Odd how the name "SIG" seems to be considered as something magic. SIG America is as Swiss as a hamburger. The solitary connection with SIG (now RUAG) in Switzerland is the fact that a single member of the board of directors in SIG American also happens to be on the board in Switzerland. Nothing more. The SIG America 556 has nothing whatsoever to do with the
Swiss SIG 550, 551 or 552. Its far more closely related to the simple AR15.
Anything made in Switzerland must be better because, well....... it's Swiss, right? No. Not right. The USA makes firearms every bit as good as those made in Switzerland. There are a few notable exceptions among which is the Sig-Neuhausen. The only pistol ever built with a 0 FTF%, but truth be told, the US could also mfg. such a pistol.
The highly sought after PE57 sells for $2,800.00 to $7,500.00 here in the US. In Switzerland? The equivalent of $287.00 street value. Politics, idiocy and bans have clouded the judgement of a lot of Americans. I have AR10s that will equal and outperform the stg/PE 57 all week long, and I have both.
Swiss firearms in general are designed and made extremely well. There's nothing in the world that would stop a US mfg from producing the same quality right here.... except cost and marketing. With the entire market flooded with AR15s, 10's and a variety of calibers, low production cost is mandatory. (So they say) We have the ability, just not the desire except a few quality makers.
My Father's company produces firearm accessories that actually sell in Switzerland, of course they're designed for Swiss rifles. We have a distributor there and he's a wealth of information. Real info, not marketing crap. Don't jump at whistles and bells. In .308 semi-autos, Armalite is the real deal.
Latigo
www.swissproductsllc.com