×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Infantry Arms Warships & Submarines Military Pay Chart (2023) Military Ranks
Advertisements
HOME
INFANTRY
MODERN ARMIES
SPECIAL FORCES
COUNTRIES
MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE
BY CONFLICT
BY TYPE
BY DECADE
MODERN
Infantry Small Arms / The Warfighter

Ruger SR-556


Semi-Automatic Rifle [ 2009 ]



The Ruger SR-556 semi-automatic rifle is based on a gas-operated AR-15 design.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/19/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]
Advertisements
The Ruger SR-556 is a relatively new commercial market addition to the Armalite AR-15 family of automatic, self-loading rifles which originated in the 1950s under the direction of Eugene Stoner and produced the venerable M16 assault rifle for the US military (among other variants). The SR-556 was the first AR-15 style firearm manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Company, Incorporated and mimics the original in style and arrangement to an obvious extent. One key differentiating feature between the SR-556 and the original AR-15 approach is use of a two-stage, chrome-plated, piston-driven gas-operated system with rotating bolt - a departure from the AR-15's original direct impingement-rotating-bolt method of operation. The SR-556 is marketed to law enforcement and military parties and has proven popular in the civilian market as well - though it carries a relatively steep entry price.

Ruger's approach to the SR-556 is such that fouling is minimized through use of a venting system for the built-up gas. The resultant gas is vented through the bottom of the gas block which clears the bolt carrier and is designed to keep said carrier free of contamination while additionally being easy to clean. As such, the Ruger SR-556 is marketed as a highly reliable, gas-operated firing solution in direct competition with all other AR-15-style firearms and users have noted its exceptional accuracy (even for AR-15 beginners) and strong "out of the box" performance.

The SR-225 is primarily chambered for the .223 Remington cartridge as well as the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge while support for the 6.8 Remington was later announced. The weapon showcases a weight of 7.9lbs (3.6kg), slightly heavier than most AR-15s on the market, and features a collapsing stock which allows the 36 inch length to be compacted down to a handier 32.75 inches. The collapsing stock is an M4 Carbine-style design with six preset positions. The Mil-spec 41V45 barrel assembly measures in at 16.2 inches and sports six grooves while being cold hammer-forged and chrome-lined in its construction. The firearm is designed to accept STANAG curved detachable box magazines (MAGPUL PMAG) in 10- or 30-round counts depending on the variant in play (see final paragraph). Troy Industries "Folding Battlesights" are flip-up, low-profile iron sights fitted along the top of the receiver and atop the handguard for ranged accuracy. Like other rifles, the SR-225 is designed to be fired from the shoulder in a conventional fashion - the primary operating hand on the pistol grip and the supporting hand under the handguard ahead of the magazine well to complete the three-point hold. The gas cylinder is mounted above the barrel and is capped by a 4-position chrome-plated gas regulator to control pressure.

The SR-556 is currently marketed in three major production forms divided into their respective subvariants. The "SR-556 Standard" includes the "SR-556FB" with collapsible stock and 30-round magazine and the "SR-556SC" with 10-round magazine sans slotted muzzle brake - both available in black synthetic finish. The "SR-556 Carbine" - a shortened form of the base SR-556 Standard - is available as the "SR-556C" and "SR-556CLA", the former weighing 0.23lbs more than the latter and differentiated by its redesigned handguard and full-length accessory rails. The "SR-556 E-Model" is available as the "SR-556E" with collapsible stock in 30-round magazine form and the "SR-556ESC" in 10-round magazine form sans the slotted muzzle brake. Both field a single accessories rail across the receiver top while the handguard is cleanly-designed with slotted perforations for cooling.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
Advertisements

Specifications



Service Year
2009

Origin
United States national flag graphic
United States

Classification


Semi-Automatic Rifle


Sturm, Ruger & Company, Incorporated - USA
(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of the United States United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Automatic Function
Features a mechanical function to automate the firing action.


Overall Length
910 mm
35.83 in
Barrel Length
409 mm
16.10 in
Empty Wgt
7.94 lb
3.60 kg
Sights


Iron front and rear


Action


Gas-Operated, Rotating Bolt; Semi-Automatic

Semi-Automatic
One shot per trigger pull; self-loading or auto-loading action aided by internal mechanism; trigger management (and initial cocking) typically required by the operator; subsequent shots are aided by the unlocked / moved bolt.
Rotating Bolt
System utilizes internal mechanism to lock the breech or rear barrel assembly prior to firing.
Gas-Operated
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.
(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)


Caliber(s)*


.223 Remington; 5.56x45mm NATO; 6.8mm Remington SPC

Sample Visuals**


Graphical image of a 5.56mm intermediate rifle cartridge
Rounds / Feed


30-round detachable box magazine
Cartridge relative size chart
*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.
SR-556 - Base Series Designation; civilian-minded semi-automatic-fire-only.
SR-556E - Revised SR-556 of lightened weight.


Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2


Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.

Images Gallery



1 / 1
Image of the Ruger SR-556


Advertisements




Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies


2023 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing all American military medals and ribbons.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)