[He219]

Started out with a Classic SWAT when I made my purchase in mid December '09.

Immediately came to realize I didn't need the real-estate or weight of the chunky quad rail.
I do like that snazy flash hider, but deep down I always did like the overall look of a Sig 551 best.

So I set out to do my mod ..

Purchased the Swiss 551 stock set and made the necessary adjustments:

Took care of the rattling handguard by building up a tight flange to the gasblock using JB weld, 2-part epoxy.
After curing I used calipers and a Dremmel to shape the exact profile needed.
An emery board was necessary for smooth sanding ..

painted black to match, no more rattle

Next came the Aurora Diopter sights. Follow ullie's instructions. Gently tap out the old and tap in the new.
The hardest part was the retaining pin; had to file a factory misalligned path to make it work properly.

Purchased a used receiver top rail for 70 smackers, shipped. Thanks, Elmer!

Finished her off with a 1-4x Trijicon TR24G Accupoint on a 1.93" high QD LT-135 mount to clear the Aurora Diopter rear sight.
Added a Cat tail for rapid adjustments and peripheral zoom locating.

Finished, for now ..

Next report will be after the shoot in early February!
Never fired her before.
:wink:

 

[C Swimm]

Nice job. It came out great. Thanks for posting the details.

 

[He219]

Thanks, C Swimm!
Your rifle inspired me to do it ..

 

[C Swimm]

I think we have very similar tastes. I am looking to put a Trijicon TR-24 on mine now, and if I hadn't decided to stay with the quad rail, mine would be looking just like that only green.

I kind of wish mine had that sling point on the rear of the lower like they have now. Can you show a picture of the sling attachment piece with the stock folded to the side. I am curious of how it is attached.

 

[He219]

Can you show a picture of the sling attachment piece with the stock folded to the side. I am curious of how it is attached.

The diopter loop is a bit redundant ...

 

[C Swimm]

Thanks. I figured it was something like that. I was thinking two smaller screw but I guess one big one in the middle is easier to keep out of the way when the stock is closed.

I agree though that it does make the loop on the sight look pretty superfluous though. I would trust the attachment point on the frame more than one on a removable sight, so I might be half tempted to grind off the loop on the sight if I had the loop on the frame like yours. Since I don't have the loop on the frame I have been using the loop on the sight. I was a bit leery, but I won't know until I try, so try I am. So far so good and everything seems to be staying solid. The sight to the rail and the rail to the upper receiver. I haven't tried to seriously stress test it or anything though. I am waiting to see how it holds up under light use before I start yanking on it more. I am really only doing it because my rail has not shown any of the loosening problems like some of the earlier ones did. Also the fact that my factory SWAT hand guard is integral with the receiver rail I think may provide just enough added rigidity to keep it all together. So far so good.

It got a little bit of a test at the 3 gun match I shot last weekend where in one stage with rifle and pistol use of the week hand was not allowed. To further complicate things, rifle mags had could only be loaded to 15 rounds and there were a minimum of 20 rifle shots to be fired making a mag change mandatory at least once during the stage. Try doing a mag change on a rifle with only one hand. I let it dangle from my 2 point sling, but it got jostled around a lot as I had great difficulty reaching my extra mag with my right hand when the mag pouch was on my left side at the 8 o'clock position on my belt. That took some serious contorting to finally get and must have been really funny to watch. Not to mention that when I brought the rifle back up to my shoulder the sling snagged on one of my pistol mags and popped it out on the ground and I didn't notice until I had used my other two mags only toi find the third wasn't there. I had to go back and pick it up off the ground and then try to remember which targets I had and had not shot yet. That was one strange stage. One handed mag changes are not fun.

 

[datcha]

Looks nice, thanks for posting the close ups on the rear sling loop, I was also curious about it.

I'm curious though why you bought another top rail? :?

 

[C Swimm]

He probably had to get a new top rail because he started with a SWAT model, and on the current SWAT models the top rail in part of the top half of the rail hand guard. If you want to use a different hand guard then you lose your top rail when you remove the railed hand guards. Therefore he would need a new shorter top rail to replace it.

 

[datcha]

He probably had to get a new top rail because he started with a SWAT model, and on the current SWAT models the top rail in part of the top half of the rail hand guard. If you want to use a different hand guard then you lose your top rail when you remove the railed hand guards. Therefore he would need a new shorter top rail to replace it.

I'm a little confused by what you mean..

You're saying the top rail is now part of the quad rail handguard on current SIG SWATs?

 

[He219]

I'm a little confused by what you mean..

You're saying the top rail is now part of the quad rail handguard on current SIG SWATs?

Yes, it is. An improved rail system, but a bit too much for what I need ..

 

[datcha]

Ah, interesting, thanks for the clarification and picture.

 

[cazio]

Great looking weapon. The $300 rebate has me searching for one right now. Going to go handle one at the Cabela's in Wheeling WV, to get the feel of it. Thanks again for posting yours.

Cazio

 

[He219]

Flawless operation during the first few hundred rounds ...
Very smooth operation; iron sights were spot on and more fun to shoot with than optics.

 

[Aubie]

Very nice looking gun!

A couple of questions for you.

Why did you swap the swat diopter for the Aurora diopter sites? Is it the looks or are the Aurora sites better?

Why did you get a new receiver top rail?

Why did you order the SWAT and then do away with the quad rails? Is there something else the SWAT has over the regular version that I don't realize?

 

[Zeus]

Aurora diopter's are much better quality. The "SIG" ones are low quality made by iTac and labeled for SIG SAUER. He changed the rail so he could use the traditional style hanguards. The SWAT top rail runs full lenght so he got rid of it. Very nice looking gun now. Bravo!

 

[He219]

Thanks, Zeus & Aubie!

Aubie, your questions are answered above, including a photo of the continuous top/quad rail. Now I have the option to switch foregrips at any time and mount any future accessories on all that real estate; purpoose specific. It'll only take a couple of minutes to do ..

Now to remove the redundant diopter sling mount and touchup reblue.

 

[tacman605]

Is the receiver mounted stock option something that can be added to a classic or just came on the swat model?

 

[rainman74]

Is that the Griffin Charging handle, and if it is, does it work with the stock folded?

 

[hrgrisso]

very nice.

 

[He219]

tacman605, all 'Classic' models utilize the folder pivot...

Is that the Griffin Charging handle, and if it is, does it work with the stock folded?

Yes, it's a Griffin tactical charging handle .. I like it.

Had to physically check out the folding part of your question.
No - the Griffin Charging Handle does not work properly with the folder.

Thanks, hrgrisso!