Ruger SR556C at 5,000 rounds. A Photo Essay

[usbp379]

Here's something I posted over on M4carbine.net and I thought it might be of interest to some of the members here.

I've been shooting my SR556C rather regularly in the year or so I've owned it and just reached the 5,000 round mark. Most of this has been on semi- but I have fired several hundred rounds of this on a select fire lower. In all this time, the gun has been accurate and reliable with the only exceptions being some failures to extract with some Silver Bear and WOLF steel cased ammo. I do note that the gun runs properly with Hornady steel cased ammo and WOLF 75gr ammo but doesn't seem to like the lighter WOLF or Silver Bear stuff. The gun runs fine on setting #2 with brass cased ammo.

The gun has been used in a couple of carbine classes and has also been used to shoot jackrabbits and for general plinking and range practice. While I do see some internal wear, I note nothing alarming or unusual and I've not had any broken parts, etc. Some speculated that the Ruger piston was of improper design and would break bolts in the few thousand rounds but mine seems to be going strong.

Next report at 10,000!:)

The carbine in its current form:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010824.jpg

Carbon fouling under the gas block. This is a hard spot to get to for cleaning but I believe Ruger's decision to vent under the gas block is a good one. This keeps the hot gasses away from hands, slings, flashlights, etc.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010826.jpg

No carrier tilt:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010831.jpg

Some slight wear on the face of the buffer:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010838.jpg

An overall shot of the bolt carrier assembly and BCM charging handle:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010840.jpg

Bolt carrier and bolt:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010849.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010847.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010845.jpg

A view of the upper:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010851.jpg

Some wear from cam pin drag. The POF roller cam pin has been in the gun pretty much since it was new:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010852.jpg

Barrel extension:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010853.jpg

Gas piston, regulator and spring. My usual regimen for cleaning is to soak these parts in Bore Tech C4 and wipe with a rag.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010855.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010854.jpg

Inside bottom edge of upper:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1010867.jpg

[Paulo_Santos]

Very nice.

[Striker071]

Gives a good review of how clean a piston gun runs ....

[usbp379]

I think Ruger's really got a good thing going with the SR556. They seem to have figured out the causes of carrier tilt that showed in some of the earlier guns and they've got some nice models recently introduced. The new SR556E shows promise and should be a great product for the $1,000 or so it'll hopefully sell for.

[Striker071]

Noticed the enlarged end of the bolt carrier.... is this a simple fix for the carrier tilt?

[nobodyspecial]

Isn't the Adams Arms carrier slightly enlarged there, as well?

[Paulo_Santos]

Most Piston Companies use the enlarged carriers to help with the carrier tilt. On some it helps and on some it doesn't help too much. My LMT had carrier tilt and what helped was the PWS and POF enhanced buffer tubes.

[Larrys1911]

I guess Im the only one in the gun culture that holds a grudge.......

Im still pissed at Ruger for endorsing the Mag ban

Nice review though.

Larry

[tac40]

thanks for sharing, good info.

[usbp379]

I guess Im the only one in the gun culture that holds a grudge.......

Im still pissed at Ruger for endorsing the Mag ban

Nice review though.

Larry

Plenty of people still hold that same grudge. Thank goodness Ruger isn't the same company anymore...

[usbp379]

Here's the rifle in its current format. I used this in a 2day CQB class out in Phoenix last weekend. The gun continues to run fine and hasn't been cleaned in 1,500 rounds, give or take a couple hundred.

I'm sitting at 6,500 rounds fired.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1000899.jpg

[markm]

Not too bad. I'd never buy a Ruger AR or a piston AR from any company... but that looks like it's running pretty good.

[Vec]

thanks for sharing, good info.

x2

[usbp379]

Not too bad. I'd never buy a Ruger AR or a piston AR from any company... but that looks like it's running pretty good.

I have to admit that I'm liking the rifle much more than I ever thought I would. I had initially purcashed the Ruger as sort of a way to test the piston idea without spending $2k on some of the other available designs. I've since gone on to purchase and/or shoot piston guns from other makers and really don't think that Ruger's piston design gives any ground to the other guys.

