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Posted: 7/28/2012 11:07:32 AM EDT
| I have a 556 classic swat and feel it's too nose heavy. Would replacing the factory rail with 551 handguards make much difference? If so, should I order from Sig or go somewhere else? I do want a small piece of side rail for a light and bottom rail for a grip. |
| The rail adds a lot of weight. I replaced all my Swat rails with oeiginal pattern handguards. The original pattern or "classic" handguards have small rail sections that can be bought seperately from Sig and attatched to holes in the handguards, allowing you to mount your light. These handguards can be found used for about $40 and the rails for about $25. You can sell your Swat rail for $150. |
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I have a 556 classic swat and feel it's too nose heavy. Would replacing the factory rail with 551 handguards make much difference? If so, should I order from Sig or go somewhere else? I do want a small piece of side rail for a light and bottom rail for a grip. Yes! I put the swiss HGs and it makes a HUGE difference. Weapon now feels balanced. |
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One consideration you have to take into account when switching SWAT handguards for other handguards is that the top rail on the receiver is integral with the top rail of the SWAT handguards. You will need to get the shorter rail from a non SWAT 556 to put on your receiver to mount your rear sight or optics on. The SWAT handguard is 15.0 oz on the 556 compared to Swiss 551 handguards which is 9.1 oz . It's 5.9 oz in difference when you include the short rail with the 551 handguards. That's  SIG 556 Classic SWAT handguard swap by c.swimm, on Flickr  SIG 556 Classic SWAT handguard swap by c.swimm, on Flickr The real weight savings comes when you include all the "extras" that tend to attach themselves to the railed handguards. Lights, lasers, foregrips, rial covers, etc. It all adds up. I had my 556 SWAT outfitted with a Surefire light and short VFG and rail covers when I switched them out for the 551 handguards. I ended up saving a total of 17.2oz. That's almost a pound and a half and all up front where the 556 is already a little front heavy.  SIG 556 Classic SWAT handguard swap by c.swimm, on Flickr I went from this:  SIG Sauer 556 Classic SWAT by c.swimm, on Flickr to this:  SIG 556 by c.swimm, on Flickr I wish I had a comparable picture of the rifle with SWAT handguards and the Accupoint with Aurora sights. The rifle is still a little front heavy but it's much better than before. One other thing to consider is that Swiss 551 handguards don't fit the 556 gas block very snug. There is a lot of play in the front end of the 551 handguards if you don't do something to tweak the fit to the 556 gas block. The easiest method I have found is to stick a piece of a plastic zip tie in between the handguard front and the gas block. You cut a zip tie to length and tuck it in starting at the detent for hte gas tube and work you way around the gas block until you get back to the other side of the detent.  SIG 551 handguard zip tie fix by c.swimm, on Flickr when it's in place you will hardly notice it there and it snugs everything up well. It wraps in there tight enough that it tends to stay in place nicely when you remove the handguards the zip tie keeps itself in the gas block nicely.  SIG 551 handguard zip tie fix by c.swimm, on Flickr |
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One consideration you have to take into account when switching SWAT handguards for other handguards is that the top rail on the receiver is integral with the top rail of the SWAT handguards. You will need to get the shorter rail from a non SWAT 556 to put on your receiver to mount your rear sight or optics on. Thanks for all the input! One thing, I think my rail must be different because it does not integrate with the receiver? It does say SigSauer on it, mine is a JT0008xx serial number? I've also got a PWS Trident coming which may be a little lighter than the swat one. 
