Sig 556 Vs. H&K 416 by: Dan Larson -- AR-15 Armorer/Certified Protection Specialist
Currently the only H&K 416s on the market ar Class III weapons and are therefore only available to LE and Military. I haven't shot the Sig 556 yet but I have handled it several times and found it to be very nose heavy. That is before any attachments are added. I shot the 14.5" suppressed and 16" unsuppressed. With the AAC suppressor there was absolutely no discernible back-pressure gas discharge from around the charging handle. I could notice no weight or recoil difference between the HK 416 and any other gas impingement AR I've fired. What I did notice was how much cooler the upper receiver was after firing. It includes standard H&K front and rear sights, I found it very accurate (25 yard indoor range) I found the BUIS on the Sig to be weak both physically and visually wise.
If I had a choice of any of them though I'd pick the POF piston system. It's piston system is a stainless steel short stroke with no springs. And the contact parts inside are plated in Silicon chrome so absolutely no lubrication is needed. Perfect for the dessert environment!
