Fascinating history, the Sig 550 series. Started development in late 70s, adopted as official arm of the Swiss in late 80s. Early 2000s they made the 556 as a commercial variation of the Military 550. Basically a 550 in semi auto. AK action, AR style and caliber(223), adj gas piston, folding stock.

The model I got is the later 2000s (starting 2009ish) variation called the SWAT, which has the aluminum 4 rail forend instead of the classic 550 polymer handguard. Designed to be best of all worlds. I know the world is filled with ARs (and I have several), but to me this is a true precision battle rifle. Light, accurate, simple, bombproof. Always wanted one, not many around.

They didn't sell well, partly due to high price($2500 10 yrs ago), and partly due to bad timing with all the other goodies coming to market in the AR explosion. SIG now makes only AR style rifles of one sort or another. IMHO, the 556 is superior to what they have now, but they are selling the heck out of those 516s and MCXs.

 

Well Wryfox, I think your new acquisition would be a fun one to play with. Something just a bit different in design and function than what is currently popular.

While an AR 15 has lived here since the late 1980s, in this instance a Colt SP-1, I gotta say that I'm "bored out of my gourd" with all things AR 15.

 

Ahhhhhhhh...the 20” barrel
The way a rifle shoyld be like back in the old days

 

I have quite a fondness for SP1s. The "Original" so to speak. I used to have a 1964 Mfd example. One of those that got away..I remember all the guns "I shouldn't have".

Many would cringe at that leather sling considering the earliest intended use of the new fangled polymers in the jungle, but screw em. I like it.

I have always kept an old SP1 upper around in 1/12 twist, mostly because its perfect for a 22LR conversion kit. The 1/7s will strip the bullet and have lousy accuracy...the 1/12 is just right for most 22 (and 223).

BUT, this one has an extra fun feature...can you tell what it is??

 

It's "canned?"

 

no, its not....it's something else...fill in the 'blank' (yes that's a hint)

 

For a rifle fired grenade?

 

Close, but it's on par with what it is....

 

Golf ball launcher?

 

Winner winner chicken dinner!

This little $30 accessory launches golf balls via a 223 blank every bit of 300yds. Big fun!!

 

Well I never heard of such.

 

I may be able to golf after all.....

 

They do vary quite a bit...thats the whole concept of the US.. the states can supposedly "legislate" with areas the US Constitution is silent on...."areas" the constitution is silent on is usually the argument is centered on, some states feel they can limit types of guns magazines and ammunition, others believe "shall not infringe" means exactly that. So, until a particular states ban or issue gets to the supreme court it remains in effect in that state, and even then the supreme court has to want to take it up.

 

I went plinking this morning. Sighting in this inexpensive reflex sight "CvLife 4500" worked much better than I expected. Not sure how long it will hold up so far so good.

 

Would be nice to go shooting some morning. Seems like I'm always tied up when it's still cool enough here. By afternoon it's scorching.

Were'd that youthful dedication go? It used to never be too hot or too cold.

 

I arrived at the range a little after 7am I was done shooting before just noon. This morning the temp was in the low 70's at 7am. This afternoon the temp is 93f. I like to get to the range early when it's cooler outside. I hear you about youthful dedication mine is fading fast

 

This southern living has thinned my blood...below 50 is just too cold now. Grew up in the north when 20 was a good day for a T-shirt. Youth and high metabolism. All that hardiness is now gone!

That being said, I can now tolerate heat a lot better. 90, meh...just another day.

 

I remember spending a couple of hours mowing around our old family lake cabin one hot summer morning. Was over 100F by 10:00. I'd mow a round then drink water. Mow another round then drink more water. I stayed ahead of the heat by drinking lots of water. When I finished up it was showing 111F on a thermometer in the weak shade of a mesquite tree. I had lunch then trotted out some handguns for plinking fun. Shot for 15-20 minutes perhaps then noticed that the Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver I was shooting was becoming too hot to touch. I was standing in the sun to shoot. As the ammunition was only mild .38 Special target loads there was no way they were making the revolver too hot to hold.

I loaded up, got in the pickup and headed for home with the A/C blasting.

 

I spent enough time in uniform that people being excited by weapons utterly sickens me.

 

From the thread's original post.

"We only ask that you try not to discuss gun topics relating directly to politics, since it tends to create conflict where there usually wouldn't be any. There's better more-suited forums (and Facebook) for those types of discussions.

Everything from collecting, gun-smithing, sporting uses, etc, would be considered well suited to conversation on ΩF."