The wondering is over.
The Ruger SR-556. A gas piston AR-style rifle.
I think my prediction was fairly spot-on. Not just to say that it’s an AR, but that it’d be something that breaks the Ruger “political” mold. I would say that this certainly does that. Not just because it’s an evil black rifle, but it comes standard with 3 30-round PMAGs. So much for Ruger’s history on magazine capacity. 🙂
From a preliminary look, it seems like they did a lot of the right things. Made it a carbine, 6-position stock, flat-top, full length rails with rail guards, standard with Troy flip up sights, chrome-lined (even the bolt carrier), chambered for 5.56, mil-spec stuff, 1:9 twist. This is made to be a fighting rifle. Top notch stuff going into it. The main unknown is the gas system as piston-based AR’s haven’t been all that successful. But we’ll see.
Will I rush out and buy one? Probably not (especially at that price). I’ve already got a few AR’s and this Ruger one doesn’t offer me much over what I have. If I’m going to be spending money on purchasing more firearms, there are other things I’d like to get before getting more AR-styled guns. Would I love to shoot one? You bet! I also would be happy to accept one as a gift from any of my generous readers. 🙂
What I think is cool about this is seeing Ruger making it. Given their past controversies, it’s great to see them moving beyond it. Ruger makes solid firearms, but many people say “yeah they make good stuff, but I won’t buy one” referring back to the past politics. Well, if this doesn’t convince folks that Ruger is moving beyond that, then well… those people will just never be convinced. Good for Ruger!
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Pretty much the same sentiments… I certainly would not turn down a free one, but if they expect me to be impressed by this, they must have access to some good drugs.
Well, if they can make a good and widely available gas-piston-based-AR-style rifle, that’s not too bad a thing. I mean, they had to differentiate themselves from the gazillions of other AR makers out there. I wish them luck and hope it’s a success for them.
But really, the main bit of impressiveness is that Ruger is making such a beast, and giving you 3 30-round magazines (PMAGs at that). As I’ve been saying, this demonstrates that Ruger is moving and changing, not the company it once was. I’ve got to give them credit for that. To me, that’s really the big thing about this product announcement, more so than the rifle itself.
Honestly, I never paid much attention to Ruger when shopping around, but I agree that this seems to be a big step forward for them.
I just wish they had not taken the multi-thousands of PMAGs out of circulation that they did… 😉
Heh. Well, that does explain the PMAG situation… Ruger’s been hording! 😉
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