[restoring]

I just called Sig's Customer Service line and spoke to John about the finish on my receiver flaking off right at the forward pivot pin.

(I've only had my 556 out to the range 3x so far, and have cleaned it using Breakfree with CLP, being careful not to use tools that would damage the weapon.)

John sounded really disinterested in the whole thing and interrupted me saying I wold have to send the rifle back and they would have to have a gunsmith look at it to determine why that was happening (which was the answer I pretty much expected anyway). He advised they would probably keep it about 10 to 15 business days.

Since I'm at work and don't have the serial # at hand, I have to call them back tomorrow with it so we can finish setting up the process.

My Questions for everyone here are...

Have you sent your rifle back to Sig?

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

How long did they keep it?

Was it returned in good condition?

Were you happy with what they did?

I also asked John what serial number range production is up to as we are (maybe) going to buy another 556 within the next few weeks. He said he didn't know (which I didn't expect him to know) but he was also not willing to find out.

Turns out the first 556 we bought seems to have a low serial # on it and I want to see how the new ones compare (and take the benefit of any design/manufacturing improvements that have taken place since our first one was built).

Does anyone know how to find out what serial number range is the newest?

 

[dreever]

I sent mine back for two reasons:

Bolt catch would not lock bolt back.
Top rail was canted right.

From the day I shipped it ten days till I had it back. Everything was fixed, they scoped it and shot a five shot group at 25 yards and included the target.
I was satisfied with their customer service and repairs, HOWEVER, I still contend that when you pay $1350 for a rifle it should not have left the factory with those problems. PERIOD! I don't expect those kind of issues from a Wally World Remington 700 and definately expect more when I shell out over a grand expecting the touted "Legendary Sig quality".
Just another case where made in USA diminishes the quality of a foreign product. Toyota's Q.C. started to slip when they started making them in the USA and it appears Sig is having the same problem. Doesn't anybody take pride in their work anymore?

Sad, Sad, Sad.

 

[restoring]

I agree. I was sadly surprised that I was having any issues with a $1500 rifle.

The second customer service rep I spoke to apologized repeatedly not only for the issue I have (finish slaking off) but also for the attitude of the first rep.

My dad and I have had the "made in the USA" discussion too many times. He was a U.A.W. man for life, and I've bought Nissan and Honda (and Jeep).

I told him that I love my country deeply, but I have to shop quality. Even in his eyes that ends the discussion every time.

I am happy that SIG is so willing to quickly address this.

How did you ship your rifle? They advised me to simply pack it back into the case it came in (which screams GUN to anyone who sees it). I'm a little concerned about shipping it in an obvious gun case like that.

I think I might need to ship the rifle and case inside a bigger cardboard box or something of that nature.

Any idea/suggestions?

 

[Gremlin]

I have been putting off sending mine back, but I should just do it...

Mine is a July '07 manufacture, sn=3xxx with all black finish upper and lower.

It has the following problems:

Top rail is canted to the left. :shock:
Screws fixing top rail protrude slightly above the rail. :shock:
Pistol grip is the old style that doesn't meet the trigger guard all the way, so can pinch.
Since it is 'normal' I'm not going to worry about the brass taking off the finish... :roll:

Guess I need to call them...

 

[dreever]

restoring,

Yes, ship it in the case inside a cardboard box. Just go to anyplace that sells guns tell them you have to ship a rifle back,and ask for one of their discarded carboard shipping boxes that they get rifles in. They just throw them away, or recycle them, so it shouldn't be a problem getting them to give you one.
Good luck.

Danny

 

[restoring]

restoring,

Yes, ship it in the case inside a cardboard box. Just go to anyplace that sells guns tell them you have to ship a rifle back,and ask for one of their discarded carboard shipping boxes that they get rifles in. They just throw them away, or recycle them, so it shouldn't be a problem getting them to give you one.
Good luck.

Danny

Thanks Danny...

When I called SIG back about that they said the same thing.

Well, 556 #1 heads back to SIG today

I'll be sure to post follow up on it.

Thanks everyone.

 

[restoring]

restoring,

Yes, ship it in the case inside a cardboard box. Just go to anyplace that sells guns tell them you have to ship a rifle back,and ask for one of their discarded carboard shipping boxes that they get rifles in. They just throw them away, or recycle them, so it shouldn't be a problem getting them to give you one.
Good luck.

Danny

Thanks Danny...

When I called SIG back about that they said the same thing.

Well, 556 #1 heads back to SIG today

I'll be sure to post follow up on it.

Thanks everyone.

I must be a junkie....

I'm going through withdrawal since my rifle was shipped back!

Thank goodness for rifle #2, it helps ease the pain - LOL

 

[restoring]

Just spoke to SIG Customer Service.

He said the area on my rifle where the finish had flaked off had been re-blued, and they had replaced my pistol grip with the new one that prevents pinching.

He said they shipped it out, but that whoever did it failed to get a tracking number, so no way for me to tell where it is at the moment. Hmmmm......

Over all my experience with them has been above average, but it does concern me that I have no idea when my rifle will be delivered - someone MUST be at the delivery address to sign for it and I have to coordinate a day off/work from home day or drive into the city to retrieve it from their depot.

And, I haven't seen the quality of the re-bluing or the pistol grip yet, so wish me luck.

I'll post again once I get the rifle or something noteworthy happens.

 

[restoring]

I got my 556 back a few days ago, just have not had the chance to post about it.

I had to vote yes in my own poll, but I did have a reservation...

I did not have the time to take the rifle completely apart for inspection so I just popped out the pin and pivoted the receiver to look at the area that was supposed to be re-blued. They said they re-blued the area where the finish was flaking off, but it looks more like something was daubed on the spot. They did take it upon themselves to replace the old style grip with the new non-pinching one, which I appreciate.

I really have 2 issues with the whole experience...

1. When I shipped my rifle, it was freshly cleaned (as near as I can get, my gas tube and the little selector knob weren't mirror clean to say the least, but they were clean). When I opened the case upon receiving my rifle back from SIG, it looked like something that had been sitting on a workshop table for a week. It was filthy. It's covered in dust and some form of fine debris - even inside the receiver and the barrel.

2. Apparently in the process of handling the rifle after taking the receiver apart, they scraped the bluing OFF part the lower receiver!

I have not had the chance to take the rifle apart yet because of the demands of my jobs. I intend to take it down within the next day or two

My wife and I already purchased a 2nd SIG 556, but it does not look like we will purchase a 3rd, nor will we purchase the SIG handguns. We had narrowed it down to SIG handguns or Springfield XD's, and because of this experience, the Springfield is likely the brand we will go with. We had planned on getting a commando 556 and a S.W.A.T. 556, and perhaps the DMR.

Whether I pay $500 or $1,500 for an item, I expect it to be in new condition when I buy it, and if I have to send it back to the manufacturer for a warranty issue I consider that a "strike" against that brand or manufacturer. But when I get that product back from the manufacturer after having warranty work done and it arrives is worse shape than it was in when I sent it back to them, then that counts as 2 strikes all by itself.

Now before the SIG Disciples get themselves into a frenzy, I do enjoy owning the 556, and plan on keeping them. I am just so disappointed in the overall experience with their quality and customer service.