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federalist22
24 May 2009, 07:56
Ruger has released a 5.56 AR platform--the SR-556. Comes with Troy sights and rail, Hogue grip, Ruger barrel, piston, and more. Does anyone have one of these yet? If so, how does it perform and price?

http://gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/New+Ruger+SR-556

gotm4
24 May 2009, 09:03
I should have one in a week or two and I'll be shooting a few thousand rounds through it. My co-workers will as well.

I'll write a review of it.

Stickman
24 May 2009, 14:25
Who makes it for them?

federalist22
24 May 2009, 18:00
Who makes it for them?
Doing more digging, but it might be their own.

federalist22
24 May 2009, 18:09
Says on their website they make their own 41V45 barrel. The piston is chrome-plated, barrel is chrome-lined, bolt carrier is chrome-plated, regulator is chrome-plated, and gas block is chrome-lined. The piston they use has a 4-position adjustable regulator, 2-stage piston. Suggested rifle retail = $2K

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/SR556/index.html

Troy Ind. also prides itself on their parts (Rail/sights) on this Ruger, and they call it a Ruger- http://www.troyind.com/

Stickman
24 May 2009, 19:06
I'm sure Ruger makes the barrels, but the heart of that weapon is that going to be the piston, and I don't believe that is theirs. Not that there is anything wrong with that, there are plenty of companies that do this, and the few that make most everything themselves are few and far between.

bigcoastie
25 May 2009, 05:12
It'll be interesting with that price tag to see how it competes.

federalist22
25 May 2009, 07:40
Whose piston is this? http://www.gunsandhunting.com/forum/index.php?act=attach&type=blogentry&id=642

The Ruger operator's manual for this weapon says the Piston is a Ruger Piston: http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/PDF/InstructionManuals/68.pdf

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv358/federalist22/Picture1.jpg


More pics: http://www.gunsandhunting.com/forum/blog/heggenstaller/index.php?m=5&y=2009

m24shooter
25 May 2009, 08:58
I should have one in a week or two and I'll be shooting a few thousand rounds through it. My co-workers will as well.

I'll write a review of it.

Looking forward to seeing it. Curious about how it performs. If this is their step out of the Mini14 hole it would do well for them.


Suggested rifle retail = $2K
That might be a tough sell at that price point.

gotm4
25 May 2009, 13:45
That might be a tough sell at that price point.

That just means at most decently priced gunshops you'll see it actually sell for about $1700-1800

m24shooter
25 May 2009, 14:37
Hopefully. I saw two stripped RRA lowers at a LGS marked at $200 recently.

Stickman
25 May 2009, 16:32
I think we are starting to see a pretty large slow in the weapon push. All of the people who were buying in a panic have paid their prices, and bought things. Now we are looking at supply starting (just by a little) to catch up.


I think Ruger is a little late to the game, but the PDs that issue Mini-14s will probably be able to get a trade in towards these Ruger AR variants. That might be their angle....

CAPT KIRK
25 May 2009, 17:28
I think Ruger is a little late to the game,but the PDs that issue Mini-14s will probably be able to get a trade in towards these Ruger AR variants. That might be their angle....

OR..... Maybe our Sheriff Dept some day, once the financial crunch has passed of course. I cant stand the Mini-14 as a fighting rifle, maybe behind the seat of a pickup truck, but not in a fight.

gotm4
26 May 2009, 05:52
I think we are starting to see a pretty large slow in the weapon push. All of the people who were buying in a panic have paid their prices, and bought things. Now we are looking at supply starting (just by a little) to catch up.


I think Ruger is a little late to the game, but the PDs that issue Mini-14s will probably be able to get a trade in towards these Ruger AR variants. That might be their angle....

Yes Stick you are correct guns sales have peaked and now have been slowing for the last 3-4 weeks. Some things are still pretty hard to get, things like Kimbers, Glock 9mms and small 2-4" .38 and .357 revolvers. Ammo is catching up but .25, .32, .380, 9mm, and .45 ammo is still very hard to get in anything but a few different hollowpoints. We haven't had .380 for about 3.5 months.

