Talk:SIG SG 550

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Contents

[edit] Reliability

(note: a lot is my personal opinion, but perhaps somebody can add something that makes this text more suitable for wiki. Thanks) The SIG 550 is an extremely precise assault rifle that is capable of delivering excellent results at 300 meters (part of the standard marksman training in Switzerland). Although the SIG 550 is generally considered reliable, the rifle needs to be kept clean in order to maintain reliability at all times. Unlike so many of its more famous peers (for example the AK 47 or M16), the SIG 550 has not been 'battle proven' and was never used extensively in any conflict. Some reports of SIG 550's used in a real battle field conditions come from reports on conflicts, where (most likely stolen Swiss Army StGw 90) SIG 550's, were used by certain rogue elements of the warring parties. No reports on the SIGs reliability in these conditions are commonly available. PS. (personal comment: In the 1990is I remember reading reports of stolen SIGs used by rogue groups. Anybody has any references on this? Thanks) --Nvasi 03:20, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

  • This is not an opinion piece or discussion forum but a technical encyclopedia-quality description of the firearm. There are forums where you can dispute a weapon's track record or similar couch commando-type discussions. No offense. Just as an FYI I own the rifle and carbine versions. These are very reliable weapons that will continue to function with the gas system absolutely fouled, not that you'd want to do that to a $3000 firearm. Koalorka 03:47, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Merge?

I don't think the two articles should merged. The 552 has enough unique features to be listed in a stub and both articles share the main technical differences between the two types. Koalorka 04:19, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

  • For: The 552 is nothing more than a compact variant. The article for it is as short on detail as the sections under this article. The SG 552 got its own article, no doubt, because it was prominently featured in the early FPS game Counterstrike. I realize this might be a dear weapon to you, but it's importance does not warrant a separate article. The difference is, in essence, barrel length.--Asams10 11:15, 5 September 2007 (UTC)
It has different internals, did you read the article? Different bolt carrier, placement of the return spring is in the receiver instead of around the piston etc. I think it deserves it's own stub, and not because I own it. BTW do you ever contribute any content to firearms-related articles or do you simply just edit and reformat existing content to what you see fit? Koalorka 14:53, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

What's with all the hostility. I didn't need to read the article, I've examined them side by side. The bolt carrier is different, yes, but not enough to change the gun. For instance, the FN FAL and the PARA model have different internals to a much greater degree than the 552 yet the FAL has one article dispite the fact that VASTLY more PARA model FAL's have been made than 552's.--Asams10 16:32, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

  • ForThe hostility derives from what seems like your shadowing of my contributions to have them edited to what you see as "correcter"-ish. It's insulting since you don't really add any informative content. That aside, I've looked around other major weapon articles and do agree with the merge. it seems like a Counter Strike gamer hopped on and spontaneously decided to write about his "1337 pwnzer" gun. I can do the merge since I wrote in detail on both firearms. Koalorka 17:40, 5 September 2007 (UTC)

I've been editing this article since January of this year and, true, I did go through your contribution list and added them to my running list of things to do. It seems that you've got a different taste in gun articles and had several I ended up adding to my list. While I disagree that my edits added no information. I don't speak Metric. I'm going to change your tag to 'For' without any objections.--Asams10 03:44, 6 September 2007 (UTC)

- I have nothing against you using imperial units, but you seem to have targeted my contributions specifically with malice after our SG 552 dispute. Metric is very simple actually, I still don't understand why Americans resist SI units so much. You resisted the British fiercely and rejected any signs of loyalism during the Revolution, why now defend their obsolete measurement system? I digress. BTW I'm new to Wikipedia and its technical aspects, you can proceed with the actual merge, I might touch up some technical details when that is complete. Koalorka 00:07, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

Malice isn't the word I'd use... earnest, maybe. Malice would imply that I hated you and I surely don't. Why do we resist Metric so much? It's a freedom thing. Yanks value their freedom and it's quite difficult to convince free people to change their ways without some incentive or disincentive. Luckilly for Europe, their oppressive governments had no trouble forcing their will on the weak-minded sheeple they oppress. If you're a carpenter or a craftsman, a Base-12 or duodecimal system simplifies calculations and we're able to build stuff easier with less skilled labor. It's a shame that mathemeticians had 10 fingers instead of 12 or they'd have realized the advantages. The simpleton farmer in America or the illegal-immigrant Mexican building houses in Tucson have no trouble figuring out pitch on a roof thanks to our imperial units. BTW, my Prussian and Dutch ancestors immigrated in the late 19th century to avoid growing socialist extreemism. I'll go ahead with the merger. All you have to do is copy the text, integrate the figures, and redirect the page here.--Asams10 03:18, 7 September 2007 (UTC)

