Read more about the Range Day and see the pictures and videos on the Forum

Specs

Barrel length excluding flash hider = 230mm
6 Groove barrel with a 1:7 twist rate.
Weight empty 3.2kg/7lb
The rifle has a max length of 730mm and a stock folded length of 501mm.

General.

The rifle action is gas piston driven with the piston located above the barrel and forward of the bolt carrier (in contrast with the AK/Galil/LM system). Control and return of the piston is managed by a captured recoil spring system with the recoil spring placed around the piston (This setup is derived from the Sig 551 – the 552, which has been replaced by the 553, utilised a recoil spring system similar to the AK/Galil/LM design with the recoil spring positioned rearward of the bolt carrier). The bolt carrier and the piston are linked by the removable charging lever. Disassembly of the bolt carrier and piston is achieved by detaching the removable charging lever.

A polymer overmolded charging lever is located on the right hand side of the receiver (similarly positioned to the lever on the AK/Galil/LM rifles). The bolt locks open on an empty magazine (contrary to the AK/Galil/LM mode of operation).  Bolt release is managed by utilising the bolt release button located on the left hand side of the receiver which works great for speedy and easy charging of the rifle after a loaded magazine has been seated in the lower receiver.

The magazine is seated with the familiar “rock in” motion used on the AK/Galil/LM etc. Each magazine features tabs for side by side locking of 2 (or more) mags together without the use of magazine couplers. A magazine can be seated even with the top round protruding forward out of the magazine (a situation that can occur when two mags are coupled side by side due to top placed round inertia movement under recoil impulse). The mag does not feature the fairly large lip catch found on AK/Galil/LM mags and this allows an empty mag to drop free with the push of the mag release paddle.

Ambi safety levers that rotate from safe to fire with a 45 degree movement are located on the lower receiver. The safety levers remind one of the safety lever system used on the AR platform.

Upper and lower receivers are detachable from one another, in a manner very similar to the AR platform, by sliding the two contained pins outward (engineered as only the Swiss would). The upper receiver is attached to the barrel and has a non-removable dustcover which also has the bolt carrier rails attached to it. The lower receiver contains the trigger group and has the stock attached. Trigger pull is smooth in take-up with a crisp break and short reset.

The piston and the piston gas tube are removable from the front of the rifle. The front hand guards are locked into place by the gas tune and can be easily removed by unlocking the gas tube.

The upper receiver has a B&T picatinny rail with a small fold-up rear BUIS recessed in to the rail. The front BUIS is small with a fold open front sight blade. Both BUIS are minimalistic but all that is needed for BUIS utility.

I mounted a Trijicon RMR RM06 on the forward portion of the rail where the receiver and rail ends  which allows co-witness with the BUIS if needed and does not  interfere with manipulating the charging lever with the support hand reaching over/under the receiver  or with manipulating the lever with the strong hand. Imo the RM06 compliments the rifle very well.

After the rifle has been charged and a round loaded in the chamber and barring a malfunction that necessitates the charging lever to be worked it is not necessary to utilise the charging lever to keep the rifle running and loaded due to the slide locking back on an empty magazine and the availability of the slide bolt carrier release button described above.

The muzzle is protected by a B&T Rotex flash hider which in my opinion does nothing to help hold the muzzle down onder recoil impulse. I have a suspicion that a standard A2 type “bird cage” flash hider would be more effective. I am waiting for an Ase Utra BoreLock flash hider that I will try to see what the effect will be. It is quite difficult to find a flash hider or brake in 14x1LH thread not made for a 7,62×39.

Overall quality and finish is Swiss perfect in all areas and aspects. The bolt carrier is perfectly finished with no tool marks evident and the bolt shaft is polished to a very high sheen for perfect movement within the carrier. The bolt carrier and bolt are overall extremely well made and finished.

It is rumoured that several Special Forces units in the world are using the Sig 553 SOW (Special Operations Weapon) and more specific GSG-9 (Germany), GIGN (France), GEOG (Argentina), DEA (USA), Navy Seals (USA) and the US – Air Force.

I found it interesting that very little review information could be found about the 553 and I attribute this to the possible lack of 553 rifles in the USA. The USA owners and users are usually a huge and very valuable source of information when it comes to rifles like these, but not so in the instance of the 553.

Article by Khumba, GunSite SA Forum Moderator and Member.

Many thanks from the GunSite SA Team for this continbution.

As I was working on a long-range hunting load for my 300 WM, I had an existential experience, you might say, a catharsis. You know, a bringing to the surface of some deep repressed emotion in an effort to identify a nagging truth that keeps popping up and antagonizing me. I had tried Amax, Berger and Sierra Game Kings, and guess what? The Sierra Game King won the day on accuracy. I really tried to get the same consistency out of the Amax and the Berger, but my rifle would not cooperate with me. I asked myself, why was I working on another load when I already have 10 loads for my Savage 116FHSS 300WM, all of which provide 100 yards accuracy under an inch? Why another one? They do allow me the versatility of being game and condition specific when in the field, but why another load? I just wanted a 600yd load, to use on long shots down gas lines and for shooting across big open fields.

I will admit that I am at a point in my life, where I am tired of trying to always tweak the next load, the next miracle bullet, and then labor in the field hoping that it delivers and meets my expectations or at least in some way comes close to the published hype. I have through the years taken a lot of game and enjoyed my hunting very much, but find myself always haunted by the green boxes sitting on my shelves. It seems like they have eyes and are gazing at me in disbelief, for not using them as much as I have in the past.

For 30 years there has been this green thread laced throughout all of my experience of shooting, reloading, hunting and taking game. Yes, the foundation for my experience with hand loads and using them on game – was first laid years ago with Sierra bullets. From time to time I would continue that green thread, weaving it through my experiences in the field. Funny thing though, I don’t kill anymore game nor do I kill game any better with the new whiz bang, super-duper bullets of today in all those years with Sierra bullets. In fact, when I culled game over a two-year period, it was the Sierra Game King bullets that did the majority of that work. And when I switched to a bonded bullet like the Speer Hot Core, the Swift Scirocco or a monolithic bullet like the Barnes X during that time – I found myself quickly going back to the Sierras, especially the 165gr HPBT. For more than 30 years now, I have taken coyote, deer, hogs, black bear, bobcat, beaver, coon, and wild dogs with conventional cup core bullets. I have close personal friends that have taken more than one bull elk with 165gr Sierra Game King SBT out of a 300 WM and 300 WSM.

Through the years I have taken game with Sierra, Nosler, Remington, Swift, Hornady, Barnes, Speer, Hawk, Woodliegh, and Winchester bullets. I have experienced these different makes of bullets in the field, and they have given me an empirical understanding of bullet performance. In looking back through all my diary notes, Sierra bullets have dispatched 75% of all the game I have taken in the field.

With that said, it brings home the following point. I find myself gravitating back to those green boxes. Even though there are many options out there for me to use, when it comes to different types of bullets – and I have certainly tried many of them on game. I think I know why I keep coming back to Sierra. The reason is simple! They are consistently accurate, predictable in the field, and most of all, they dispatch game efficiently and with remarkable quickness. When a hunter puts a premium cup core bullet where it is supposed to go, and uses the appropriate weight and design for the game hunted – they will have outstanding success.

I have found Sierra bullets to be heads and shoulders above the many choices out there, especially when it comes to being consistently accurate over the range of different cartridges and rifles I have owned. I am talking about hunting loads and bullets, not match loads, because I don’t compete in matches. I am not saying that other bullets that I have used in developing hunting loads are not as accurate. Some specific loads using other bullets have been more accurate at times, but in the overall use of bullets for my different rifles and cartridges when loading for accuracy Sierra has been the most consistent. My main hobby through the years has been developing loads, then taking them to the field and testing them on game. After all these years, I still tend to reach for that familiar green box. This is especially true, when I am having trouble getting accuracy with a certain cartridge and rifle combination, while using different makes of bullets.

It is easy to be caught up in the popular notion – that only bonded or solid copper bullets are the best choice for use in the field. I have not experienced problems with cup core bullets in taking game through the years, before the advent of all the new specialized bullets of today. So, what has changed? The cup core bullets have not changed! Therefore, an obvious prejudice and bias for bonded or monolithic type bullets developed in my thinking. Why not? They were touted as the next best thing since sliced bread and everybody who was anybody was using them. Why would I want to be different and resist the obvious? Frankly, through the years I have had to track more game farther when using bonded or solid copper bullets than when using cup core bullets. I consider Sierra and Berger to be premium bullets. Premium bullets are not limited to just bonded or monolithic designs, by any stretch of the imagination.

Years before using the bonded bullets and later the all copper bullets, I dispatched hogs, whitetail, mule deer and black bear with cup core bullets. Success was the order of the day when using these conventionally designed bullets. We have been bombarded over the last 20 years with the notion that conventional cup core bullets are not worth the effort and much less dependable when taking game. It is almost as if the marketing of bullets today has been successful in creating the notion – that the only real premium bullets are either bonded or solid copper. I have been at times just as guilty as many who have bought into the notion that Sierra bullets and other cup core bullets are not dependable – when taking game from coyotes to bear – and that is simply not true. I used them and have not experienced any lose of game, and we are talking about a lot of game taken with cup core bullets.

Amazing how we will adopt an idea or belief, because someone wrote an article in a national publication. Yet, the new concept (without a bonded or all copper bullet we can’t have real performance) that we have been encouraged to accept is undermining what we have actually experienced in the field – telling us that our experiences are inferior. Yep, let’s throw out all the empirical evidence of a lifetime spent in the field, because something comes along that seems to have more bells and whistles. We are told it is better and who are we to question things? We are just the average hunter, who goes out year after year with bullets that have worked for years, and got the job done. Now we are told there is a new and better bullet in town and our old bullets just won’t cut the mustard. I agree that the newer bullets are better for some applications, as the older cup core bullets are better for other applications – but the idea being pushed in some quarters today, is that we need to drop what we have been using and only use the new design exclusively. Yes!! The do it all better bullet for true performance in the field – while we are left with that nagging question that looms in our mind, “how did we get it done in the field for all these years, without this new wonder bullet?”

When one considers the devastating performance on game, the accuracy that is consistently achieved with Sierra and Berger type bullets – plus the bang for the buck spent – they are still a viable option for the hunter today. I for one could in all honesty use bullets that come out of those green boxes sitting on my shelves, for the rest of my hunting life – and not be disappointed. I am looking to simplify my game specific loads, by following my own empirical experiences of proven success through the years in the field – I’m popping the top on those green boxes more often.

Wait, what about those big animals like elk, moose and brown bear? There is an impressive list of hunters who have used conventional cup core bullets to dispatch the big ones here in North America. Isn’t it great that we can use the bullets we have come to like and that gets the job done for us – whether it is one of the old bullets or one of the newer designs. That is what is so great about hunting in America – we have so many good options. But to say that only the newer designs will give you consistent performance in the field on game is simply not true.

This last season, like those earlier seasons in my hunting life, I decided to switch from my use of bonded or homogenous copper bullets and used only Sierra bullets. That familiar satisfying experience took place again – game on the ground in short order. Those Green Boxes – they still have the same good stuff inside of them.

Round 2 SA Championship Northern Gauteng

Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas (DVC) meaning accuracy, power, and speed

2nd Round of SA Championships was held in Pretoria 2^nd to 3^rd July

The match was hosted by the Pretoria Defense Practical Shooting Club at the Eeufees range situated in Northern Gauteng.  Shooting took place over two days with a total of 16 stages and a round count of 285. This was the 1^st match after National team selection and the National Team members were able to assess their preparation for the World Shoot in Greece later this year.

An excellent shoot was put on by NGPSA and its provincial clubs. The match ran on time and hardly any delays were experienced by shooters. The weather was excellent the whole weekend and the prize giving function held at Braza Menlyn was a winner in itself. The match had good props, good range layouts and was fun to shoot. The match was also a good yardstick for the national team members as well as the other shooters going to the World Shoot in Greece.

The actual match flowed well with hardly any time wasted waiting for a stage.  As far as I could see the match was running on time and in some instances even ahead of time.  Some breakages did occur and in the detail I was in some of the competitors did have to catch up with a stage latter in the day.

Officials, Administrators and Organizers

Once again we would like to give a big thank you all the Officials, Administrative personnel and organizers of the match. The match went down well and any range issues or breakages where attended to immediately. Early Sunday morning preliminary scoring was available for each competitor at the 1^st stage of the day.

The stage briefings had an interesting format as some stage information was available on an information board situated on the relevant range and the Range Officers provided only the necessary procedural information required to complete the stage.

The Match

The match consisted of 16 stages with a total round count of 285 rounds. It was a smaller match in comparison to the 1^st match of the year but this was only a 2 day match. Target distances varied from 2 meters to 35 meters and the targets included from 6” steel plates, mini paper targets, no-shoot targets, Pepper poppers, mini poppers and normal IPSC targets. The props included barricades, swingers, bobbers and a nice elevated platform to run up and down. Target placement was good providing the opportunity to shoot on the move.  It was  a well-balanced layout testing accuracy and speed. A good challenge faced by shooters was the use of the new mini targets. These were also found on some of the swingers as well.