I to believe that Ruger will target the agencies using the Mini-14 and very likely the Bureau of Prisons who've used it for sometime. S&W was successful is selling them M&P pistol since they had been using S&W revolvers.

trinydex
26 May 2009, 09:07
I'm sure Ruger makes the barrels, but the heart of that weapon is that going to be the piston, and I don't believe that is theirs. Not that there is anything wrong with that, there are plenty of companies that do this, and the few that make most everything themselves are few and far between.

addax said it looked like an adams arms piston kit. he's apparently tested all the piston kits out there, i was inclined to believe him when he said it looked exactly like an adams arms.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/3528289717_f597c358e1_b.jpg

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x148/mjs876/AR%2015%20build/P1020097.jpg

the bolts look similar

Addax Tactical
18 June 2009, 12:38
I am waiting to get my hands on a SR556 to test it out and tear it down.

I always like to see what the other piston heads are trying to do.[:D]

Edt: I was able to handle and shoot one briefly, and it is well built, but I think a little too front heavy. From what I now understand the piston system is one that Ruger worked on.

gotm4
21 June 2009, 06:18
This one my boss gave me to T&E.

Somethings about the rifle:
1x9 twist (they're supposed to offer them in 1x7 in the future)
M4 ramps
Mini-14 flash hider which has a crush washer so I'm guessing it's 1/2x28TPI and replaceable (I'll attempt this after some initial shooting)
adjustable gas regular (0 is off, 1-3 setting with 1 being the smallest)
proprietary bolt (but uses standard AR15 cam pins, firing pins, extractors and ejectors)
3.0oz standard CAR buffer and standard CAR spring
midlength gas system or close to it (very long gas block which is pinned to the barrel)
mil-spec receiver extension (end plate not staked into the castle nut)

I don't know why they used a proprietary bolt. The stuff that's replaceable on the bolt are standard parts. The carrier is 9.0oz and is a non-shrouded type and semi-auto. I'll be testing the effectiveness of the adjustable gas system with some Radway Green ammo I have. This stuff runs in my Colt/PWS gun just fine and on setting 3 on this Ruger is should work. Ruger seems to have addressed the carrier tilt issue by making the back of the carrier slightly oversize and really beveling the rearmost edge of it. The surface of the entire carrier is very smooth, it appears to be hard-chrome after a real high polish. After some initial shooting I'll try my AAC M4-2000 Mod 07 on it with a Blackout mount. I'd like to try the new M4-2000 muzzle brake if they'll send me one.


Here's some pics. I'll be testing it using my Trijicon TA01 in a LaRue RCO mount.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger006.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger008.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger011.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger012.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger013.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger014.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger015.jpg

Hawkeye
21 June 2009, 16:26
Looking forward to hearing what you think of it Robb.

gotm4
21 June 2009, 18:11
Looking forward to hearing what you think of it Robb.

Oh I will. Did you get those M&P45 parts?

Stickman
22 June 2009, 11:47
Yeah, I believe it is a version of the Adams system, but I am waiting to get my hands on a SR556 to test it out and tear it down.

I always like to see what the other piston heads are trying to do.[:D]



Sounds familiar, I had heard it was not an in house program, but I've still not got any solid info on its design.

usbp379
4 July 2009, 05:17
Any updates?

gotm4
5 July 2009, 10:30
I shot today with my wife and my buddy Matt. We shot at his range.

The Ruger had 6 stoppages in 1K rounds.
1st stoppage was a failure to feed with Radway Green 62gr FMJ Radway Green 5.56mm NATO ammo (gun was on setting 2 this happened after 390 rounds. After this stoppage I relubed the rifle with Militec-1).
2nd stoppage was a failure to extract, a very hard extraction. The extractor ripped part of the rim off an empty casing. I got it out by letting the barrel cool for 4-5 min then pouring water down the barrel followed by the weight of a cleaning rod and out popped the previously stuck empty.
3rd stoppage with this ammo was a failure to feed shooting the carbine using a urban/roll over prone position.
3 other stoppages were failures to feed stoppages using American Eagle 50gr hollow-point .223 ammo. It's very apparent that the Ruger does not like this ammo.

