[southGA]

I've been looking at the different makers and reading a lot on here before I make my next purchase. Locally I can get S&W, Colt, or a Ruger. Before I dropped the cash I figured I see what the opinions are on the Rugers and the piston system. I like the idea of the piston on one hand but just haven't heard much talk of the Rugers in general. Any one have any first hand knowledge worth sharing?

Sent from a pay phone in Canada

 

[WoodenPlank]

Short version: Piston overrated, Ruger's isn't that impressive. Save the money and buy a DI gun and more ammo.

 

[cciman]

If they were breaking, you'd see posts all over. Ruger is nice, it has multiple settings.

They are nice guns. If you are budgeting the same amount of money on any gun, I would go for the piston option. Ruger is a well known brand name. Other options are Sig516, CMMG, Adams Arms, Osprey, LMT, LWRC, POF.

They are heavier up front, but no more than a flashlight would be.

 

[AK_Stick]

The only issue I've seen with Rugers, is when they fail, the tend to exhibit some rather odd failures.


My shooting partner, recently replaced his go to gun with a SCAR. The driving factor was that his gun was starting to randomly short stroke, or fail to feed, or double feed with no rhyme or reason. Using the same mags in my M-4 (true M-4) on burst, my SPR, and my couple of AR-15's and his SCAR in semi, we couldn't duplicate any issues, we've switched ammo, cleaned it etc. It just seems the guns can be finicky.


Now that said, they weren't often, and it wasn't so much that I'd have concerns with defending myself with it. But it was just odd. Seemed every 3-400 rounds you'd have an odd malf or two right in the middle of a string, and then it'd continue chugging along. Gun never went 2K without a failure. Still have the gun, still trying to pin it down, but its not a first string gun anymore.

 

[southGA]

The only issue I've seen with Rugers, is when they fail, the tend to exhibit some rather odd failures.


My shooting partner, recently replaced his go to gun with a SCAR. The driving factor was that his gun was starting to randomly short stroke, or fail to feed, or double feed with no rhyme or reason. Using the same mags in my M-4 (true M-4) on burst, my SPR, and my couple of AR-15's and his SCAR in semi, we couldn't duplicate any issues, we've switched ammo, cleaned it etc. It just seems the guns can be finicky.


Now that said, they weren't often, and it wasn't so much that I'd have concerns with defending myself with it. But it was just odd. Seemed every 3-400 rounds you'd have an odd malf or two right in the middle of a string, and then it'd continue chugging along. Gun never went 2K without a failure. Still have the gun, still trying to pin it down, but its not a first string gun anymore.

Thanks, that's the kind of stuff that worries me. In all reality though, it'll just be a range toy, I may pick one up and see what happens. I already have a Colt but it has the non remove-able carry handle and I'd like something to throw some optics on.

 

[AK_Stick]

I think, if I were looking at a piston gun, it would really be between Ruger, and LWRC for me. And I'll admit right now, I would still consider the Ruger.


Erik's gun is a higher round count (nearing 7-8K) we shoot alot, we shoot hard, and we shoot in lots of varied weather, driving snow/rain, +70/-20 (not wind chill) and that gun gets hunted with so it sees a big variety of ammo. I've only ever seen one other SR556 with similar issues, and that was a p-mag issue we later found out, with E-mags it runs like a top.

But you asked, so I thought I'd offer what I have seen. If its mostly a range toy and occasionally a SD/HD rifle. I think you would be just fine. If you expect to put 7-10K rounds through it in 3-4 years, you might be better off with a LWRC or (shudder) POF (just so fugly IMO).

 

[mixflip]

Here is a good explanation on why some folks pass on the Ruger SR556 and SR556c.

http://www.gunsandgearreview.com/2010/11/why-i-passed-on-ruger-sr556_26.html

My next piston gun will be a PWS MK114. The features and reviews of the PWS MK114 make it hard not to consider if you are shopping around.