I've been itching for something different lately. I've scoured the forum, even the Classifieds and the itch is growing.
I have a handle on the welded diopter vs pic rail options. I also realize they are imported as pistols, which means I'll need to pop for an expensive stock and a $200 tax stamp because that gun must live as an SBR in my household. Do you have one and regret not getting the other (dipoter versus pic rail)?
But more so about the process of ordering with JDI, anyone have feedback or insight? Folks allude to "the wait" what did this consist of? How was it to work with JDI?
What are you paying for mags and where are you buying them?
Are the ballistics of an 8" piston gun similar to that of an 8" DI?
Any other thoughts?
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More than a few of us have both sight configurations. I'd be VERY surprised if anyone recommends rail over diopter. You can get very nice, low-profile rails to install on the diopter model, if you want to mount a sight that requires it; best of both worlds.
I have ordered an, at the time, not regularly stocked rifle (grey, steel, diopter, 553LB) from JDI. I don't recall the wait time exactly, but it seems like it was four to six months. That was in 2018, and is certainly no indication as to how it would work in 2023. He is ok to deal with; I have bought multiple guns and multiple parts from him, and seem to recall one instance that annoyed me, but I can't remember particulars. Magazine pricing and availability fluctuates. As has been documented in another thread, the Swiss mags can fail with enough use; buying used bags can be a gamble. As with most things 55X, you can have almost any part or accessory you desire, if you're willing to communicate with gunfactory.ch; their prices are relatively reasonable and stable, and they'll get the stuff to you quicker than JDI can, in many cases. The 552/553 steel diopter in grey is a quintessential "commando" 5.56 shorty, IMO; right there with things like the MK18, G36C, etc.
Posts: 2529 | Location: Northeast GA | Registered: February 15, 2021
I have the 553lb and have the NATO/ar mag version which sucks for correctness but is incredibly practical. I have the diopters and have no regrets vs the pic rail as you can easily add the rail which I am looking to do in the very near future. These diopters are fantastic vs the clamp on hk416 versions out there and light years ahead of the 556 obviously. The guns long to be SBRd which I did during the recent atf fun.
Sorry I can't give direct feedback on JDI, I purchased from a forum member.
Posts: 3124 | Location: Pnw | Registered: March 21, 2009
I agree with what’s posted above, only get non-diopter if it’s going to be your primary rifle, and you need room for a magnifier or LVPO. I have a 551 diopter with steel lower, but I wanted an example of a 551, not a 100% practical primary firearm. My stock took over a year, still waiting on hinge pin sets from him. I will give JDI major props, my orders of magazines came way before other items I ordered in time to beat my states magazine ban.
Posts: 10070 | Location: Woodinville, WA | Registered: March 30, 2004
That is the only good reason for a rail model. Even then, you can get a cheek riser, and have the optic or magnifier come back over the rear diopter. That setup will get you by until you realize that these guns get a bit heavy/bulky quickly, when you put things like lights and lasers on them. I made a not insignificant effort to make a "practical/tactical" 553 setup. There're good ways to get a light onto the plastic handguard, which allows you to keep the weight and bulk down, but as soon as you put a quad rail on these guns, to enable attachment of things like lasers, it gets nasty quick. They do have MLOK now, but it's still chonky.
Posts: 2529 | Location: Northeast GA | Registered: February 15, 2021
I got a 553SB diopter from JDI. There is a wait, that's no lie, but he's really good about responding to questions and it will come. You can scour the forums/webs if you want to not wait, and pay for that privilege, but it didn't kill me. I mean, it's going to be waiting for the SBR too right?
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Posts: 2101 | Location: T-town in the 253 | Registered: January 16, 2013
For the aftermarket rail that you can mount on a diopter gun, how does it mount/attach? Is it solid? Does it scratch or mar the finish of the gun if you remove it? Is it available in a matching gray?
Posts: 859 | Location: Volunteer | Registered: January 16, 2009
Dave is great to work with. The time can very with shipping agreements, export license, and just plain dumb luck.
Dave is pretty quick to answer questions but he does travel for his other interests and that can delay a response.
I ordered my 553sb as a custom gun w pic rail only. I also picked up a 550, 553 in 300 black out with pic rail and a 553 lb with a pic rail. It took two months before I had it in my grimy little hands. The diopter is a great sight but with my failing eye sight I like a red dot and the pic rail.
