Swiss Arms SG 553 R (7.62x39)

[Bret]

The settings on my 553R's gas valve are 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5.

For 922(r) compliance parts you can also use a US flash hider and/or a trigger from a Sig 556 rifle. The triggers are identical, so don't worry about them being of less quality. I bought a bunch when they were available as spares. They came in bags marked "made in USA".

[MadAngler1]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like an OSS can (which I have) would work best with the gas port set to 1.2. A DeadAir Sandman K or Primal may be another option. I just wish they were selling spare parts for it (namely bolts, springs, etc). I bought two 551’s for that reason.

[MadAngler1]

So I finally picked one of these up in pistol form. I have a 2nd one inbound that I will SBR.

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I put some magazines through it today with the gas set to 1.4.

What worked:
- Circle 10 bulgarian waffle magazine with Golden Tiger 123 gr JHPs (this is the good stuff with sealed primers, etc).
- Magpul MOE with PPU brass cased ammo
- Tula ammo in the Magpul magazine

What did not work:
- Bulgarian and Serbian steel magazine with Tula ammo (this is the crappy cheap stuff with gray colored cases, no coating). Multiple FTFs, one double feed

What worked half the time:
- Bulgarian commercial polymer magazine with Tula (didn't work at first, but then it worked).

I will post more pics later tonight, and on ARFCOM, of the lower and upper receiver. I am surprise there is not a larger bullet guide or feed ramp. Again, zero issues with Golden Tiger or PPU brass cased using Magpul MOE and Bulgarian Circle 10 magazines. I suspect it needs to be broken in. I shot 100 rounds and had to leave. I won't get to the range again until the end of March.

On another note, I had issues with a Swiss AR stock adapter. The typical USGI locking plate will not mate to the AR stock adapter indentation. Pics to come.

[Bret]

Congratulations on getting your 553R. Based on many years of experience, breaking in guns generally doesn't make them more reliable. However, this one was an exception for me. After the first range session, it became reliable, and I was eventually able to set the gas setting to 1.2. I think having it with a stock will help too.

[MadAngler1]

OK, I took the gun apart and cleaned it. I compared the receiver to my 551s. There is a hole at the bottom just before the chamber. I guess this is for over pressured rounds (so it blows out down away from the shooter)?

IMG_0352.jpeg

Note the barrel was marked 2019 but my receiver is 2021 (not shown). Kind of cool given the pandemic and how they have to batch things.

Here is the chamber. Compared to my 551, the feed ramp looks the same and is quite small. There is not much of anything between the feed ramp and the chamber, unlike the feed ramps on the M4 or an AK bullet guide. I’m just used to seeing large riveted bullet guides on my AKs. That’s all. I just think it didn’t like Tula:

IMG_0353.jpeg

That’s the best picture I could take with my iPad. Moving on, look at the lower receiver. There is little lateral play with magazines. There is a large amount of forward and rearward play with the magazine however. This was a hard picture for me to take, but here is the Magpul MOE magazine resting naturally without any pressure on it:

IMG_0357.jpeg

Now watch it when I use my finger to push the magazine forward in the lower receiver:

IMG_0356.jpeg

I can do this with the steel magazines and commercial Bulgarian magazines. Not so much with the Circle 10 magazines though. I’m guessing this was by design? Once I SBR the other 553R I bought, I’ll take it to the flat range, shoot prone, and see if magazine pressure induces any malfunction. I’ll just have to stick to brass cased ammo or good quality steel cased ammo (lacquer coated, good stuff like Barnual manufactured).

Regardless, it’s nice little pistol. Needs a tax stamp.

[SteyrAUG]

OK, I took the gun apart and cleaned it. I compared the receiver to my 551s. There is a hole at the bottom just before the chamber. I guess this is for over pressured rounds (so it blows out down away from the shooter)?

IMG_0352.jpeg

Note the barrel was marked 2019 but my receiver is 2021 (not shown). Kind of cool given the pandemic and how they have to batch things.

Here is the chamber. Compared to my 551, the feed ramp looks the same and is quite small. There is not much of anything between the feed ramp and the chamber, unlike the feed ramps on the M4 or an AK bullet guide. I’m just used to seeing large riveted bullet guides on my AKs. That’s all. I just think it didn’t like Tula:

IMG_0353.jpeg

That’s the best picture I could take with my iPad. Moving on, look at the lower receiver. There is little lateral play with magazines. There is a large amount of forward and rearward play with the magazine however. This was a hard picture for me to take, but here is the Magpul MOE magazine resting naturally without any pressure on it:

IMG_0357.jpeg

Now watch it when I use my finger to push the magazine forward in the lower receiver:

IMG_0356.jpeg

I can do this with the steel magazines and commercial Bulgarian magazines. Not so much with the Circle 10 magazines though. I’m guessing this was by design? Once I SBR the other 553R I bought, I’ll take it to the flat range, shoot prone, and see if magazine pressure induces any malfunction. I’ll just have to stick to brass cased ammo or good quality steel cased ammo (lacquer coated, good stuff like Barnual manufactured).

Regardless, it’s nice little pistol. Needs a tax stamp.

I don't think any magazines lock up as tight as Circle 10s. Even Tantals are just tight openings, rather than solid lockups.

I've never had the pleasure to shoot a 553R but I assume there is some play just like there is on 550/551s so that rock n lock mags don't have to be force fit inserted.

[The Dumb Gun Collector]

Man I regret not picking one of these up. I did get a regular 553 SB. I guess I have my galil ACE but nothing is as sexy as a 550.

[MadAngler1]

Man I regret not picking one of these up. I did get a regular 553 SB. I guess I have my galil ACE but nothing is as sexy as a 550.

The Galil ACE is a tool. This 553R seems more like a toy but the jury is still out.

SteyrAUG: The forward-backward play is far more than I have seen on any AK or the 551 for that matter. If I don’t push the magazine forward, it will not release easily either from the magazine catch. I’ll see how the other 553R does when I pick it up. Work gets in the way right now.

[SteyrAUG]

The Galil ACE is a tool. This 553R seems more like a toy but the jury is still out.

SteyrAUG: The forward-backward play is far more than I have seen on any AK or the 551 for that matter. If I don’t push the magazine forward, it will not release easily either from the magazine catch. I’ll see how the other 553R does when I pick it up. Work gets in the way right now.

That doesn't sound good. Does Sig SAN make a specific magazine for it? You know how AK mags sometimes go.

[MadAngler1]

That doesn't sound good. Does Sig SAN make a specific magazine for it? You know how AK mags sometimes go.

No they do not. Per the Swiss 553R manual, they designed it to work with all AK magazines. The photo from the manual shows steel mil spec, Bulgarian Circle 10, Finnish Rk 62 polymer and Soviet Bakelites.

IMG_0010.jpeg

The release for better with Slip 2000 or Go-Juice. I am away for work. I will compare this lower with the second 553R I purchased when I get home. Maybe it is out of spec? The previous owner never shot it once. I intend to keep one as a spare for parts and the other to SBR. If I find the issue is permanent, I will call JDI for help.