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Why do the sig rifles cost so much? Will prices drop later?

11238 Views 32 Replies 24 Participants Last post by  Scott_F
Why do the Sig 556 rilfes cost so much? Do they actually cost alot more than an AR to make? Why dont Sig 556 rifles and Ak's have forward assists? I paid 1700 for a 6920 colt a few months ago and now they are 1080! Will Sigs come down later on?
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Gun bans, panick buying, availability and pop culture have a lot to do with the price of firearms. With a $300 rebate you can't go wrong with a SIG 556 for I would bet they will never drop below $900 so the most you would "lose" ever IMHO is $100. With the release of the 516, I would buy another 556 or more now with the rebate while they are cheap because once the 516 flops on an oversaturated AR market (every day new mom and pop shops start up making them), the 556 will become more popular and more accessories and parts will be available. Since the ACR is a bust before it's even out (thanks for the double promised price and lawsuits Bushy) and the SCAR is now three times the price of a 556, I don't see a better deal out there.

Ullie wrote:
...the Sig 516 is just another AR piston conversion with all the inherent deficiencies...and the market is flooded with them...just about everyone is starting to pump them out...the Sig 516 isn't any different...mabey worse !...the 556 is a far superior rifle to any of the AR piston conversions...

http://www.sigarms556.com/viewtopic.php?t=6119&start=0

http://www.sigarms556.com/viewtopic.php?t=7011

http://www.sigarms556.com/viewtopic.php?t=6930&start=20
Alfred10... The SIG doesn't have a forward assist because it doesn't need one. By the way, what other modern assault rifle can you think of that has a forward assist? If you just have to have a forward assist... If a forward assist is the ultimate design feature you want, you'll have to get an AR.
Re: Why do the sig rifles cost so much? Will prices drop lat

alfred10 said:
Why do the Sig 556 rilfes cost so much? Do they actually cost alot more than an AR to make?
...NO they don't cost more than an AR to make...it's whatever the market will bear...what people are willing to pay...sadly !

...alfred10

...honestly...you need to be patient and shop around...$1700 for a 6920 is outrageous...you need to do your homework and find a dealer who won't gouge you...really...same goes for optics...or anything else for that matter...

...for example...i was in a very large sporting goods store yesterday to browse around a little...they had "cheap" non-spec aftermarket AR mags for $29.95 each...real junk...by comparison...you can get 3 D&H NATO STANAG magazines with the Magpul anti-tilt follower installed for that price at Bravo Company...like about 10 bucks each !
Does the rebate apply to the SBR?
No, unless it's a factory SBR which I don't think they will sell you unless your LE.
Take a look at the Bushmaster ACR, Wilson, FN SCAR or any number of other comparable weapons. The Sigs aren't really that bad.
alfred10 said:
Does the rebate apply to the SBR?
Pretty sure it applies to the pistol, which can then be sbr'd.
Sorry the Sig rebate does not apply to the pistol only the rifle models. I have been fortunate that I have not had to pay retail prices for firearms for quite sometime but the price you mentioned for your Colt is over the top.
It is a supply and demand market and as long a people will pay the amounts that companies are selling things for they will keep charging the high prices.
The main thing to remember although the 556 shoots the same cartridge and uses the same mags it is not an AR. It is its own design as time goes on the price may come down some but I do not see it dropping to the price of a budget AR
price/forward asst.

first the Sig 556 has a forward asst. it is called the charging handle.
the reason the AR has a bolt jammer is because it has a non recep. charging handle.
Part of the reason the AR can be brought to market for less, is that it has been in production for 45 years and all the R&D money has long been written off.
next is the fact that most of the companys who make AR uppers and lowers have Government contracts and the companys run more that is needed to meet these contracts, then build and sell extras. the more of anything you make the lower the per unit cost.
on the lowest end of the AR market, the receivers are cast or milled from billit. both of these cost less than the MilSpec. forged receivers.
I paid $1,299 for a 556 ER at Cabela's last month. Since then they changed the name to the 556 Iron Sight and raised the price $100. I thought that a good price and at least $200 less than any other piston driven AR they had available. Also, I was just in Cheaper Than Dirt this weekend and they still had the ER available for $1,299.
Just saw on the Sigarms.com website, they are offering a $300 rebate on Sig 556 rifles if you purchase by March 8, 2010.

