First pics of SIG 553-US carbine. Time to get excited?

[SteyrAUG]

Interesting - I thought that was the reverse. Learn something every day.

Most original SIGs have attachment points for the old Stanag mount and those same points accept the new B&T rail.

Now apparently (as Josh advises us) there are some newer SIGs with welded on rails.

[kmrtnsn]

That crap lower rail and bipod grip have to go. Must be more of that iTac Israeli/Chinese shit.

[Silvanus]

That is a fullauto rifle

I'm pretty sure it's not... I asked an H&K sales rep if I could have a look at the "real" 416 (they only had the civilian version on display) and he told me that's impossible since "it's illegal to exhibit "weapons of war" at the IWA".

[variablebinary]

Wholly cow-nice! It's like a real Swiss 556 classic lower. If only somebody had made this a couple of years ago and it cost a lot less...oh wait.

If you want to compare the ass end of the spectrum when it comes to QC, materials, build quality and proofing to the Swiss standards, which are some the highest and strictest in the industry, than I guess you, and only you, might might say it has been done before.

Then again, I bet you think Kimber is the same as Nighthawk too.

[fhpchris]

Then again, I bet you think Kimber is the same as Nighthawk too.

You mean its not?

[JoshNC]

I'm pretty sure it's not... I asked an H&K sales rep if I could have a look at the "real" 416 (they only had the civilian version on display) and he told me that's impossible since "it's illegal to exhibit "weapons of war" at the IWA".

Hmmm....studying the photo it really appears to be a fullauto rifle. But I was not at the show and am merely basing this on studying enlarged photos of the 553-US photo.

The upper receiver appears to be a fullauto as it lacks the tell-tale several spot welds for the automatic sear release lever block on the right side of the receiver just below the rear of the ejection port where the upper and lower meet. This covers up the slot cut in the right bolt guide rail and is what makes the receiver semiauto. Also, the lower has the axle for the automatic sear release lever present on the right side of the lower receiver. This is the slot-head screw just aft of the hammer axle pin. On the original Swiss lower this is the welded "hump" in the same location.

Also the receiver is marked SG 553-1, which corresponds to a fullauto receiver. Current semiauto receivers are usually marked with "SP" suffix.....ie SG 553-1 SP.

[JoshNC]

Anyone else notice that the lower is EXACTLY the same as a 556 Classic lower with several exceptions?

The differences are:
1. Lightening cuts along top aspect of mag well
2. Ambi mag release
3. Rear "tang" of the trigger guard has been chamfered so as to make it ergonomically compatible with the standard Swiss pistol grip
4. Use of standard Swiss push-button front and rear takedown pins

I suspect SAN/SwissArms used the 556 Classic lower as the basis for their -US line. Whether it will be this way in production is unclear. Interesting nonetheless.

[SkyPup]

It has an aluminum lower that takes an AR type magazine, they are Swiss SA and you can get them in Canada now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asfgRvEDn5M

[eternal24k]

wonder what the price is

[OhThatGuy]

If you want to compare the ass end of the spectrum when it comes to QC, materials, build quality and proofing to the Swiss standards, which are some the highest and strictest in the industry, than I guess you, and only you, might might say it has been done before.

And if that were all true, folks would be having loads of issues with their 556 lowers but guess what (drum rollllll)....they're not. So get over it.