The Sig Sauer 556 Classic SWAT rifle was Sig Sauers attempt at bringing an updated version of the Sig 550 series of rifles to the North American shooting market. Like the Sig 550, the Sig Sauer 556 never gained traction, It wasn’t a mistake on Sig’s part so much it just was a rifle that was lost in a sea of cheaper rifles. The AR-15 had been for the most part standardized long ago and was considerably cheaper than the Sig Sauer 556. In the whirlwind of the anti gun movement at the time the rifle was released its easy to tell why consumers chose to spend their money in rifles they knew like the AR-15 rather than new rifles they might not have known much about like the Sig Sauers 556 Classic SWAT. I have been intrigued by the Sig family of rifles for years so when I had a chance to acquire a Sig Sauers 556 Classic SWAT that had a very low round count, I had to grab the opportunity and take a risk.

If i had to describe the Sig 556 Classic SWAT I would say its the best parts of the AR-15 mated with the AK-47 with a dash of Swiss style and quality control added to it. The rifle takes the standard AR-15 magazine and fires the 5.56 x45 cartridge but essentially uses an AK-47 type of gas system that is adjustable. It’s an appealing idea for sure, something that uses magazines that most gun owners that read this site have, firing a round that is available just about everywhere, but isn’t the standard boring old AR-15 that we all own. We figured that since some of our readers may not know about the Sig 556 family of rifles we would make a list of what about the Sig 556 is similar to the AR-15 we all know and love, and what is different about it.

What’s Similar to the AR-15 ?

  • Barrel length
  • Uses standard AR-15 magazines
  • Magazine release and location in same spot at as AR-15
  • 5.56 NATO chambering
  • 1:7 twist rate

What’s Different ?