Mags used were mostly Magpul PMAGs 20 and 30 rounders and a few Lancer L5 30 round mags.
Ammo used was 55gr FMJ PMC .223 ammo, American Eagle 50gr HP .223, Federal XM193 55gr FMJ, Radway Green 62gr FMJ 5.56mm, Lake City M855 62gr 5.56mm, American Eagle 55gr FMJ .223 and Prvi 62gr FMJ 5.56mm NATO 'green tip'.

Shooting positions were off the bench sandbagged, kneeling, prone, urban/rollover prone, standing and SBU.
Optic was an Aimpoint M4S in a Bobro BLAC (QD) mount.

We took turns shooting and shot the 1K rounds in about 5 1/2 hrs, just over 250 rounds were shot suppressed on gas setting 1 with my AAC M4-2000 Mod 07. During the suppressed shooting the bolt, carrier and upper receiver got a lot dirtier very quickly, not surprising as this typically occurs in both DI and piston guns.



Conclusion:

This many stoppages in my opinion are unacceptable even with a new rifle. It did do better than I thought it would have but still in my opinion it didn't do any better than I have had direct impingement AR15s do. I've had DI ARs do 1/2 and less than that stoppages in the first 1K rounds. The receiver extension does show signs of pretty extreme bolt tilt....not good. I can't recommend this rifle.

This gun gets extremely hot. We had to stop 8 times to let it cool down and try again. We used the 3 Troy rail covers that came with it. 3 Magpul XT rail covers and a Daniel Defense forward grip. Toward the end of the day one of the Troy rail covers self ejected and popped off on its own because of the heat. My wife did burn her self touching the gas block on accident. I think the Ruger gets hotter than DI guns because the barrel isn't free floated and does contact the proprietary Troy rail quite a bit (not a wise decision IMHO). The Ruger is very accurate even while being hot. I shot a 1/2" group at 50yds using the 2MOA dot of the Aimpoint M4S half way through the day. Most of the shooting was at steel at 200yds. Two small silhouette Rams and two 9"x13" plates. I started suffering from some eye strain and starting missing the small rams and even the larger steel more than a few times (I'm left eye dominant but shoot rifles right handed). When my right eye starts straining I have to close my left eye and my right one will start having something going on similar to tunnel vision after that I started shooting a little left handed. Matt and my wife were ringing that steel like crazy both are solid damn great shooters. I removed the Aimpoint twice during the day, if the Bobro mount causes a shift it wasn't noticed. The Ruger would hit that steel every time if you do your part at 200yds.

Ruger with all the mags emptied today shooting.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger125.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger130.jpg

The receiver extension at the end of the day you can feel the divot left by the carrier with your finger and you can clearly see the evidence of carrier tilt:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger134.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger132.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/Ruger/Ruger133.jpg

Eric
6 July 2009, 06:56
Great review and photos, thanks Robb! The only other reviews I've seen involved a rather low round count. It's interesting to hear that the Ruger choked. I see you fixed the lack of staking issue.

Any plans to do further testing?

Army Chief
6 July 2009, 10:05
Honestly, I'm surprised for better and for worse. The heat problem and carrier tilt issue definitely give me pause, and neither are really acceptable for an operational weapon, but Ruger got many more things right than I would have expected. In some ways, this reminds me of the AC-556 of years gone by: not quite ready for prime-time in the real world according to the contemporary definition, but still a great deal of fun. It will be interesting to see if/how any of these problems are dealt with over time.

