Held a new Sig 551 A1 today at a local gun shop.  Takes the Sig proprietary magazines.  Has the Sig folding stock.  Dealer told me it was a Swiss lower.   Don't know if that is true.  Told me also that it has the original Swiss sights but it is the cheap 556 diopter sights.  Still overall a cool looking rifle.  dealer also told me it is just a limited run of about 200.  Saw the video on facebook.  Does anyone know if it is just a limited run?  Dealer was selling them for $2400.00.  For that price I would buy a FN SCAR.  Also seem that CDNN is not the only place selling them.  Friend in AZ said they are getting them there also.  Again does not seem like a limited run and that it is just a new rifle and not just an exclusive one.

Way overpriced! I'd go for a Swiss 551 kit + a standard classic before I'd do that. I see on Gunbroker they want an arm and a leg also. They do now offer an aluminum lower for the 55X rifles in Switzerland that takes the Swiss mags but I think this particular lower is US made. The shots I've seen of the Swiss unit have different lightening cuts vs this domestic offering.

I would get a SCAR for the 2400 price.  That's just me.

The SCAR would be the easy choice with $2400 to spend.   What shop was this at?   PM me if you do not want to post it.

Kisara
Are you in Northern or Southern Nv?

I just bought one in Birmingham, Alabama for $1500. The dealer had three for sale, and sold them all within 24 hours. $2400 is ridiculous. Don't know if it is a limited run or not.

$2400.00 is ridiculous.  I bought the Sig 556 when they first came out.  Had the Fugly forearm and stock.  Changed them all put my BUIS and noticed the rail was messed up. Sent it back got it fixed.  I think I will wait and see how this comes out this time.  Still looking at a SCAR.

We're running them for about $1600 or so where I'm at.  It appears to be an original Swiss stock, but the handguards are the Israeli/Chinese iTac crap, as are the diopter sights.  The lower is definitely US-made.  Overall, it's better than anything else Sig has put out so far, but still nowhere near an original.

Show me some pic's, so i can tell you its swiss or not

Here's mine.  Just picked it up yesterday.  Fit and finish seems to be excellent.  It's getting shot this weekend.  I'll have to report back when I hit some paper with it.

I will hopefully pick one up if I can get the cash for it in time.  If this is a limited run I'd like to get it before they go for a crazy price.  I'm hoping it won't have the typical Sig QC issues.  Picking up a Springfield M1A Loaded this weekend.  If I have good luck with it, I will consider myself blessed and try for Sig 551-A1 next!

This is mine from Switzerland.



If you need to see more detailed photo just let me know.

For some reason I think I like yours better!

Me too.  

Looks pretty nice. I didn't realize they did a color refinish on the receivers. That hideous HG has to go. $1500 sounds more reasonable. It is really just Sig556R with mag well openning made for Sig magazine.

Also interesting flash hider. Can you get a closer pic? It looks like Sig may have found a local machine shop make it look like old Swiss design.

B.P.W. (Birmingham Pistol Wholesale) has seven of them for sale on Gunbroker at $1595.00 a piece. Thats pretty good. I just picked mine up from them yesterday. They cut the box open right in front of me. These look great. I have great hopes. I like the finish. The sig gray with a "parkerized" texture. Upper and lower play is very minimal. Stock is original swiss with solid, no movement lock-up. Even the front gas block is refinished in the same color.

I agree that the sights and the handguards have to go. The magazine release is in a slightly different location than the original swiss lowers, but when a magazine is inserted, the release lever moves toward the magazine body ever so slightly. This makes the lever much easier to access. With practice, magazine changes with the "rock and lock" mags will be effortless. With CDNN magazine prices at $50, some of the sting is minimized. Plus it ships with brand new swiss 20 and 30 round mags. The owners manual is a fairly cheesy xerox copy booklet. The flash hider look is growing on me.

Overall, I think the changes Sig has made in this latest version might warrant a re-assessment of the "Sig never listens" and "Sig had their chance to do it right" chants I read so often on forum sites. I'm not saying it is as good as a Swiss Arms 551 but, with a few minor tweaks, this could really become a solid little rifle. Maybe QC has improved. I will take it to the range and report back.

I agree with the post from before on all accounts.  I took mine to a competition yesterday and ran it with a few extra mags I purchased.  Sighting in proved a little challenging as the rear diopter is definitely a little on the chinzy side but managed to get it relatively sighted.  Other than that, shooting was a pleasure.  I did have one double-feed in the second course of fire with the 20-rounder but I will monitor this going forward as this is often due to a magazine fail rather than a rifle fail.  All in all, it ate a couple hundred rounds with only that one hitch.  

If this rifle is in reach to a shooter pricewise it might behoove you to change out a few of the parts.  I plan on buying a factory sling an a real 551 handguard.  These parts are readily available.  The original Swiss diopter is available as well but at just under $500 I'll probably pass.  A few more pics:

Must fight the urge to max out the credit card.

Ha, ha. Exactly! But the cost of mags is a deal breaker. Now were Sig to offer a patrol version well..........................................................

So this is basically an Americanized Sig 551? The ones people wanted when Sig released the 556? Cool. Not my cup of tea, but Sig bringing this to the market is pretty cool.

THIS is the rifle they should have come out with in the first place.  Looks like they may finally have cleaned the shit out of their ears.

After buying an original 556 and later a Classic, and experiencing their cheery and helpful customer service, I for one say they've had their chance and aren't getting any more rifle business from me.

Is this rifle a limited edition or will it be a full production run?

I understood this as a limited run of rifles but I could be wrong.  I've been looking around the internet and getting any information on this gun isn't easy.  I am fairly sure CDNN actually built/assembled these rifles, not SIG.  SIG also isn't the ones selling them.  They're exclusively sold by CDNN although all the accompanying warranty information lists SIG SAUER and not CDNN.  Not quite sure.  Maybe they were built for CDNN by SIG or something.

