Ruger SR-762

Ruger has just announced a variant of their SR-556 design, now built around and chambered for the NATO 7.62/.308 cartridge.

Ruger SR-762

http://ruger.com/products/sr762/features.html

I’m kind of excited, and here is why…

When the SR-556 came out. I really liked it. I liked the lines and configuration and the piston action (always debatable).  There was one draw back, it’s not a standard AR. And one of the biggest selling points of the AR is that it is universal, replacement parts are available from hundreds of manufacturers.  Perhaps why it is the proverbial SHTF rifle, along with the Glock being the proverbial SHTF pistol. They are just so ubiquitous. So while I really liked it. I decided it probably makes more sense for me to first purchase a base AR15.

That said, I long thought that the SR-556 had an interesting potential not realized. The originall SR-556 could be set to a single-shot, non-reloading state. In order to hunt deer in PA, the rifle must be both of a significant cartridge and a single-shot action. I had long thought that were they to offer a replacement “hunting” piston that only allowed the action to be a single non-reloading shot, and were to offer it in a larger cartridge such as the .308 then Ruger’s AR system would make for a superb AR based hunting rifle platform.

Ruger has resolved one aspect of that idea, and the second one I wager would be fairly easy to do.

In the Holiday News

Pennsylvania Hunter Education – Sebastian has a recent post on the matter.

I find this interesting as I am one who is interested in hunting. I even know a couple of people who’d take me out hunting. And in fact, I just met with both my State Senator and State Representative, and this was one of the main issues I discussed with them.

I want to experience hunting but have not as of yet. You see, I have been unable to get a permit. Having been held back by a requirement to take a Hunter Education Class. I have no problem with the idea of taking such a class. In fact, I actually WANT to take a class. But there is a severe lack of availability of the required Hunter Ed classes. Every time I check for classes they are either over 2 hours away, or already full. The result is two years have passed by and I have not experienced the tradition of hunting. The common solution proposed by nearly every one is to just go “Buy a permit” as the odds of being asked about one’s course is slim.

So what are the possible solutions? I provided two solutions to this situation:

SOLUTION 1: Implement a “Mentoree” hunting permit. This would be similar to youth being allowed to hunt. With a Mentoree permit you could only hunt in the company of an individual who had a full hunting permit. I believe this would provide a reasonable remedy. I am not looking to hunt on my own, heck, I wouldn’t even know what to do with a deer after I shot it. I “WANT” to be mentored.

SOLUTION 2: Update the Pennsylvania Game Commision site to provide some added resources. Provide a request form, then PA could email those signed up with alerts to classes in their area. Or at the bare minimum, provide an RSS feed.

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Fixing the State Police Problems – Sebastian covering Tom Corbett’s replacing the old State Police Commissioner (who was working with MAIG) with a new appointee from the Attorney General’s officer. One who is hopefully more supportive of our RTKBA.

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Ruger to offer SR-556 uppers

Originally, I was quite fascinated with the SR-556. I would still love to get one as it is one of the more attractive ARs IMHO. However, I’ve toyed with the idea of the SR-556 in 6.8 SPC; and putting together a hunting rifle. In Pennsylvania there are minimum caliber requirements (at least for Elk, and I think I recall seeing it for deer as well). There is also a requirement that the center-fired rifle be manually operated. One of the modes of the SR-556 allows for that. But would not be legal as it is variable. However, my hope would be to acquire a 2nd piston from Ruger that only offers the manual operation.

Ruger SR-22

Crap….just when I was about to buy a Ruger 10/22 for an upcoming Appleseed Project. Ruger decides to complicate matters.

My first reaction was “Looks fun, but I think I’ll stick with the 10/22 because of the commonality of magazines and accessories.”

But then from looking and reading it appears that the SR-22 actually uses Ruger 10/22 magazines.  So that eliminates that difference.

So what is the advantage of the SR-22.  If you own an SR-556, the SR-22 provides you more commonality in platform. Facilitating using the SR-22 as a practice rifle (a much, much affordable practice rifle).  At quick glance, I think I’d want a slightly larger charging handle.