Ordering is simple. Buy it from his online store. If its in stock he will call for FFL info and fed ex it to you in a couple of days. If its in bound it can take some time with a large order coming in from Switzerland. Dave is a one man show and he also other imported items as well get pretty overwhelmed. Most of his orders are ten of these and ten of those kind of deals that generally don't last that long in his store.
The parts he sells can be the longest wait. I waited for 18 months for mags, a stock and firing pins during covid and that's not Dave's fault of course. I tend to think the Swiss don't really care about having an American market. I prefer to order stocks and everything for the 550 platform through gunfactory.ch. Most of the time gunfactory.ch has it in stock and you can get it two to three weeks.
All my Swiss guns are my favorite rifles. Couldn't be happier to own them. I never thought I could or would own a 550 platform gun. Because of Dave I own four.
Posts: 7746 | Location: West Jordan, Utah | Registered: June 19, 2007
For the aftermarket rail that you can mount on a diopter gun, how does it mount/attach? Is it solid? Does it scratch or mar the finish of the gun if you remove it? Is it available in a matching gray?
I haven't seen one in gray. mine has been rock solid.
Posts: 7746 | Location: West Jordan, Utah | Registered: June 19, 2007
I agree with gw3971; the rails are very solid. I have also never seen one in grey; the gun has other black accents as well though, so it doesn't conflict with the color palate. I have experienced some finish wear on the front "crest" dovetail, due to rail use. This wear, however, was on clones with an inferior finish. I think it indicates that it is a possibility though. I don't think it's anything to worry about, unless you're the same guy who puts something on the receiver, behind the ejection port, to prevent brass from dinging it up. The best rail I have seen, in terms of minimal impact on added height/bulk is a gunfactory branded rail. It doesn't have a lot of "rail estate", because it's low profile prohibits notches directly over the front dovetail, but it is the best-looking rail out there, IMO.
Posts: 2529 | Location: Northeast GA | Registered: February 15, 2021
Diopter is the only way to go in my opinion. Looks especially but like others mentioned a low profile rail works perfectly fine with it. I just use the diopters on mine.
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Posts: 3631 | Location: OK | Registered: November 07, 2008
I have multiples of diopter and railed receiver Swiss 55x. I prefer the railed receiver on the 552 and 553, because those deserve red dot optics. I’ve personally had the B&T optic rails loosen and have heard of it happening to others. So much so that multiple LE trade in rifles and parts kits I’ve seen had the optic rail retention screw loctited with one of the semi permanent options to the point that the rails were no longer removable.
551s are great as diopter or railed. I love the diopter sights and shooting irons only on my PE90.
It really depends on what you want to do with it. In a perfect world, get both. If that’s not an option and you want to use an optic, I’d personally go with a railed upper. If you just want to shoot irons, buy the diopter model. If this is your one and only Swiss 55x, the diopters are iconic and you should go with that.
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Posts: 2358 | Location: The South | Registered: September 12, 2005
I’ve personally had the B&T optic rails loosen and have heard of it happening to others. So much so that multiple LE trade in rifles and parts kits I’ve seen had the optic rail retention screw loctited with one of the semi permanent options
That's a darn good point.
Posts: 2529 | Location: Northeast GA | Registered: February 15, 2021
Yep, I had to cut one off my 551 LE surplus rifle.
I just sold my diopter 553 yesterday. For me, if you're going to run an optic, the railed version is the way to go. The rail is nice but the view gets cluttered with the diopter setup and an optic in the middle. But I also have 551's and 550's to shoot so I it's not a single option for me.
Posts: 3181 | Location: Loudoun VA | Registered: December 21, 2014
Originally posted by PGT: Yep, I had to cut one off my 551 LE surplus rifle.
I just sold my diopter 553 yesterday. For me, if you're going to run an optic, the railed version is the way to go. The rail is nice but the view gets cluttered with the diopter setup and an optic in the middle. But I also have 551's and 550's to shoot so I it's not a single option for me.
Agreed. Cowitnessing a red dot with the diopters is much too cluttered.
--------------------------------------------- "AND YEA THOUGH THE HINDUS SPEAK OF KARMA, I IMPLORE YOU...GIVE HER A BREAK, LORD". - Clark W. Griswald
Posts: 2358 | Location: The South | Registered: September 12, 2005
Nothing saying you have to co-witness. I suppose I'd have to agree with the rail variant, if using an LVPO, but if my purpose is close range, I think I'd go diopter with a dot on the drop-in rail, in a mount that clears the sights. The loosening is definitely a problem; not one I have experienced, but one I'll certainly be wary of, moving forward. If the OP, or anyone else, can only have one 55X, I'd recommend the diopter. There's also the diopter/rail combo models, but then you don't really have the purity in either direction. Were those combo guns ever adopted by anyone, or made solely for commercial consumption?