I would like to see Ruger come out with a lighter barrel profile and a faster twist. I'd also like to see the basic design changed slightly to allow for easy access to the piston transfer rod. With that said, the rod is really nothing more than a steel dowel that rides inside the forend. I've run the gun enough now to be fairly certain I'll never have a need to access and remove the transfer rod and imagine any abuse that will render the rod inoperative will likely damage the rifle.

[markm]

I don't mind a meaty barrel. But a fast twist would be good.

[Redleg]

Hi, I am new to this forum. Good thread and very good info from the OP. I have a fairly new Ruger SR556E. I've put about 1,000 rounds through it and so far really liking the rifle. One stovepipe in about 1000 rounds, never did figure out what was up with that. Typically on setting "2" it ejects 55 or greater grain ammo perfectly. The "E" model, as most of you likely know, has a more slender forward profile.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a331/Roger54/Gun%20Stuff/DSC_0604.jpg

[markm]

Got to shoot one of these last Friday. An active mil guy I know bought one, and he wanted to shoot it while he was home in AZ. We threw a magnified optic and some matchkings through it and it was an inch gun at 100 yards.

[usbp379]

My experience is that these suckers will shoot!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR%20556/DSCN0719.jpg

[Redleg]

My experience is that these suckers will shoot!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR%20556/DSCN0719.jpg

Nice!

[usbp379]

I'm kind of bogged down and have only put a few rounds through the gun since my last posting. Current round count is about 7,200.

I'm planning on attending an instructor development course next month that includes some rifle stuff. The Ruger will be my main shooter for the course. Hopefully that'll get me close to 8k fired.

[browcs]

Good luck and enjoy the course. Let us know how the Ruger handles.

[usbp379]

Alright. The course was good times. I made some new friends, learned a couple things and got to burn some powder.

Here's the Ruger now with right around 7,500 rounds fired. The gun currently has 2,500 rounds fired with no cleaning. I've oiled it up a few times but have done no maintenance otherwise.

Internal wear really seems to have leveled off and I don't notice anything that looks any different from where it was 2,500 rounds ago. All the finish is worn off the face of the trigger and much of the finish has been worn off the bolt stop. The dust cover detent is getting pretty loose from being hit by the bolt carrier. There's a pretty good amount of carbon under the gas block and some carbon accumulation that's bled out of the gas regulator. Even with the accumulated crud, the gun's running just fine on gas setting #2.

I didn't disassemble and photograph the gas piston parts. I'm actually waiting to remove those because I'm curious to see if the regulator, etc will freeze up with accumulated fouling.

Without further ado, here are the pictures.

An overall photo of the carbine.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020028_zps11e1fcc4.jpg

The buffer and lip of the buffer tube.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020050_zpsbed499a3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020049_zps2a514530.jpg

Operating parts out of the upper.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020037_zps937b4bd0.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020039_zps50ff32af.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020038_zpsa6ce577b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020040_zpsdb182c54.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020041_zps5c94728f.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020042_zpscec0c752.jpg

Fouling near the muzzle and gas block.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020036_zps49c1f60d.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020035_zps9edad97e.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020034_zps170c7fa3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020033_zps7ae10e47.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020032_zpsb95e1f61.jpg

Inside the upper and barrel extension.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020046_zpsab736060.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020045_zps88a36967.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020044_zps517cbbe5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020043_zps58c43aa2.jpg

[usbp379]

Here are a few more photos of the bolt and carrier as well as inside the upper.

I should note that the lower isn't showing any tilt wear to the buffer tube but it has not always been used on this upper. It is the factory Ruger lower but I've used this upper on a full-auto lower on a number of occasions so the round count is going to be off a bit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020062_zps4847a81a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020061_zps4df7937b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020060_zps99163409.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020059_zps02aee588.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020055_zps4452806b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020053_zps50d1e317.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/tokarev/Ruger%20SR-556C/P1020052_zpsffde7527.jpg

[usbp379]

Not too bad. I'd never buy a Ruger AR or a piston AR from any company... but that looks like it's running pretty good.

F***in' A! Runs like a scalded cat!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PocTSfDHvM4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Sent from my Torque using Tapatalk 2

[usbp379]

I ran ~ 200 rounds through the ol' girl in a recent Haley Strategic course. Ultimately I ended up using a pair of DI rifles with Ballistic Advantage barrels since they'd run with Tula while the Ruger would not. I had plenty of brass cased ammo with me but decided to shoot up some of the cheap steel ammo and save my better ammo for a rainy day.