I still don't regret buying mine in November but this really sweetens the deal now.
Re: price/forward asst.

pistol fixer said:
first the Sig 556 has a forward asst. it is called the charging handle.
...the Sig 556 does not have a foward assist...it a charging handle...and should not be "slammed" as a foward assist...it "may" break !

pistol fixer said:
the reason the AR has a bolt jammer is because it has a non recep. charging handle..
...the primary reason an AR has a foward assist is to be able to manually ensure that the bolt is locked into battery...especially when the weapon becomes fouled or is dry and dirty...the Sig design eliminates this need...

pistol fixer said:
Part of the reason the AR can be brought to market for less, is that it has been in production for 45 years and all the R&D money has long been written off.
...the 556 is a semi auto version of the 551...basically a 551-SP...the only difference lies in the lower...not much R&D...if any...

pistol fixer said:
next is the fact that most of the companys who make AR uppers and lowers have Government contracts and the companys run more that is needed to meet these contracts, then build and sell extras. the more of anything you make the lower the per unit cost..
...only Colt...LMT and FN have government / military contracts...one or two other manufacturers have had "very limited" contracts due to short supply and have delivered only several thousand units...furthermore...the law enforcement market is dominated by Colt and LMT...with a "splattering" or other makes...none of these other manufactures follow the TDP...nor have access to it...Colt also dominates the agency market...

pistol fixer said:
on the lowest end of the AR market, the receivers are cast or milled from billit. both of these cost less than the MilSpec. forged receivers.
...all major manufactures machine their upper and lowers from high tensile strength aircraft grade 7075-T6 forgings...and then hard coat anodize them...a very small handful of the smaller companies use billits...and nobody that i am aware of use a cast reciever anymore...mabey someone making them in their garage ?...you would be hard pressed to find a currently produced AR upper and lower that is cast aluminum...even Olympic Arms uses forged recievers...

...the price of the 556 is what the market will bear...the production costs of an AR is about the same as a 556 IMO...and there is no way Sig can justify the difference in the manufacture's sugessted retail pricing...it's all about making money...the same applies to their handguns !!!...their production costs are going "down" ...along with their quality...and the prices are going "up"...

...$$$$$...get it if you can !
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Re: price/forward asst.

pistol fixer said:
on the lowest end of the AR market, the receivers are cast or milled from billit. both of these cost less than the MilSpec. forged receivers.
With all due respect, just about anything billet is not going to be low cost or low quality. Forging is less expensive than percisely milling a part out of a solid piece of aluminum. If you put a forged receiver next to a billet receiver (or any part, I can tell you from experience in the motorcycle industry) ther is no comparison. Billet is much more precise, more solidly built than any just about any forged piece.
took the $300

I was on the fence about a benelli MR1 or a 556 and the $300 was enough to help make up my mind. Should be here soon a 556 SCM one of only a handfull of NY legal guns.
Paid $1400 with the Holosight, I'll put my Eotech on the 556 and put the holo on my CX4 or HK USC.Looking foward to getting some good info from everyone here!
thanks,
Keith
I picked up a 556304 (red dot + diopter) for 1400 after rebate
Muzzle Flash said:
I picked up a 556304 (red dot + diopter) for 1400 after rebate
Wow. I'd love to know the details, since that is less than what I paid for the same model from SIG delivered to my FFL under the military sales program ($1574)
my 556 was about $1350 out the door and my wife's (HOLO model) was either $1380 or $1400 out the door.
elnonio said:
Muzzle Flash said:
I picked up a 556304 (red dot + diopter) for 1400 after rebate
Wow. I'd love to know the details, since that is less than what I paid for the same model from SIG delivered to my FFL under the military sales program ($1574)

The only gun store ive ever delt with that had legitimate prices. http://www.tgssinc.com/ - rifle was $1709 - rebate will bring it to $1409.
On TopGunSupply you can pick up a Sig Holo for $1470 then hit up the $300 rebate pricing your rifle at $1170. You're lucky to get that price on a decent AR15.

I paid $1800 for my SigClassic a year ago. ugh.

-Grutch
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