AC

gotm4
6 July 2009, 10:43
I'm going to shoot it a little more and then pass it on to my co-workers who'll also shoot about the same amount or so of rounds through it. I'm certain the carrier tilt could be controlled with a Seth Harness anti-tilt buffer. I still don't understand why they went with a non FF barrel and made the gas block contact the rail. I'd also like to see it in a 1x7 or 1x8 twist barrel. I changed out the receiver end plate to a used DD QD one I had in my tool box. I installed it and a rail mounted DD QD mount and used a Vickers 2pt sling for running drills.

Paulo_Santos
7 July 2009, 10:57
If they fix some of the issues, I think these will be very nice for the price. A 1:7" twist would also be nice.

usbp379
16 August 2009, 13:13
I'm going to shoot it a little more and then pass it on to my co-workers who'll also shoot about the same amount or so of rounds through it.


Have you (or the co-worker) put any additional rounds through the gun? Has your opinion on the gun changed any since your first outing with it?

usbp379
13 February 2010, 07:58
Just reaching the 2,000 round mark on my SR556. No alarming wear anywhere and still running like a top. Accuracy has been outstanding with everything from Remington 45gr to Hornady 75gr TAP.

tac40
13 February 2010, 08:36
Thanks for the update. After SHOT, I wonder if prices would come down to earth for this rifle?

brotherzoo
21 March 2010, 12:24
I paid just under $1400 for mine last year in Louisiana, and prices on gunbroker were ~$1500 when I went looking last week. Considering the sights, handguard, etc. it's more than down to earth, it's a deal. Of course... "I've made a few special modifications myself." recently but that's part of what's so cool (and practical) about the AR platform, IMHO.

I shot close to 1000 rounds before my first cleaning and only had issues with a seperated primer. Other than that she ran 100% with everything from S&B and Federal 55gr FMJ to Hornady and Black Hills 75gr JHP in several different manufacturer's magazines with capacities between 20 and 40 rounds, and was astoundingly clean afterward as well. I wiped more brass particles than cabon out of the bolt carrier. I did not shoot it all in one day, but did do a few fast dumps of multiple mags with no issues. Accuracy for me was also unaffected by heat.

http://www.guerilla-productions.com/AR_Mania/2010/2010.01.19_sr556_web.jpg

JustMatt
22 March 2010, 19:03
Kinda late to the party on this one but I have a Adams Arms kit on my rifle and while the Ruger piston system looks similar it is quite different from what Adams Arms sells. Just off the top of my head, the AA gas block is larger with two screws holding it to the barrel and a 1913 rail on top. The bolt carrier is one piece like the Ruger but has flat spots or skies machined into the back to prevent carrier tilt. I have over 1k rounds in my rifle which was a brand new build with the AA piston kit and I have no where near the carrier tilt wear like the Ruger 556 pictured above.

usbp379
25 May 2010, 14:02
I used my SR556 during a recent VTAC Carbine 1.5 without any issues. I had one failure to eject caused by partially blocking the ejection port with my thumb. I also had a fat round (commerical reload) that wouldn't fully chamber. Otherwise, I had no reliability issues and was pleased with the performance of the gun. Right now I'm sitting at ~4,000 rounds fired.

There was another student there who was also running a Ruger. I talked to him briefly about his gun. He said he had a few problems early on but these cleared up once he put a little lube on the gun.

I'm hoping to attend the Street Fighter class this November. If I can get the time, ammo and money set aside, I'll give the Ruger another workout.

usbp379
25 May 2010, 14:11
while the Ruger piston system looks similar it is quite different from what Adams Arms sells.

Ruger says that they use a 2-stage gas system. The piston has a "male" extension that interfaces with a "female" cup in the gas regulator. The idea here is that the initial blast of gas is directed against the male portion of the piston until the extension clears the cup. Once the piston has separated from the regulator, much of the gas is bled off and the piston is forced to the rear by the remaining high pressure gasses.

Ruger claims that this system is easier on the bolt and other operating parts. In my conversations with Mark Gurney of Ruger, he told me that they’ve seen no premature bolt breakage in their test samples. He also tells me that the bolts used are “MP” tested.