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 | |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56X45mm NATO |
| Overall Length | 36.1” |
| Length with Stock Collapsed | 34.6” |
| Length with Stock Folded | 26.0” |
| Barrel Length Without Flash Suppressor | 16” |
| Operating System | Gas piston, rotating bolt |
| Rifling | Lead 1 in 7” |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Muzzle Brake | Fluted |
| Sight Radius | 18.0” |
| Weight without Magazine | 7.0 lbs |
| Magazine Type | Swiss Polymer |
| Magazine Capacity | 20/30 |
| Trigger | 2-Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 7.5 lbs |
NRA's American Rifleman staff took the SIG 551A1 out to the range ...
It’s a good ‘concept’ bring a truer SIG 5.56mm rifle to the US market, but even with the BF3 gamer market and all the SIG lovers out there at $2,000.00 plus $82 per mag, its only going to appeal to a select crowd who REEEEEALLY want a 551 esk rifle. I don’t see the sales figures on this rifle being very high, although I like it and may buy if the price drops. But with M-15s from Armalite sitting at a 1060.00 MSRP, with MidLength gas systems and easy and low cost customization (and they are far from the only AR manufacturer making it affordable)
Just saying that I got a new AR10 (the new one that takes PMAG 20LRs) for 1399.00 and can out fit it with a tritium folding front sight, mags ($19), rear sight, and magpul polymer furniture (w/rails) for about as much or less.
Lose about $600.00 on the price tag and this would be a hit being one of the most affordable piston drive tactical rifles and a SIG classic
My local dealer has cases of mags and sells them for $45 each. The mags are great and the mag release is my fav over teh Ar and 556 style button. No clicp needed as the Swiss mags all clip togther by themselves. The gun is really accurate. Close as I’ll ever come to a real 550
If you have an Beretta_AR-70 ot an SG54X (By Manurhin or FAMAE) you could modding the SIG550 mag for use it in your rifle
I had my hopes up, but it should have been more like:
http://autoweapons.com/photos09/mar/a882sig.html
:/
$82?!!! HOLY CRAP!!! Nevermind. I’ll pass. And they actually cost MORE if you buy the “Accessory Discount Set 1″, $87.50 instead of $82!
This guys from Sig Sauer USA really raped the reputation of the outstanding Swiss Arms rifles in US.
btr,
Yeah that’s pretty awful for magazine that probably cost $2 to make. $85 is a rip-off. For the price of five sig magazines you could have bought a nice pistol or a low cost AR15 upper or two to four complete AR15 lowers.
Always look at the price of magazine before buying a firearm. That’s what gets most people at the end of the day.
Hey, SIG — why, exactly, would I want to buy a rifle that only takes proprietary mags?
This would have been a welcome offering 5 years ago, but now, as SIG’s reputation tanks, it just seems desperate.
I see the magazines for the rifle are available from SIG for the low, low price of $82 each:
http://www.sig551.com/index.php/accessories
Too bad “No quantity discounts are available.”
Looks fun! finally a Swiss Army style rifle for collectors. Now if they can sell there older 7.62mm NATO rilfe soon.
“The biggest difference between the SIG 551A1 and the SIG 556 is that the latter uses Swiss transparent polymer magazines instead of AR-15 magazines.”
Small error; makes it sound like the 556 doesn’t use STANAG mags. Should swap the order of the rifles or change “latter” to “prior”.
Random thoughts from the owner of a ‘real’ Sig 551 SB:
- Wow, they sure raped that flash hider & barrel profile. They should have at least make it look like a Sig 551 LB instead?
- The front furniture is still not the real deal. I wonder why, must be a cost issue.
- The sights look pretty shitty compared to the real deal, but I’d have to shoot one to tell for sure.
- Real Sig mags on a $750 rifle? Really? Who thought this was a good idea?
- Low profile mag release? Why? It was handy to have it long?
- No sidefolding trigger guard? Sure losing charm quickly.
- Alu billet lower? *shrug*
- A1? Are you implying Sig Sauer USA made this thing better than the original? Sure doesn’t look like it.
They just should’ve named them Sig 556 -whatever-, but marketing would not agree, I’m sure.
Wait. So it’s effectively just a different lower for a Sig 556?
If you want AR mags, get a standard 556. Heck, the trigger packs/lowers aren’t even considered firearms by the BATFE, so you can buy a 556 lower to use with AR mags on your 556-A1 upper and still have it legally be one gun. Probably way more reliable than any ‘adapter’…
I’ve got mixed feelings on this one. Other than looks and the nice Swiss style stock, not much else going for it. Still the same barrel/gas porting, sights, and basic function of a 556… now with more expensive magazines! If the price is right, they might do okay. Otherwise, looks like a flop.
I bet if this is at all popular then someone somewhere will make an adapter for AR mags. But then again i’m bored with .223 rifles… There are a million AR variants and this seems like it is just another one of those. Don’t get me wrong I like this rifle but does it bring anything really new to the market that no one else does? Cause I like most people already have a .223 rifle…
swiss mags can be joined together to create a super mag.
It’s about time indeed.
Also, anyone complaining about the Swiss mags, get the 556 instead; that’s the variant that uses AR mags. That’s what it’s there for.
Handsome rifle.
-D
Frankly, I don’t want this one to take STANAG magazines. If they sell their polymer mags too, then I’ll be happy. They already sell one that takes STANAG magazines, wouldn’t it be superfluous? I’m extremely happy because I was, in the next month or so, ready to take the plunge on a complete conversion which is very expensive.
SIG can have my money.
Take my money
What’s wrong with the flash hider? The Swiss flash hider is integral to the barrel and nicely contoured. This just looks shoddy.
Couldn’t they offer an adapter that can switch between proprietary mags and STANAG?
I’m not familiar with the SIG 550 system but it seems to use a similiar paddle system as the AK… I recall way back when that someone was selling milled adapters for a STANAG magwell that simply clicked in
Swiss mags, instead of AR mags, = FAIL for the U.S. market.
I like it but it would be a lot better if it could also use STANAG mags in addition to the swiss polymer mags.
Ohh! I like it!
Now if we could just get Sig to release the 550-1 rifle here in the States.
It’s about time. This is the rifle that American consumers have been asking for ever since the Sig 556 was released here.
…..are there no transparent ar-15 mags available?