Who is providing the threading service for these?
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I can help in getting a barrel threaded for you. The barrel has to be removed from the receiver to turn it down and to thread it.
Attachment 13606
LaGardere lists the clamp-on Swiss rear diopter and flip up (taller) hooded front sight:
http://imageshack.us/a/img855/4532/s...terrearand.jpg
At 5K, I'd rather have 3 additional quality and well dressed DI ARs, or 4 AKs...
I just heard from Mike Otte that he is considering threading the barrels on these at no additional charge. If you are planning on buying, drop him an email or call him (contact info on his website) and mention that you want a threaded barrel.
anybody have a range report on these? They look really nice!!! Although, i just cant get over that aluminum lower. I'm sure it's easier to produce but it's an eye sore in my opinion. The barrel is as well. I still want one but for $5k i really wish it would be perfect
That's definitely supply and demand pricing.
Pretty sure it's about double the going rate on the global market. I understand there is some additional R&D needed to make one importable with retarded US gun laws but shouldn't be double.
I'm just glad I have all the major original SIGs are I'd be stressing over how bad I need one of these.
Mike will apparently thread the barrel if you buy one, so that settles the barrel issue. As for the aluminum lower, I like it. This is current production from Swiss Arms. I'm surprised it took them this long to mill the lower from an aluminum forging. It just makes manufacturing sense. They completely keep the lines of the original steel lower, so I'm not sure what's not to like. Sure the steel lowers are more nostalgic, but these aluminum lowers are the next generation from SAN.
As for the price, they sell in Europe for the equivalent of $3800 US, in Canada for $3600 US, and in Switzerland for $3400 US. Yes we are paying more, but with our stupid import laws, the costs associated, and the small number of these that were imported, who knows what the importer's cost is on these.
I really wish they were less expensive, but they are not. Only you can decide if the cost is worth it to you. In the world of transferable machinegun collecting there is a saying - you never pay too much, just too early. The price on these is going to do nothing but climb in the future. In 5-10 years you will wish you had bought one when they "only" cost $5k.
The threading on the 553 and 552 barrels are 14x1LH. The barrels on the 553 are very hard and they do damage most cutting tools, plus they are thicker than any other 550 series barrels I have seen. Estes Adams can thread the barrel for you but you have to remove it from the receiver.
I have fired my 553 about 150 rounds and will say it moves around a little more than my 552 does. I do not think the accuracy is any different between the two.
The photo shows two cut and threaded 553 barrels next to a standard 552 one,check out the barrel thickness.
Attachment 13704
Mike Otte has the tools (that will not break) to thread these without removing the barrels.
BTW, it "moves around" more than your 552 because you are firing it without a stock.
Accuracy should be if anything better since these barrels are the same "target barrels" that are mounted to the 552/3 that are exported to Germany.
But you won't experience that until you can shoulder it with a stock so..... the stop sitting on your paperwork; get off your arse, SBR the thing Dave!
Has anyone bought one of these yet?
Insight, All tools break!The 553 has been out for a month or so ,and it take 6 months to get your NFA SBR paper work back, so of course it has no stock!
armakraut,I know 4 people who have bought these and I am sure there are several more "out-there".
Attachment 13723
I bought one.
I definitely notice a difference in the recoil impulse between the 552 and 553. This was a comparison using my 556-turned-552 SBR and comparing the 552 operating system to the 553 using a 552-to-553 conversion kit. This 556 had its barrel converted to 552 specs with correct size to the gas port, so I feel it appropriately represents the 552/553 barrel and can be used for making this comparison.
Granted, 5.56mm is not a caliber that has any significant recoil. This is my subjective impression of the recoil with the 552 feeling smoother and the 553 feeling slightly "snappier". The 553 doesn't necessarily have more recoil (subjectively), just a different feeling to the recoil impulse.
I would advise everyone here to treat Sig-Dave with respect ; when I have a question or need help with the 550 series weapons he is the first person I call
By the way I have what is most likely the finest collection of SIG 550 series rifles outside of the factory in Switzerland - 7 in my collection with another one that Dave is helping with to make 8; this includes a 550 sniper and a PE90
Bottom line he is an SME on the 550 series and his opinion is held in very high regard - in other words; stay in your lane
LAV
You're only a few ahead of me.
http://imageshack.us/a/img440/1880/00000000371.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...0000000410.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...G/P1003320.jpg
Had a crack at the 550 Sniper when the admin over at HKPro sold his (LE import) but I just couldn't bring myself to drop $12k on a 5.56 "sniper" variant.
