02-27-2013, 12:07 AM
The Grendel will fit in the Sig550 series, but would need a new magazine dedicated for it. There really aren't any assault rifle platforms that are "better" than the AR15 family, when you consider everything across the board. The SCAR is nice in many ways, but I hate the optic above bore height on it. It needs a modular handguard and different gas system lengths too.
The Sig550 is basically an AK operating system, made with Swiss manufacturing standards. That doesn't take away the problems with the AK operating system, which essentially beats itself to death. The Sig550 also uses a fixed ejector, which when broken, leaves the soldier/unit stuck like chuck. Yes, they do break.
With the AR15 plunger ejector, it is easily replaced, even if you just swap out a bolt in the field with no armorer needed. Fixed ejector designs require skilled labor maintenance, tools, and significant time off the line.
The craftsmanship and workmanship with the Sig550 series is world-class. The only rifles I've seen that compete with it quality-wise are the HK416 and 417. Most guys I know who own Sig550's sell them and stick with AR's, unless they are dedicated collectors, and even those guys shoot their AR's more often.
As far as the cartridges go, anything the size of a battle rifle cartridge is a non-starter for an assault rifle by definition. Too large, too much weight, no real combat endurance for a unit handicapped with them. I would draw the line for an assault rifle case length at 45mm, like the 5.56 NATO. No other assault rifle cartridge has been longer:
7.92x33 Kurz
7.62x39
7.62x45 Czech
5.45x45
5.45x39
5.8x42 CHICOM
6.8x43 SPC
6.5x38 Grendel
The Sig550 is basically an AK operating system, made with Swiss manufacturing standards. That doesn't take away the problems with the AK operating system, which essentially beats itself to death. The Sig550 also uses a fixed ejector, which when broken, leaves the soldier/unit stuck like chuck. Yes, they do break.
With the AR15 plunger ejector, it is easily replaced, even if you just swap out a bolt in the field with no armorer needed. Fixed ejector designs require skilled labor maintenance, tools, and significant time off the line.
The craftsmanship and workmanship with the Sig550 series is world-class. The only rifles I've seen that compete with it quality-wise are the HK416 and 417. Most guys I know who own Sig550's sell them and stick with AR's, unless they are dedicated collectors, and even those guys shoot their AR's more often.
As far as the cartridges go, anything the size of a battle rifle cartridge is a non-starter for an assault rifle by definition. Too large, too much weight, no real combat endurance for a unit handicapped with them. I would draw the line for an assault rifle case length at 45mm, like the 5.56 NATO. No other assault rifle cartridge has been longer:
7.92x33 Kurz
7.62x39
7.62x45 Czech
5.45x45
5.45x39
5.8x42 CHICOM
6.8x43 SPC
6.5x38 Grendel