ForI'm for the merge just based on what asams10 said about the FN FAL(ForeverDEAD 21:38, 6 September 2007 (UTC))

[edit] Revision

Redid the article extensively with details from manuals, pamphlets and personal experience with the gun. Included a more accurate development history, construction overview and variant run-down.Koalorka 07:10, 2 August 2007 (UTC)

I'm assuming you're not a native English speaker? I revised some of your wording. --Asams10 07:16, 2 August 2007 (UTC)

Why would you say that? Looks like all you changed was the heading "construction details" to "design details".

Koalorka 04:16, 3 August 2007 (UTC)

I just noticed a user adding Portugal to the user countries of the SG 550 series. That is not true, you are confusing the SG 550 series with the earlier SG 540 series, the two are completely different designs and should not be confused. Please refrain from such edits before checking your facts. I am currently working on an SG 540 article which you can help enhance. Koalorka 20:09, 10 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Statement on accuracy

It is considered to be one of the most accurate service rifles available.

Does anyone have any sources to back this up? Articles on guns, quotes from generals, shooting stats, anything would be nice. Other than that, good job people. PBGuardsman 03:22, 12 August 2007 (UTC)

What does the company litarature state? PBGuardsman 04:24, 13 August 2007 (UTC)

Sorry, misread your question.--Asams10 04:40, 13 August 2007 (UTC)

Thats fine. I do agree with the statment, based on the quality of all other guns manufactured by SIG. The website doesn't have any out-of-box accuracy statments. PBGuardsman 03:01, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

All Swiss Arms rifles are test fired for accuracy at the factory after sighting in. They have to group within a very small standard target before they are released. I can try to find the target type and size. Koalorka 13:37, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Although it is a very accurate, proven service rifle this statement is irrelevant. It's gotta go. Koalorka 22:41, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] SIG 556

SIG 556 redirects to this article, however there is not a single mention of the model 556, a civilian model targeted at the US market.--Asams10 04:49, 13 August 2007 (UTC)

I'll try to work on that. PBGuardsman 03:03, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Heres the info on the 556 that I worked off of. https://www.sigarms.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=35&productid=114 Feel free to change anything I added. PBGuardsman 03:23, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Guys the 556 is not a variant of the 551, it's a completely new rifle built from the ground up by SIG Arms in the USA for the American civilian shooting market. It has very little in common with the 55x series and shares only the gas system and action. However, the upper and lower receivers are interchangeable. I believe some of the components of the 556 are Swiss made such as the bolt/bolt carrier and upper receiver housing and are assembles in the USA. Some corrections are necessary in that 556 paragraph, I'll let you correct that. Cheers. Koalorka 13:29, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

I changed it. The entire upper assembly sans handguard is interchangeable as are all of the fire control parts with semi-automatic versions of the 55X series. It's true, the lower is aluminum but the upper is identical. It might be more correct to say that it's an 'evolution' of the 551. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Asams10 (talk • contribs) 06:32, 14 August 2007.

I don't think it would be accurate to say that. The 556 is a mix of several Swiss 55x series components and American-specific parts that make it compliant with US laws. It's more like a new rifle using the 55x gas system emulating the 551. Koalorka 13:36, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Probably better for you guys to correct it, I'm really not that famlier with either gun. I just guessed with information from the site and wikipedia. PBGuardsman 05:35, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fire rate

Hi all, The fire rate can be increased to about 900 «rpm» by ... turning? the gas nozzle to the other position (what should be done only when the temperature is below –10 °C or when the rifle is dirty). Maybe that could be supplemented? Simon 06:48, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

The purpose of the gas regulator setting is not to increase the rate of fire but increase reliability when the operating system has been very dirty, this is mentioned. Koalorka 02:24, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Users

Can someone confirm (with references or photos) that this weapon is in service with the Swiss Guard at the Vatican? Casimiro M (talk) 18:24, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

Google for Schweizergarde and SIG 550 or Stgw 90.--Francis Flinch (talk) 19:24, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

In his recent history of the Swiss Guard (La Guardia Svizzera Pontificia. Leonardo International, 2005) Christian-Roland Marcel Richard (himself a sergeant in the Guard) says (page 227) that today the Swiss Guard is equipped with the same rifles as the Swiss Army. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Casimiro M (talk • contribs) 22:35, 26 March 2008 (UTC)