issues with the rifle. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the rifle is 100% with various flavors of affordable Russian ammo.
|
|
Quoted:
Thanks for the testing Tim, it's unfortunate that you had so many FTI and FTE's. It would seem that as long as the Yugo surplus holds out you'll have no issues with the rifle. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the rifle is 100% with various flavors of affordable Russian ammo. I luckily have stockpiles of the Yugo. I am going to re order the ammo that FTE'd and try it on the open gas setting. Contemplating how to fix the light strike issue. I may do some mods to the firing pin. I am not giving up on the gun, it shoot MOA with the Hornady SSTs. I may call and bend the ear of my Sig rep on this |
|
Quoted:
That is the best option. Sig needs to be working double time to get a longer firing pin made for these.
Quoted:
Thanks for the testing Tim, it's unfortunate that you had so many FTI and FTE's. It would seem that as long as the Yugo surplus holds out you'll have no issues with the rifle. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the rifle is 100% with various flavors of affordable Russian ammo. I luckily have stockpiles of the Yugo. I am going to re order the ammo that FTE'd and try it on the open gas setting. Contemplating how to fix the light strike issue. I may do some mods to the firing pin. I am not giving up on the gun, it shoot MOA with the Hornady SSTs. I may call and bend the ear of my Sig rep on this |
|
Quoted: Quoted: Thanks for the testing Tim, it's unfortunate that you had so many FTI and FTE's. It would seem that as long as the Yugo surplus holds out you'll have no issues with the rifle. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the rifle is 100% with various flavors of affordable Russian ammo. I luckily have stockpiles of the Yugo. I am going to re order the ammo that FTE'd and try it on the open gas setting. Contemplating how to fix the light strike issue. I may do some mods to the firing pin. I am not giving up on the gun, it shoot MOA with the Hornady SSTs. I may call and bend the ear of my Sig rep on this I would be interested in hearing what your Sig rep has to say about the issues. |
|
Quoted: Steel Case Ammo report; I fired 20rd of each of the following boxes of Ammo. I also fired a few mags of Yugo with no issues. Brown Bear SP No Issues Brown Bear HP No Issues Brown Bear FMJ No Issues Golden Bear FMJ 2 FTE(Fail To Eject) Golden Bear HP 1 FTE Seller & Belliot FMJ No Issues Silver Bear FMJ No Issues Silver Bear HP No Issues Silver Bear SP 4 FTE Tula 122 FMJ 2 FTI(Fail to Ignite) All rounds fired on second strike, all that failed first strike had very deep set primers Tula 124 FMJ 3 FTI, All rounds fired on second strike, all that failed first strike had very deep set primers Tula 124 SP No Issues (Lucky I guess) UCW 122 FMJ No Issues Wolf SP No Issues Wolf FMJ (Black Box) 2 FTI All rounds fired on second strike, all that failed first strike had very deep set primers Wolf FMJ (Camo Box) 3 FTI All rounds fired on second strike, all that failed first strike had very deep set primers Golden Tiger 2 FTI (I saved one, the other fired on second strike http://www.timandevemcbride.com/SIG556R/Sig556R_fte_steel.jpg Typical Fail to Eject Were all the failures with Tapco mags? |
|
I used Tapco's exclusively that day. I check the mags by running a full 30rds of Yugo through them when I bought them. When I get a chance to test the gun again I will run the second gas setting and use steel mags if people want
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I may call and bend the ear of my Sig rep on this I would be interested in hearing what your Sig rep has to say about the issues. Talked to our Sig rep today he was very receptive; took notes(!) And promised to pass info up higher. |
|
another 400rds with no issues today, half of them through the suppressor (yugo and UCW ammo)
|
|
Thanks for all the info!
I was leaning hard toward the PTR32, but at the same price and with nearly 30% weight savings.... Sig might be the way to go. Now I have to try and decide if I want to wait to see if a Patrol model comes out (easier to SBR, as the only mod will be the barrel, nothing on the gas system). |
|
Quoted:
Thanks for all the info! I was leaning hard toward the PTR32, but at the same price and with nearly 30% weight savings.... Sig might be the way to go. Now I have to try and decide if I want to wait to see if a Patrol model comes out (easier to SBR, as the only mod will be the barrel, nothing on the gas system). I don't know which one to buy, the PTR or the Sig, can anyone tell me how accurate the Sig rilfe is out to 200yrd? |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks for all the info! I was leaning hard toward the PTR32, but at the same price and with nearly 30% weight savings.... Sig might be the way to go. Now I have to try and decide if I want to wait to see if a Patrol model comes out (easier to SBR, as the only mod will be the barrel, nothing on the gas system). I don't know which one to buy, the PTR or the Sig, can anyone tell me how accurate the Sig rilfe is out to 200yrd? Kinda how I feel. |
|
So How long should I wait to get one of these, 6 months, a year? I'm always skeptical on first run guns any manufacturer puts out...
|
|
Quoted:
So How long should I wait to get one of these, 6 months, a year? I'm always skeptical on first run guns any manufacturer puts out... I decided to go ahead an start purchasing equipment to build my SBR upper. I will wait and see if SIG produces a Patrol version of this rifle (or 5.45x39 version). I did find that Troy makes a BattleRail for Sig556's, so you could take the 556R and have lots of mounting options for various toys from optics to flashlights. The problem is that I would want to SBR this rifle as well... and the longer piston system would mean that I would be limited to removing just a few inches of the barrel. The patrol has (or at least looks to have) a shorter piston system, which makes it perfect for SBRing. So, a 556R Patrol would be an amazing set up to cut down and still be able to slap a suppressor on. |
|
I’ll start with the issues I saw as soon as we started tearing down the gun, the lower is Aluminum and does not handle the steel magaziness well, there was a noticeable amount of wear on the Magazine Shelf area.
Magshelf wear A solution to the issue would be a steel insert for the entire shelf area, not just the top of it. I just got my rifle back from Sig repair and they have modified the lower receiver to fit a steel insert for the entire shelf area along with what I'm pretty sure is a new mag release lever. Mags lockup tight now, comparable to my AK's. They also addressed the loose upper / lower fit on my rifle. The accepted solution here before was to utilize a foam earplug to take up the gap but I felt that was an unacceptable solution. The upper / lower fit on my rifle is now tight and I look forward to a range session to try it out. |
|
Quoted:
I’ll start with the issues I saw as soon as we started tearing down the gun, the lower is Aluminum and does not handle the steel magaziness well, there was a noticeable amount of wear on the Magazine Shelf area.
Magshelf wear A solution to the issue would be a steel insert for the entire shelf area, not just the top of it. I just got my rifle back from Sig repair and they have modified the lower receiver to fit a steel insert for the entire shelf area along with what I'm pretty sure is a new mag release lever. Mags lockup tight now, comparable to my AK's. They also addressed the loose upper / lower fit on my rifle. The accepted solution here before was to utilize a foam earplug to take up the gap but I felt that was an unacceptable solution. The upper / lower fit on my rifle is now tight and I look forward to a range session to try it out. Wow I'd love to see pictures of the mag well area |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I’ll start with the issues I saw as soon as we started tearing down the gun, the lower is Aluminum and does not handle the steel magaziness well, there was a noticeable amount of wear on the Magazine Shelf area.
Magshelf wear A solution to the issue would be a steel insert for the entire shelf area, not just the top of it. I just got my rifle back from Sig repair and they have modified the lower receiver to fit a steel insert for the entire shelf area along with what I'm pretty sure is a new mag release lever. Mags lockup tight now, comparable to my AK's. They also addressed the loose upper / lower fit on my rifle. The accepted solution here before was to utilize a foam earplug to take up the gap but I felt that was an unacceptable solution. The upper / lower fit on my rifle is now tight and I look forward to a range session to try it out. Wow I'd love to see pictures of the mag well area +1 and keep us updated if you decide to give it another day long beating! |
|
Quoted:
I’ll start with the issues I saw as soon as we started tearing down the gun, the lower is Aluminum and does not handle the steel magaziness well, there was a noticeable amount of wear on the Magazine Shelf area.
Magshelf wear A solution to the issue would be a steel insert for the entire shelf area, not just the top of it. I just got my rifle back from Sig repair and they have modified the lower receiver to fit a steel insert for the entire shelf area along with what I'm pretty sure is a new mag release lever. Mags lockup tight now, comparable to my AK's. They also addressed the loose upper / lower fit on my rifle. The accepted solution here before was to utilize a foam earplug to take up the gap but I felt that was an unacceptable solution. The upper / lower fit on my rifle is now tight and I look forward to a range session to try it out. Wow. Sounds like Sig is taking this weapon serious. I'm still torn between a PTR 32 and this. Accuracy is a factor but weight plays a part as well. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I’ll start with the issues I saw as soon as we started tearing down the gun, the lower is Aluminum and does not handle the steel magaziness well, there was a noticeable amount of wear on the Magazine Shelf area.
Magshelf wear A solution to the issue would be a steel insert for the entire shelf area, not just the top of it. I just got my rifle back from Sig repair and they have modified the lower receiver to fit a steel insert for the entire shelf area along with what I'm pretty sure is a new mag release lever. Mags lockup tight now, comparable to my AK's. They also addressed the loose upper / lower fit on my rifle. The accepted solution here before was to utilize a foam earplug to take up the gap but I felt that was an unacceptable solution. The upper / lower fit on my rifle is now tight and I look forward to a range session to try it out. Wow. Sounds like Sig is taking this weapon serious. I'm still torn between a PTR 32 and this. Accuracy is a factor but weight plays a part as well. What is the weight of the 556R, can anyone tell me? I know the PTR32 is like 10lbs. unloaded. |
|
I really want Sig to do right with these rifles. I was ready to drop some cash until I saw all of the poor reviews. I'm glad to hear that they are addressing the magwell issues, now they need to focus on reliable extraction and feeding...
|
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.