Posts: 2529 | Location: Northeast GA | Registered: February 15, 2021
You correctly omitted light. If my goal is a small, light, quick maneuvering rifle, I am going to opt for an AR15. If we are dead-set on making the 55X our go-to, then I guess we would need to make compromises in optic height preferences, in the interest of keeping weight and bulk down. The 55X is heavier than an AR, and it's receiver is larger. This weird piston gun conversation is cropping up in three threads right now. Is a 55X your go-to rifle?
I have resigned myself to the fact that the 55X doesn't beat-out the AR (and perhaps others), as a contemporary "fighting rifle", given the plethora of options we have in America. "The Swiss would beg to differ." Well, it's their indigenous design, and they ought to use it; it's no doubt a fine rifle. For collection purposes, I like the nostalgia of the very guns JoshNC referred to: diopters with rails loc-tighted by SWAT officers; give me all the early 2000s stuff to go with it. I love me some contemporary Swiss clone guns too; the STGW07 with a PEQ and Aimpoint/magnifier; for collection and novelty purposes. In a "real deal", I'll take an AR with the same equipment, because it will be lighter, handier, and suppress better; in my experience, the 55X doesn't run super clean with a can, and I have tried many a modified valve.
My original recommendation of diopters was based on the fact that those sights are a part of the original design that makes the gun unique and iconic; those sights are also arguably better than most other contemporary iron sights. If someone is going for the STGW07 clone: I understand the railed version. If someone's end-use or preference dictates a scope: I also suppose I understand railed. If you want it just cause you want it, then go get a railed. I don't know why we always try to make practical arguments for novelty guns. I've been guilty of it too, but I try my damnedest not to anymore.
I have been wanting to have a fun range day. No ARs allowed. This thread is motivating it more.
Posts: 2529 | Location: Northeast GA | Registered: February 15, 2021
my 14" p/w Bren 2 with Sandman-K or SOLGW M4-89 13.7" p/w middy with A5 buffer and another Sandman-K are my "go-to" rifles. I wouldn't reach for a 55x variant. Does nothing better than that pair.
Posts: 3181 | Location: Loudoun VA | Registered: December 21, 2014
Originally posted by KSGM: You correctly omitted light. If my goal is a small, light, quick maneuvering rifle, I am going to opt for an AR15. If we are dead-set on making the 55X our go-to, then I guess we would need to make compromises in optic height preferences, in the interest of keeping weight and bulk down. The 55X is heavier than an AR, and it's receiver is larger. This weird piston gun conversation is cropping up in three threads right now. Is a 55X your go-to rifle?
I have resigned myself to the fact that the 55X doesn't beat-out the AR (and perhaps others), as a contemporary "fighting rifle", given the plethora of options we have in America. "The Swiss would beg to differ." Well, it's their indigenous design, and they ought to use it; it's no doubt a fine rifle. For collection purposes, I like the nostalgia of the very guns JoshNC referred to: diopters with rails loc-tighted by SWAT officers; give me all the early 2000s stuff to go with it. I love me some contemporary Swiss clone guns too; the STGW07 with a PEQ and Aimpoint/magnifier; for collection and novelty purposes. In a "real deal", I'll take an AR with the same equipment, because it will be lighter, handier, and suppress better; in my experience, the 55X doesn't run super clean with a can, and I have tried many a modified valve.
My original recommendation of diopters was based on the fact that those sights are a part of the original design that makes the gun unique and iconic; those sights are also arguably better than most other contemporary iron sights. If someone is going for the STGW07 clone: I understand the railed version. If someone's end-use or preference dictates a scope: I also suppose I understand railed. If you want it just cause you want it, then go get a railed. I don't know why we always try to make practical arguments for novelty guns. I've been guilty of it too, but I try my damnedest not to anymore.
I have been wanting to have a fun range day. No ARs allowed. This thread is motivating it more.
Well said.
--------------------------------------------- "AND YEA THOUGH THE HINDUS SPEAK OF KARMA, I IMPLORE YOU...GIVE HER A BREAK, LORD". - Clark W. Griswald
Posts: 2358 | Location: The South | Registered: September 12, 2005