The SR-22 has a suggested retail price of $625.  In which case, I personally may be sticking to the planned acquisition of the 10/22 ($199-$260).   However, the SR-556 which as an MSRP of $1,995 has been selling around $1,400-$1,500.  So I’d wager that we’ll see the SR-22 sell for $450+

Kind of surprised they didn’t wait until Shot Show to announce this. Makes me wonder what else Ruger might have up their sleeve.

http://www.ruger.com/SR22/index.html

Michael Bane’s demonstration can be found here:
http://www.downrange.tv/blog/?p=768

Reflecting on why I find the SR-556 attractive?

It’s kind of bothered me for a while. Why do I like the SR-556?  Why do I find it attractive…

That may sound odd to many gunnies. But in the past I’ve not been a big fan of AR style rifles. I thought of them as rather ugly.

So I started looking at ARs/M4s/etc to see what aesthetics were affecting me.

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The first example is the traditional M16 look with the handle/sight, etc. The rounded barrel shroud also does not appeal to me. While I might give it a nod for nastalgia. And admit that the handle has it’s practical use. This traditional design never appealed to me.

The Tacticool AR. It’s go all the hodgepodge of accessories, for grip, rails, fixed sights, elevated scope/reddot/etc. Perhaps effective, such configurations leave little to aesthetics.

I also tend not to like that raised triangular sight on a lot of ARs.  And the bulky quad rails bring back memories of my old LEGO set.

[Please check out the blog Famous Guns which I discovered tonight while looking for images of AR platform rifles.]

Now, granted I thought the bolt with the etched phoenix logo was especially gorgeous.  But that alone wouldn’t do it for me…

That’s when I realized what it was I liked about the Ruger SR-556 configuration.  It took a very minimalist feel.

The top rail extends across the entire top of the rifle in a singular appearance.  Providing a nice aesthetic line.  The sights are minimalist in the amount of space they take up both in the raised and lowered positions.

It has the quad rails, but they are covered by protective panels. This gives the perception of comfort. Where before there was merely the jarring jaggedness of rails.

For whatever reason it makes me think of the Earth Alliance ships from Babylon 5.

(Okay, so that probably looks a bit more like an XM8.)

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So yes, I want a Ruger SR-556…can’t you tell. *LOL*

Ruger SR-556: Photos and video…

If you have not heard the news. Ruger has moved into the AR platform.  They have announced the Ruger SR-556. It is a short stroke gas piston rifle built upon the AR platform.

Features include troy rails, sights and covers. Receiver is 3rd party from what I gathered from the salesmen.  The barrel, flash suppressor, and I believe the bolt are Ruger made. Possibly other parts as well. The upper two-stage gas piston system was designed by Ruger.  Essentially, what I gathered is that Ruger is trying to provide a full feature ready made gas piston AR platform.

MSRP is something like $1,995, they should start shipping in June.

Michael Bane was there filming for the Outdoor Channel. I also managed to capture some video…

Here was an outtake… ( I wonder if I’ll still be allowed at the Michael Bane sponsored Blogger Happy Hour tonight.) *LOL*

I endeavored to seek answers for a number of questions I’d seen asked online already. I asked a salesman what differentiated the Ruger SR556 from the SigSauer556. He expressed that the Sig was a long stroke piston similar to an AK. Where as the Ruger is a short stroke piston. (Now here is where I must confess my ignorance. As I have NO CLUE what this means. Nor what advantages or disadvantages either has; so if you my readers would like to chime in here, please do!)

The receiver is a standard lower and therefore you should be able to put any upper on it.  (Hmm…POF receiver with Ruger upper might be a nice setup.) While I am not sure about .22LR conversion kits. A .22LR upper system should work according the salesman I spoke with on the floor.

An interesting note…the salesmen stated that they have two testing units which have broken 20,000 rounds (uncleaned).

More photos of the SR-556 here in the photo gallery!

Ruger announces SR-556 (AR)

Go to Ruger.com for more info