On the plus side, the Ruger continues to run with brass. Round count is about 8,200 rounds at this point. 3,200 without cleaning.

[Kopis]

i wished i had gone piston on a few of my builds. gas are so dirty and im OCD about cleaning them.

[UWone77]

i wished i had gone piston on a few of my builds. gas are so dirty and im OCD about cleaning them.

Why? Did you look at the pictures? It's not like it looks pristine [:D]

I have a few long-term Adams Arms Kits. They don't run any cleaner in my opinion. The dirt is somewhat redirected elsewhere.

[GOST]

I've considered trying a piston, but if I do it'll be an AK or PWS.

[GOST]

i wished i had gone piston on a few of my builds. gas are so dirty and im OCD about cleaning them.

I think a SCAR would suit you better.

[usbp379]

I think a SCAR would suit you better.
Nothing wrong with the SCAR as long as you've got the cash to spend. The Ruger is a Grand cheaper. That leaves alot of scratch left over for ammo, optics or a good training class. Or even another AR...

[UWone77]

No suppressed shooting?

I really enjoy your threads usbp379, you stay on top of your long term projects... unlike me. It's impressive your Ruger exhibits none of the carrier tilt I've seen in other Rugers. Those must have been earlier models.

[usbp379]

Thanks!

No suppressed shooting with this model since it has an integral flash hider that isn't compatible with my AAC can.

This rifle is an early model but I think it is one of their first with the redesigned bolt carrier. The first Ruger bolt carriers had a traditional GI profile and many of those early guns showed some pretty good scuffing in the buffer tube.

The later bolt carriers have a flared tail that helps support the back end where it meets the tube. Ruger also took the novel approach of removing some of the raised contact points that run along the sides of the carrier. They say this allows the carrier to "float" inside the upper and allows it to better align itself with the buffer tube.

[nobodyspecial]

I need to find out if my dads has the flared BCG. He doesn't have many rounds through his, though. Are the all integral flash hider?

[usbp379]

I need to find out if my dads has the flared BCG. He doesn't have many rounds through his, though. Are the all integral flash hider?
Only the SR-556C and CLA models have the intergral flash hiders but they're also the only models with the lighter fluted barrels.

[usbp379]

I am now at 8,500 rounds as of today's date and suffered my first parts failure. At about 8,400 rounds the dust cover detent failed. The nodule had been loose for a long time but the staking finally broke loose.

949

[DUX]

@usbp379: That is outstanding!

[usbp379]

I should have been done with this two years ago. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back around to this.

[Jerry R]

At about 8,400 rounds the dust cover detent failed. The nodule had been loose for a long time but the staking finally broke loose.

That's actually very interesting. I am "assuming" the dust cover was not closed after every round was fired. That means the round count for that particular part would not be 8,400; and probably significantly less. If you closed it after every magazine, and used 30 round magazines, it would only be 280 cycles. I would guess less than that. Do you have any WAG of how many times the dust cover was popped open by the BCG?

[usbp379]

I am in the habit of swiping the safety on and closing the dust cover when the gun comes off target. Depending on what I'm doing I might run some short drills where I'm only shooting one or two rounds and then closing the cover. Or sometimes I might shoot half or ¾ of the mag before closing the cover.

The scallop in the Ruger's bolt carrier is slightly shallower on the bottom than that of a GI carrier so the dust cover detent had a small peened spot that was getting whacked as the carrier came back and popped the cover open. That might have been what jarred the detent loose.

But it could have been a defective cover to start with. There was a thread on arfcom several years ago where guys were reporting failures of this style with DI guns and it looked like whoever the main supplier is sent out a batch of covers with inadequate staking.

[Former11B]

Edit: Really didn't see how old this comment was before replying. No need to even keep it around

[Jerry R]

Thanks usbp379 - that makes a lot more sense.

[usbp379]

Just hit 9,000 rounds as of this morning. Nothing different to report.

I did get the gas block hot enough to melt my VTAC sling though. Oops...