A step closer toward what should be coming out of Exeter.  But still needs Swiss-spec diopters,  have a steel optics rail rosette welded in place, and SIG needs to prove that they've ironed out their numerous QC issues. And for lose the flash hider that was obviously a total afterthought.

Noticed there is a review that was posted;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6fWpJG0dLc

SEXY!!!

Odds are it's an exclusive production run for CDNN.  It's definitely not "assembled by CDNN" since the receivers are clearly marked 551A1, and there's a half-dozen parts specific to that model alone, that only SIG could have produced.


Overall, it's a pale imitation of the real thing, that uses expensive magazines.  It looks better than the Classic, but they still insist on using cheap Israeli handguards and iron sights that make a WASR-10 look good.

That's a good point as the upper is marked 551-A1, plain as day.  Agree with the rear diopter and crappy handguards.  A proper diopter is more than $500 but the actual SIG handguards can be had for $100.  Handguards are definitely coming.  I thought about the proper diopter but I've already ordered a Zeiss Z-Point so I'll probably just remove the diopter all together.

Said I would not buy one. But, then I did. I went by my local dealer today and handeled one and it is really well built. Its tight and feels great. Also my dealer had a lot of 30rd mags for $40 each. The more I held it the more I wanted it. So I did. Buy it that is..$1500 otd  He had 5 of them.

The finish looks great and I like the padel mag release.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYq7n12X26g&feature=related

seems like it might not be a limited run... this is the gun i always wanted if the finish is as good as this sig rep claims


it's about time..................   i gave up on these a long time ago but now i'm excited


hey could any of you guys who have one post more close up pics please?
they still don't look quite like these   :   (

.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

New SIG SIG551A1
SIG Sauer will soon be shipping the SIG 551-A1. This rifle is essentially a SIG556 upper receiver, with Swiss-style furniture, combined with an aluminum SIG 551-style lower receiver. The biggest difference between the SIG 551A1 and the SIG 556 is that the former uses Swiss transparent polymer magazines instead of AR-15 magazines.


TACTICAL PRECISION, For 2011, SIG SAUER® is offering several variants to its tactical platforms. NEW to this lineup is our new SIG551-A1, chambered for the widely used 5.56 x 45mm NATO caliber using Swiss Polymer magazines. The SIG551-A1 features a distinctive swiss folding stock, and an M1913 rail for accessory attachment. The 16” barrel features four-groove rifling and a twist rate of 1:7”. The SIG551-A1 measures 36.1” but can fold to 26”, making it ideal for situations where maximum maneuverability is required. For Special Forces requiring an accurate, more potent rifle, chambered in 5.56 x 45mm NATO, the SIG551-A1 sets a new standard for dependable operation and function.

This rifle will mainly appeal to law enforcement or consumers, who would rather use the Swiss transparent polymer magazines instead of standard AR-15 magazines, and collectors.

Specifications
Caliber5.56X45mm NATO
Overall Length36.1”
Length with Stock Collapsed34.6”
Length with Stock Folded26.0”
Barrel Length Without Flash Suppressor16”
Operating SystemGas piston, rotating bolt
RiflingLead 1 in 7”
Number of Grooves4
Muzzle BrakeFluted
Sight Radius18.0”
Weight without Magazine7.0 lbs
Magazine TypeSwiss Polymer
Magazine Capacity20/30
Trigger2-Stage
Trigger Pull7.5 lbs
NRA's American Rifleman staff took the SIG 551A1 out to the range ...


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I'm glad to see that Sig is finally starting to bring some of the Swiss features to the US market instead of those 556 abortions. Hopefully if these guns become popular it'll cause the 551 style mags to drop in price.



If I picked one up, I'd probably definitely swap out the lower for the Swiss version though.

I sprayed the receiver last night with Rem Oil and let it soak overnight and it looks even better. It darkened up the grey color a bit more. I'm definatly going to swap out the hand guards for Swiss cause they are only $98. The lower loks identical except for the numbers  and the trigger guard which I think looks better than the Swis guard. The lower is a great idea except for the fact they cost more than the gun. Which they would loosen up on importing the parts kits. Maby someone in Canada could import parts kits into canada. Then lowers would be affordable. There is a great loriginal FA lower and bolt assy for $2500.00 on GB  To rich for mr but...

I still like the 556 and have two that are great. It would be nice to be able to own a real 551 but they are rare and cost to much. I know of a real one from preban days that a dealer has (His Own) but I could buy a car for that price.

The fit a finish are great. I put a ruber washer cut in hale inside the lower at the pin and mine has ZERO movement!

more pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How is the accuracy?

As good as my 556 Clasic SWAT and that is as good as any AR I own. Really good 1 1/4" 5 shot group at 100 yards form beanch and bags.

West Coast Armory in Bellevue, WA had a run of Factory Sig 551's built with the real swiss lower and the correct US parts count. That run was limited to 250 rifles with a certificate from Sig stating what they are.Yes they are are sold out at $4000+ each. But they were made by Sig with TRUE 551 parts. Check out www.sig551.com

I assume you work for West Coast Armory based on your handle.  Were these not standard made in the US Sig Sauer 556 barreled uppers that were marked "551" and were mated to a Swiss lower and Swiss furniture?  These are a novel and overall well done variant of the 556, but a Swiss SIG 551 they are not.

I heard that as well. The receiver, barrel and bolt ar standard Sig 556 along with other parts that are required for 922 compliance. Right now you can buy a complete part set for the 551 including the full lower, bolt assy and all parts for $2200. One guy has a like new FA lower and bolt assy for $2400 with original hand guards. That would look really cool on a new 551.