Vegas SMG
UZI Talk Life Member,
Funny... You ask this question on the FNC board and the M16 is ahead in the poll AND with good reason. I almost settled for an AC556K before a bought my RR M-16 and my FNC, but it would have been a compromise for a gun I didn't reallly want based entirely on economics. It was the cheapest 5.56 full auto rifle then, and it's still the entry level 5.56 machine gun today. I guess you could say it's the MAC of the F.A. centerfire rifles.
I've never owned a Ruger AC556 but I've had enough trigger time on a friends AC556-K to form an opinion. Nice guns and I like the way they look, all of the models, but then I like Ruger's looks in general . Thin barrels that will heat up quickly. Forget Beta C dumps. Too bad you can't buy parts for it almost anywhere like the M16. Yeah factory service is great and you may need it if you shoot the gun often enough. I have to question how long Ruger will continue to support these guns and then you'll get your parts from??? They were never used by any country's military armed services. Many were relegated to light duty in prisons where they didn't see much use. The rifle is still produced today as a post sample and you have to wonder why sales are almost non-existant and it's being traded for M16s by LE agencys that still have them in service. That's the only source for parts, cut up post sample guns. Good high cap mags are an issue unlike the M-16 and FNC. The .22 kits generally run great right out of the box. My perception is the recoil is noticeably sharper than either of the other two rifles.
I did own an 16" Para FNC converted by Curtis Higgins and it's a really great rifle... It should be as it's essentially an AK which means it's very reliable. Uses cheap and easy to find AR-15 / M-16 magazines and Beta C drums. Eats cheap Wolf ammo without complaints. It feels a little big and to me and I'm a big guy. The factory firing pin will break, it's actually the cup that's pressed onto the rear of the pin, so order a couple of one piece firing pins from DSA and the problem is solved. Otherwise, you risk damaging internals when the cup comes off the pin. OK, here's the deal buster for me. Find me a bolt and barrel... come on, find me one for spare parts. Don't believe for a moment that those bolts don't break, I've seen photos. Don't tell me the barrels will last forever, they won't. I'll show you a chrome lined, 14 1/2" M4 profile Bushmaster I purchased new for my M-16. The throat erosion is scary! I bought my guns to shoot, not fondle, so your experience may be different if you only shoot a few hundred rounds a year. I NEED to know I can replace every part on my guns and you aren't 'gonna do that with the bolt and barrel on an FNC and everything wears out eventually.
M-16 has more caliber conversions and accessories than you can name. A multitude of COMPLETE barreled uppers with carriers and bolts that you can pick up the phone and order delivered right to your door for short money. New magazines for around ten bucks each. Beta C mags are available in 5.56 and 9mm. Possibility of the Shrike and the XMG beltfed upper is a reality and has been shipping for several years. Tactical Innovations should be shipping the .22 caliber American 180 style 280 round drum uppers soon enough. I recently purchased the KNS spade grips and MG42 tripod for my gun and it adds a completely new dimension. More money but much more gun. It's a firearms system as much as a gun and simple enough for anyone to work on. No brainer here.
*edited for typos.
I've never owned a Ruger AC556 but I've had enough trigger time on a friends AC556-K to form an opinion. Nice guns and I like the way they look, all of the models, but then I like Ruger's looks in general . Thin barrels that will heat up quickly. Forget Beta C dumps. Too bad you can't buy parts for it almost anywhere like the M16. Yeah factory service is great and you may need it if you shoot the gun often enough. I have to question how long Ruger will continue to support these guns and then you'll get your parts from??? They were never used by any country's military armed services. Many were relegated to light duty in prisons where they didn't see much use. The rifle is still produced today as a post sample and you have to wonder why sales are almost non-existant and it's being traded for M16s by LE agencys that still have them in service. That's the only source for parts, cut up post sample guns. Good high cap mags are an issue unlike the M-16 and FNC. The .22 kits generally run great right out of the box. My perception is the recoil is noticeably sharper than either of the other two rifles.
I did own an 16" Para FNC converted by Curtis Higgins and it's a really great rifle... It should be as it's essentially an AK which means it's very reliable. Uses cheap and easy to find AR-15 / M-16 magazines and Beta C drums. Eats cheap Wolf ammo without complaints. It feels a little big and to me and I'm a big guy. The factory firing pin will break, it's actually the cup that's pressed onto the rear of the pin, so order a couple of one piece firing pins from DSA and the problem is solved. Otherwise, you risk damaging internals when the cup comes off the pin. OK, here's the deal buster for me. Find me a bolt and barrel... come on, find me one for spare parts. Don't believe for a moment that those bolts don't break, I've seen photos. Don't tell me the barrels will last forever, they won't. I'll show you a chrome lined, 14 1/2" M4 profile Bushmaster I purchased new for my M-16. The throat erosion is scary! I bought my guns to shoot, not fondle, so your experience may be different if you only shoot a few hundred rounds a year. I NEED to know I can replace every part on my guns and you aren't 'gonna do that with the bolt and barrel on an FNC and everything wears out eventually.
M-16 has more caliber conversions and accessories than you can name. A multitude of COMPLETE barreled uppers with carriers and bolts that you can pick up the phone and order delivered right to your door for short money. New magazines for around ten bucks each. Beta C mags are available in 5.56 and 9mm. Possibility of the Shrike and the XMG beltfed upper is a reality and has been shipping for several years. Tactical Innovations should be shipping the .22 caliber American 180 style 280 round drum uppers soon enough. I recently purchased the KNS spade grips and MG42 tripod for my gun and it adds a completely new dimension. More money but much more gun. It's a firearms system as much as a gun and simple enough for anyone to work on. No brainer here.
*edited for typos.
Last edited:
