Anybody know anything about an Arsenal USA SSR-56. Good, Bad, Stay away??? Any help would be appreciated.

Sign_Wolfman

I've read conflicting reviews myself.  Some were good, some were bad.  The SSR-85C-2, which is built in Bulgaria, is a much better buy, IMO.

Bud

And not just because I have one for sale!  

Thought I would bump this one back to the top and hope I got some more input.

 

Sign_Wolfman

There are two versions  the SSR-85C and SSR-85C-2
and there can be big differences between the two.

SSR-85C-2
Made in Bulgaria, with a 1.6mm receiver.
Nice blonde wood and extremely well made.
I have seen them run from $550-$650 at TX gun shows.
But
All the ones that I have seen have the bayonet lug ground down,
and the slant muzzle break is welded on.
I have been told that in the future the slant break won't be welded
and the bayonet lug won't be removed, but I have yet to see that.
If I had the cash, I would purchase another one.


SSR-85C
Assembled in Houston, using Romanian, Polish, American.....(what ever is available at the time) parts.
1.0 mm receiver and the wood varies. Brown, Reddish, I have even seen green.
At Texas gun shows I have seen the price range from $450-$525.

This is the gun to watch out for.  I have seen perfect looking guns and I have
seen some that really look like crap.  Some are tight, and others are so loose
that you think you can just shake the gas tube or dust cover off.
And yes I own one of these too.  I got one of the crappy ones and I would not
make this purchase again.
But I have seen some SSR-85C that are much, much better than the one I got.
This one does have two benifits over the SSR-85C-2.
The slant break is not welded on, and most (but not all) still have the bayonet lug.

If you are going to spend 550$ and up on a Ak then go ahead and spend the extra $ on an Arsenal or China Ak. Why not get the 100% Factory built (REAL DEAL) Ak?

For $650.00 you could get a Arsenal SA M7 carbine ! I did, and I couldn't be er!!!

Roger3,

Both of my SSR-85C-2s have a removable slant brake/muzzle threads...but no bayonet lug on either rifle.  

Bud

I had one, it shot fine and looked great. What I didn't like about it, though(phycological I'm sure:) was the fact Arsenal  had to use a bushing to fit the Chinese barrel(19mm dia. IIRC) into the European trunion(22mm?). There were some problems on some rifles, when the barrel was pressed into the trunion they would go in crooked. I'm sure Arsenal took care of these under warranty.  I think Arsenal did finally have some Bulgarian trunions specifically manufactered for the Chinese barrels, but I have no clue how one could tell when this was done unless that's what they are calling the SSR56-2. I did sell mine, although I wish i had kept it now since it had the FEG receiver!!! BTW this only applied to the SSR56. I fairly sure the SSR85's didn't require the bushing. I think those used a Hungarian barrel with the European trunion so the size was correct to begin with.

Rick
SGF, Mo.

Quoted: Roger3, Both of my SSR-85C-2s have a removable slant brake/muzzle threads...but no bayonet lug on either rifle.   Bud

+1 mine is well put together, tight and loves fmj, but not hp.

$650 for a SA  M-7   Where???? More like $800 here

Quoted: $650 for a SA  M-7   Where???? More like $800 here

Jensen Arms had some SA M-7 Carbines listed for $649.00 a while back.  Check 'em out, they may still have some.