How many swiss 550s are in USA now? (including pe90)

February 07, 2022, 10:04 PM

The pitchfork mags are made in Asia by Dominion Defense. These were available in Canada through one of the Canadian Swiss Arms distributors, The Shooting Edge or maybe Wolverine Supplies. I remember first seeing them mentioned around 2004 or 2005 iirc. I believe these were originally made for the Canadian market, but I could be wrong.

February 08, 2022, 03:34 AM

KSGM

Dominion! I knew there was another brand related to them; it was escaping me. The Asian origin is lame.

February 08, 2022, 09:23 PM

PGT

Dominion Defence must have had access to the molds as we've compared them to SIG mags from various OEM's over 30yrs and they're a perfect match for most. Some older ones are slightly off but not unexpected given different subcontractors over almost 40yrs

February 11, 2022, 11:15 AM

JoshNC

quote:
Originally posted by PGT:
Dominion Defence must have had access to the molds as we've compared them to SIG mags from various OEM's over 30yrs and they're a perfect match for most. Some older ones are slightly off but not unexpected given different subcontractors over almost 40yrs

I believe a Canadian member of the old SwissRifles Sturmgewehr forum mentioned that they did use original molds, but I could be wrong. The Chinese are very adept at reverse engineering, so it’s also conceivable that they made their own molds.

March 14, 2022, 08:08 AM

rawheadjim

I'm seeing several different options on GB now, from around 4k-6k. Definitely pricey, but the ones in the 4k range aren't too far out of line considering what other high quality imports go for. Has anyone gotten a 550, or 551, from any of these current batches?

I'm not overly concerned about mags, I bought some new ones back when they were $30 from Sig USA. There's a mag well conversion device on GB for $50 so you can run AR mags in the standard configuration, anyone tried that yet?

March 14, 2022, 08:31 AM

Voshterkoff

I got an all steel 551, it looks nice, though I don’t have anything to compare it to, other than the US builds. I’ll let you know how it shoots when I get a stock. JDI has a couple 550 models right now, real tempting.

March 14, 2022, 09:14 AM

KSGM

The 551 is arguably the "sweet spot", IMO. I have not shot a 550; I am sure they are fantastic to shoot, but they're longer than I prefer. The 553 is iconic and very cool, but it's a 9" 5.56, so it only fits some very specific practical applications; the 553LB is nice, but at that point you're better off with a similar barrel length and nicer gas system, in a 551. I highly recommend the 553R, and I don't think it gets enough of a mention. It is a fantastic 7.62x39 rifle; my favorite, hands down. There was a bad batch of firing pins in the 553Rs at one point, but JDI and gunfactory can furnish replacements and/or spares. My gun broke a firing pin less than 1000rds into it's life; JDI provided a replacement under warranty and I got spares from gunfactory, in the unlikely event it occurred again. Anyway, the 55X is an awesome platform, and I'd take a 551, if I could have only one. If I could have two, it'd be 551 and 553R.

March 14, 2022, 10:51 AM

gw3971

quote:
Originally posted by Voshterkoff:
I got an all steel 551, it looks nice, though I don’t have anything to compare it to, other than the US builds. I’ll let you know how it shoots when I get a stock. JDI has a couple 550 models right now, real tempting.

I love my 550. It Shoots well. I have been doing load development and I am getting sub moa groups with 69 grain bullets. I remember reading some complaints on accuracy with the 550 but I have found it to be better than most of my AR's. Mine is one of the rifles JDI brought in unfinished and then had them cerakoted. They did a great job painting them!

March 14, 2022, 01:02 PM

PGT

speaking of 553's, here's my Sig Sauer-Exeter imported 553 with Swiss STANAG lower and SRD556 can.

March 14, 2022, 04:56 PM

Malysh

What kind of magazine do you have in that NATO lower?

March 14, 2022, 05:06 PM

PGT

translucent FDE from Lancer Systems. Not cheap but looks proper for this platform.

February 05, 2025, 02:19 PM

vjb.knife1

quote:
Originally posted by darkest2000:
quote:
Originally posted by KSGM:
I don't think the preban guns' values were hurt as much as one might think. Estes Adams was of the opinion that anything produced after the 2000 L&O acquisition just isn't as good. So, a pre-2000 rifle likely has more value, to someone who is of that same opinion. So, certainly more of a matter of when it was made, as opposed to when it was imported, or by whom.

Lots of lore (mostly hearsay or otherwise unproven) about guns made in certain eras being better/worse quality. To most, these are Swiss made either way and that's good enough.

I believe the current generation of collectors also value military correctness (or the ability to be made so) in the outward appearance.

Generally speaking this does make the pre-bans more desirable because imports from those eras tend to be the closest thing you can get to the actual military issue equipment, just lacking the happy switch.

However, one of the exceptions to that would be the pre-ban SG550/551 series, where numerous "military" features are permanently removed, such as shaving off of the bayonet lug, reduced muzzle diameter and grenade tension ring collar delete (to further prevent the use of bayonet/rifle grenades). For the SG551 it's the weird looking extended barrel, again sans the grenade tension ring collar.

Most of the pre-bans also come with the old style lower receiver with non-reinforced mag well which the military quickly phased out, as well as the first gen non-breakaway side folding stock.

These could all be turn offs for someone choosing between a pre-ban vs one of the more recent imports.

Also keep in mind the PE90 (ones originally made for the Swiss domestic market) that have been trickling in over the years are by design made to be the exact facsimile of the military Stgw.90, sans full auto capability. This includes rifling optimized for the Swiss 5.6mm instead of 5.56mm that may commercial(pre-ban) and export rifles tend to have.

I think the most endearing features of the pre-bans would be the hard case that many came with. But with a little money those can be bought as stand alone items.

Just my $0.02

You are correct but I bought a PE90 / 550 through JDI and it has the bayonet lug, the grenade launcher bubble, etc. and I like the longer barrel that it has. I have compared it side by side to an acquaintance's old 550 and find no discernable difference. Not only that but I also own an 'American' 551A1 and it is as nice and in some instances a better looking rifle. It also cost significantly less and is just as reliable and nearly as accurate as the 550.

February 06, 2025, 01:58 PM

parabellum

vjb.knife1, please read and adhere to the following: The bumping of old threads