[Joelski]

You don't need no stinkin' dust cover on that thing! The only reason you would need one is to keep all the crud from running out and getting filth on whatever it touches! [:D]

PS: Nice report! I'd say if your results are representative of what SR owners are seeing in general from their rifles, the gun performs as well, if not better than the so-called top tier guys. Hell, it probably costs SCAR owners pretty close to 5K all together to see that kind of reliability/round count, by the time you replace all the broken stuff and buy ammo.

[usbp379]

Hopefully I'll have this project finished up within the next couple of weeks. I'm anxious to see how hard it'll be to get the gas system apart.

Plans are currently to strip and photograph the rifle in dirty condition. This will be followed by a thorough cleaning and some additional photos.

After parts are cleaned and oiled I'll install a new dust cover. I'll also change the firing pin, extractor and spring and probably put in a new buffer spring. Then I'll keep on a'shooting!

[DeviantLogic]

Thanks for continuing to journal the progress. It's a real testament to the SR556 platform.

[usbp379]

300 rounds left!

Edit--Forgot to mention earlier that I had a bolt over base malfunction earlier with Federal Fusion. This was while running the gun on an old Sanchez GI mag. It only happened once so it could have been a fluke. But I'll check the buffer spring, etc next week when I have the last of my ammo shot up.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160701/2ab19a110f99162126b3f500fef163f9.jpg

[Former11B]

I'm assuming the "bolt over base" is the same thing as a bolt override?

Generally it's a mag issue, so I'd probably scrap that one.

[usbp379]

I'm assuming the "bolt over base" is the same thing as a bolt override?

Generally it's a mag issue, so I'd probably scrap that one.
Yep. I'm assuming it is a mag issue especially since the gun continues to work properly on the select fire lower I use occasionally.

[Joelski]

Yep. I'm assuming it is a mag issue especially since the gun continues to work properly on the select fire lower I use occasionally.

SF host helps get through all those pesky thousands of rounds in short order!

[usbp379]

SF host helps get through all those pesky thousands of rounds in short order!
[emoji41]

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk

[usbp379]

...it probably costs SCAR owners pretty close to...replace all the broken stuff and buy ammo.

What's breaking on the SCAR? FN touts that rifle as being a 15k+ service life.

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk

[Joelski]

I choose to fall on the SR 25 side of the SCAR vs. KAC debate, although I can hardly see how the known weak parts issue is a subjective thing on the pro SR camp's side. :)

[usbp379]

Hinge mech has supposedly been updated to improve durability. Also the later gen SCAR no longer has gas rings on the piston. The non-recip charging handle should help since the handle won't fly back and forth and get whacked on stuff.

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk

[UWone77]

So what's next usbp? Got anything else you're going to do long term, or is the Ruger going to be your main 5.56 shooter?

[usbp379]

So what's next usbp? Got anything else you're going to do long term, or is the Ruger going to be your main 5.56 shooter?
Dang that's an excellent question.

This all kind of started for my own curiosity but also to quiet some of the naysayers who thought Ruger couldn't make a durable or reliable AR. Now that this project is, at long last, coming to an end I don't know what I'll focus on next.

I guess I'll just clean the rifle up, change anything that needs changing and just keep on shooting it.

Next report at 15,000! Lol!

[usbp379]

I should have this experiment completed this morning, depending on weather.

Once I get the ammo burned up and the pictures taken I think I'll start a whole new thread rather than continue this one. That okay with everyone?

[Aragorn]

I should have this experiment completed this morning, depending on weather.

Once I get the ammo burned up and the pictures taken I think I'll start a whole new thread rather than continue this one. That okay with everyone?

Kinda a general dissertation? Either way sounds good. If you do, make sure to link back to this.

It's been really good to follow this.

[usbp379]

My last 10 mags have been expended. I field stripped the rifle and took a few photos then disassembled the upper as far as it'd go. I pulled the gas block off and everything. Then I gave the parts a good bath in hot soapy water and took a wire brush to the gas system parts.

Everything is cleaned and assembled now and the rifle really looks pretty nice. The whole event was pretty anticlimactic.

I'll sort through the pics tonight and try to get something posted today or tomorrow.

Thanks for following the thread. I appreciate it.

[nobodyspecial]

Looking forward to the pics!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[usbp379]

Please see this link for the 10,000 round photo thread:

http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum/showthread.php?9298-Ruger-SR556C-at-10-000-Rounds-A-Photo-Essay&p=134945#post134945