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The early SWAT models didn't have the handguard integral with the top rail. That makes the swap to another handguard a lot easier. Also if you decide to sell your railed handguard, you may find more interest in it since it will also fit on a 522 where the other one won't since the top rail on the 552 doesn't come off. |
| I found I really like the older "fishgill" hanguard...I now have that on my 556 classic and plan to add them to my sig 522's...The "swiss" guards are light and comfy so I have not decided to sell them just yet but I do need to find some fishgills in the mean time. I have heard the aftermarket rails like Troy or maybe it was Samson are lighter than the OEM swat rail? |
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I swear I just need to start molding high quality, heavy duty copies of the original handguard and folding stock in Black, SIG Green, and Flat Dark Earth...probably a million dollars to be made there! I said you should do that with the handguards on another forum a few months ago... I would be all over them lol Make them so they fit the 556 gasblock better so you dont need to use a zip tie and you have a one up on the sig 551 handguards. Depending on how much you can get them priced at you should sell a ton especially under 100. |
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I swear I just need to start molding high quality, heavy duty copies of the original handguard and folding stock in Black, SIG Green, and Flat Dark Earth...probably a million dollars to be made there! A combination of the two...Make 'em with the ability to accept rail sections. |
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I swear I just need to start molding high quality, heavy duty copies of the original handguard and folding stock in Black, SIG Green, and Flat Dark Earth...probably a million dollars to be made there! A combination of the two...Make 'em with the ability to accept rail sections. What the hell, I will start looking at it in the next few weeks when I have some "free time" (no such thing, but I will make some time). I need to get a thermocouple of measure the gas block temps to get an idea of what polymer would need to be used. Always need some new toy for the workplace.
Based on how the handguards work, we may go with a "veritcal split" like on M16A1 handguards- from a molding perspective it would be a lot easier to put side slots for rails in them and make them more stable than the rattle trap ones currently offered by SIG. Sven Manticore Arms |
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I swear I just need to start molding high quality, heavy duty copies of the original handguard and folding stock in Black, SIG Green, and Flat Dark Earth...probably a million dollars to be made there! A combination of the two...Make 'em with the ability to accept rail sections. What the hell, I will start looking at it in the next few weeks when I have some "free time" (no such thing, but I will make some time). I need to get a thermocouple of measure the gas block temps to get an idea of what polymer would need to be used. Always need some new toy for the workplace.
Based on how the handguards work, we may go with a "veritcal split" like on M16A1 handguards- from a molding perspective it would be a lot easier to put side slots for rails in them and make them more stable than the rattle trap ones currently offered by SIG. Sven Manticore Arms Count me in! 
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I swear I just need to start molding high quality, heavy duty copies of the original handguard and folding stock in Black, SIG Green, and Flat Dark Earth...probably a million dollars to be made there! A combination of the two...Make 'em with the ability to accept rail sections. What the hell, I will start looking at it in the next few weeks when I have some "free time" (no such thing, but I will make some time). I need to get a thermocouple of measure the gas block temps to get an idea of what polymer would need to be used. Always need some new toy for the workplace.
Based on how the handguards work, we may go with a "veritcal split" like on M16A1 handguards- from a molding perspective it would be a lot easier to put side slots for rails in them and make them more stable than the rattle trap ones currently offered by SIG. Sven Manticore Arms What do you mean by "vertical split". Not well versed in alot of the ar/m16 stuff. |
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What do you mean by "vertical split". Not well versed in alot of the ar/m16 stuff.
The original M16 handguards that were triangular in shape had a left and right side that gave it a vertical split instead of the horizontal split of the M16A2 round handguard which has a top and bottom. The SIG556 has more of a horizontal split as it has a top and bottom handguard. |
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The Swiss handguards do feel nice, but are hard to come by. I ordered my "Swiss Green" handguard and pistol grip for my 556 from "The Gun Factory" in Switzerland. Even with $40.00 shipping, they were cheaper than what I could find them for in the US. Also, the are the real thing and they fit perfectly. Look them up on the internet and email "Rolf". They are reliable. |
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Indeed, the factory polymer hand guards for the full size 556 is quite wobbly...Rather annoying.
The new shorter polymer hand guard for the Patrol/P556 is very solid with no play from the one's the I have handled. The new SWAT railed hand guard for the Patrol/P556 was recently re-designed, and is rock solid when mounted. I like the spring/pin that SIG incorporated into the unit. |
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