Take some new pictures Steyr, you've shown us those a billion times. lol
[QUOTE=Sig-Dave;1409229]Insight, All tools break!The 553 has been out for a month or so ,and it take 6 months to get your NFA SBR paper work back, so of course it has no stock! QUOTE]
FACT: You purchased your 1st about a month ago.
QUESTION: Have you touched a pen to the paperwork?
ANSWER: NO
I rest my case.;)
DISCLAIMER: The above is horseplay; NOT disrespect.
Mike has just made my Christmas and has drained my wallet ever so slightly. Now if only we can get a group buy going for the 200 unit order needed for surefire to spin up production of the sig 550 series specific suppressor mounts. I'm sure we can get it done... :sarcastic: thanks to JoshNC and Sig Dave for the help and info provided on here.
You could always have the built in hider cut off and have the barrel threaded... :stop: I thought about how insane that would be for about a second but yes you are correct. :D JoshNC pointed out a great idea that I didn't realize was a possibility because I didn't think to compare thread patterns with 7.62 platforms. http://www.surefire.com/sf3p-762-m14...ash-hider.html
A nice big DUH for me but that hider works perfectly for he 553 threads and isn't a minimum order item.
For the guys questioning the 553, I am posting a picture of both the 553 and 550 Field stripped so you can see the family heritage.The 553 is as well built as any Swiss 550 series rifle,do not doubt the quality.You may never get another chance to buy a new one of these again!
Larry, Thank you for your support. I want to help everyone to know the facts on the 550 series not the myths.
I currently have a 552 and and a 556 sbr with a 552 parts kit and I have to admit I am having a hard time deciding which way to go on this.
I am debating whether to go with the classic 551 to complete the 552/551 set or the new production 553. From a collector and fun standpoint they both have merits. Unfortunately I will only have cash for one (& am having to move some items out of my collection to make room for that.). Any thoughts from the SIG intelligentsia?
I don't think anyone here is questioning the veracity of your statements or that these are anything other than "true Swiss" SIGs.
Mostly we are bitching and whining about configuration issues and related costs. We all fully understand these are not US 556 variants.
And I think most of us also appreciate you taking the time to do detailed posts on the topic, even if one guy did want to argue about barrel threading.
Speaking of threading, Mike Otte mentioned I was the only one to inquire about threading so it's not financially feasible for him to thread the barrels unless more people ask for it. Marvin Pitts was suggested by JoshNC. Any other recommendations for threading?
Sigmax, I think the 551 with a 16 inch barrel is very nice. Hopefully there will be some more 552 to 553 conversion kits available. You can remove the unique 552 bolt and spring , and replace it with a standard 550 series bolt and install the 553 rod and spring and have a functioning 553.
The barrels on the 553 have a rockwell hardness of 50, Estes Adams can and has threaded 553 barrels.
Finally the exchange rate on the Swiss Franc is at a historical high with the US Dollar, so the price on the 553 is going to be high no matter who brings them in. We will just have to deal with with it !
Personally I would go with the 553 given the steel optic rail and the fact that it is current production. Don't get me wrong, I love the 551 (I have three) and like diopter sights too. But I like the welded steel optic rail much more so than diopters and the 553 is the only 55x available to civilians with the steel rail.
I honestly had thought about dumping the 556/552 but Josh talked me out of it. I kept it as a range beater that has the same manual of arms as my 552 but to do things I really don't want to do with a 4k 552. I do see your point though.
I was really leaning toward the 551, but the thing holding me back is that the chance to have a "new" SIG 553 does not come along much in one's lifetime here in the states. Especially these updated models.
I've done it. I dumped a WCA SG551 for less than I had in it for the chance at a genuine 551 SWAT. I used to subscribe to the same philosophy regarding HK clones. I had a few that I actually got working and figured they'd be my range guns that I put the wear and tear on.
Then one day it occurred to me, why did I bother having the real thing then? It's like owning a Mercedes but driving a Toyota around that has a Mercedes emblem on the grill.
So I got rid of all my CAI, Vector, MSARs and other clone guns and made lots of room for some more real guns. Luckily most of this was done during the great Obama Gun Sale so I actually did pretty well unloading most of that crap.
Now I shoot my SIGs, HKs, AUGs and factory AKs and I am much happier.
I'm pretty sure you're not the only guy to ask about threadin since I just orderd a 553 with threads. Cost 200 extra for it.