Is the Ruger SR-556 worth it?

H

Hydrostatic Shock

New member
I am getting ready to by my 1st AR15 and have been studying a bit.

The ruger comes with a lot of the features that I want such as the free floating quad rail, and flip up battle sights.

Comparing prices on a couple models it appears to be a good deal if the gas piston is worth it.

If I bought a bushmaster(regular gas impingement) OCR then added the Troy rails and battle sights it would only be about 200 cheaper than buying a completed lower locally and ordering the SR556 upper from midway or something.

I want the AR for basic play, range shooting and hog hunting. I plan on rigging it up with a red dot with backup flip sights, a grip and a super bright light or SD and hog hunting.

Any opinions on the Ruger?
 
I wish I could help you on the Ruger SR-556. I have not shot one but have handled one.
What I can tell you about is the two Ruger purchases I have made this year. For me Ruger quality is on its way up. The fit and finish and reliability of both guns (bolt and single action revolver) made them both great buys.
I am a Bushmaster fan and have been for many years. If I was in the market for an AR right now I would give Ruger a try.
 
For a first AR I would buy a DI rifle. Not a piston.

And for your specific uses there is nothing a piston gun will do that a DI gun can't.
If you are wanting a piston gun for whatever reason then I would take a look at the Ruger.

I personaly don't buy into the piston system for a few different reasons. But that is for another thread..
 
PHP: 
The ruger comes with a lot of the features that I want such as the free floating quad rail, and flip up battle sights.

You can get the same things with a couple of the Smith & Wesson M&P15 version of the AR15. I have the M&P15 original Tactical model and believe they have added a variation or two of that.

Bart Noir
 
The SR-556 is too heavy, too expensive and has proprietary parts. For less money you could get a very good DI AR, I'd start looking at them first.
 
Gas piston ARs are an expensive solution to a non-existent solution. Buy a Colt, BCM, Noveske, or LMT and enjoy a superbly reliable rifle. **** brands like DPMS, Bushmaster, CMMG, and etc are the only reason for the Ruger 556 because they fail a lot and are falsely called out for their DI design.


Don't waste your money. They're heavy and have proprietary parts and a pointless design.
 
Love mine, have about 1600 rounds through it. Use it on hog as well (69g jhp's work well). Has not had a single jam or feed issue so far. I have a red dot on it now, cowitnesses well with the troy sights. The full length quad rail does make it a touch nose heavy, but also makes the rifle easy to keep on target for followup shots. Being a piston gun, the cleaning is very easy (for the most part, the piston on regulator get pretty dirty) but being ex army i can tell you this thing is way easier to clean then a DI gun. Stock trigger is decent, a touch heavier then i like but still smooth (will probably swap out the trigger at some point, but it doesnt bother me enough to have done it yet lol). Accuracy is pretty good, from a bench with factory ammo mine shot 1.5 MOA when i did my part (3x9 burris scope).

All in all I am very pleased with the rifle, any specific questions feel free to ask.

-Keith
 
My direct impingment M16 upper from BCM is sub MOA at 100 yards with handloads or match ammo. The piston design impedes precision.


The SR-556 is $1450 from most places. Higher elsewhere.




Alternative:

Complete AR-15 lower with stock and all = $200-$250

1450-250=1200 for just the upper

just get one from bravocompanyusa and spend the rest on ammo
 
Thanks for all the info!

I'm going to look into all of the ones you guys recommended before purchasing.

I'm not totally set on a piston gun but if they are more reliable and easier to maintain I want one. I had not heard that the piston makes them less accurate? If so ill get a DI. I'm a "buy once cry once" guy so would rather get the best the first time than a POS that isn't what I wanted.
 
Its got a good heavy fluted barrel under the handguards. take a lot of rounds to overheat that kind of barrel.

The only thing better in my opinion is a colt.
 
recently purchased

i extensively researched what rifle to start with, if I were you, I would go between colt, rock river, or S&W. All three great platforms to start with. If you want to build custom, i was recommended mega machines upper lower combos. they are milled nicely.
 
If I was inclined to own a piston AR it would be the Ruger, but I don't think a piston AR is better than a DI. Just buy a 6920 Colt and be done with it. There are many other great manufacturers to choose from. Noveske makes a very fine rifle if you can afford it.
 
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