again very good information, thanks Ullie!
This is true for most all new generation military rifles- think about how many parts the US military has in piled up over the years for support of the M-16 platfrom. I do know a little about government contracting- they don't sole source this stuff- they put it out to competitive bid. The governement provides specifications on parts and quantities, delivery dates and points. They may or may not award higher vaule to exceeding the specifications, on a rifle part I would think within specification and price would be the drivers.
So tons of parts different sourcing, they will have to have play to just drop in and go- in the field I can't imagine having to file dremil or sand to get a decent fit.
And as pointed pointed out- loose probably is better in the real world, termperature variations and or dirt would play havoc on a really tightly built rifle.
One one my primary gripes with the AR is that the AR needs to be kept so darned clean to be happy, and how much the gas recoil system is contadictory to that!
Arron ask a interestng point- and I don't know- what was the torture testing Sig USA did to the 556 platform.
As pointed out though, the 556 is a evolutionary step on the 551 platform, and the 551 (agan as was pointed out- thanks Bob RI) has been tortured beyond anything I will ever do to a gun.
IMHO, the 556 combines the best of the 551, with some of the decent aspects of the AR in it's lower design (except for that darned take down bolt spring! :twisted: ).
I don't have a gun I would be willing to do it to, or the time, or the ammo, or the money, or the health right now, but I would be fun to see what a 556 would hold up to! Purely from the scientifc point of view of course! :wink:
From the esoteric point of view, the Sig 551 was tortued, the AR as been tortured also. The Sig 551 came though aces, the part of the AR that have been seen as deficient are in the upper, hence all the improves piston uppers on the market, but not in the lower.
So from the research point of view (and coming from a research nebbish) while there is no actual testing data readily avaliable, the component would suggest a platform what will prefrom well-