Quality Performance
While many of the parts are what AR-15 connoisseurs might consider “stock” or even “pedestrian,” the Ruger AR-556 blends them well and puts out some solid numbers. I mounted a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-12x40 scope and placed the whole affair into a CTK Precision Ultimate Gun Rest for accuracy. I will fully admit, the only ammo I was able to obtain during this pandemic-driven dearth was Wolf 5.56 NATO — and I was happy to have it. Armed with 500 rounds, I set out to see what the Ruger could do.
Granted, I did not have an array of brands of ammo to throw at the AR-556, but what I did have, I willingly subjected through a number of magazines, all of which fed reliably. I had no failures to feed or eject. The Ruger kept chugging through them without fault.
With the Vortex zeroed, I worked my way out from 25-yards. I started with small groups of three, two in the same hole. From here, I pushed out to 50-yards without too much spread. Finally, I zinged five groups of three at 100-yards to establish my MOA groupings. The AR-556 put up an impressive average of 1.86-inches, with the smallest group being 0.94-inches, or sub-MOA. The wind was a bit of a factor and to my mind, so was the ammo. Regardless, the results were promising, hinting that better ammo and an even better shooter might produce outcomes more implicative of a higher-priced rifle.
Would I Recommend to a Friend?