As an example Stage 15 (See below) was a 32 round stage which included mini targets, small plates and required accurate shooting with two swingers also bearing mini targets.

SUMMARY

• 16 Stages, 285 Rounds, lots of plates and mini targets
• 200 Competitors:
  69 Open Class
  52 Production Class
  79 Standard Class
  Ladies 11
  Junior’s 8
• South Africa, Zimbabwe

Competitors

A total of 200 competitors took part in the 2 day match. The breakdown of competitors per class was as follows:

• Open – 69
• Standard – 79
• Production – 52

It was nice to see more junior competitors at the match as well.

Categories in the different classes included Men, Ladies, Juniors, Seniors and Super Seniors.  Medals were awarded in most classes.

Results

The results reflect the technicality of the match.  All 3 classes were won by local shooters.  The results also reflect the preparation by the members that have been selected for the national team. It was very nice to see the juniors becoming more and more skilled and even starting to compete with the well-established shooters.

Junior Development

At the next Nationals in Welkom on the 2^nd and 3^rd of September all junior shooters will be squadded together so that they can receive coaching on how to shoot the match.  This coaching will be done Albert Wessels and I. The aim of getting all the juniors into a single squad is to promote competition as well as to ensure that they get more benefit from experience shooters at a national level.

As part of Junior development CZ sponsored 3 CS Shadow production handguns that have been given to 3 of the junior shooters.

CR Speed has also committed to assist with the junior development by means of sponsorship.





Sponsors

As in any sport we would also like to thank the sponsors that contributed to assist NGPSA to host the match.  We ask our shooters to please support the sponsors as they are supporting you in your shooting.

By Pierre Wrogeman

Though referred to as the “modern rifle”, the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle has been deployed with military personnel and law enforcement agencies for decades; and more recently, this very adaptable and versatile platform has become popular with recreational shooters and hunters alike (in the US). Mossberg is pleased to offer MMR™ Hunter rifles with advanced features specifically-designed for the avid hunter, with three initial Hunter offerings 5.56mm NATO (.223 Rem), dedicated to the predator, varmint and small game hunters.

Features

• Direct-impingement gas system for reliable, smooth operation
• Increased accuracy with free floating, 20” button rifled barrels; 1:9 twist
• Slender, checkered aluminum tubular forend, A2 style buttstock
• Dual swivel studs in forend for bipod/sling; rear stud with sling swivel
• Durable black phosphate/anodized finishes
• Mossy Oak® camo available: Treestand® or Brush®
• Stark® SE-1 Grip offers positive grip and less shooter fatigue
• Oversized charging handle for quick, ambidextrous engagement
• 5 Round magazine included; accepts most higher capacity AR-15 style magazines
• Machined aluminum receiver with integral Picatinny rail for ease of mounting optics with Weaver style rings

PHS Air Rifle Club wishes to thank GunSite SA for their generous donation of five new Air Rifles at the Limpopo Invitation Championships on 11 June 2011. These air rifles will specifically be utilised in the Alternative Air Rifle class. This class is for younger children and this now opens the door for us to approach primary schools with an invite. Even if the children do not have their own air rifles, they will be able to join the sport and start with the in Alternative Air Rifle class, from where we hope they grow from strength to strength. We should at all costs endeavour to involve our youth – they are the future of the sport.

Above: Lammie Griesel (Limpopo Provincial Chairman), Tinus Botha (PHS Air Rifle Club Chairman), Frank H (GunSite SA), Gustav Kamfer

Limpopo Invitation Championships – 11 June 2011

1st Round of SA Championships was held in Polokwane 18 to 20 March

The match was hosted at the Polokwane Shooting club situated in the Limpopo province.  Shooting took place over 3 days with a total 23 stages and a round count of 432. What made this match so important was that this was the final selection match for National Team slots for the World Shoot   being held in Greece in October.

With this match being the final selection match for selection in the National Teams Limpopo Province decided to put on a technically challenging match.  The match was very well setup and the stages were challenging, providing different possible options to the shooters. The course design was excellent; I would rate the course design up with the best I have seen.  A good mix of steel plates, mini targets, no-shoot targets and props made the match one of the matches where you had to shoot very carefully. On a technical basis the match compared well with the World Shoot that was held in South Africa in 2002 and surpassed the 2005 Ecuador World Shoot.

Officials, Administrators and Organizers

A big word of thanks needs to go to the Officials, Administrative personnel and organizers of the match.  With very limited resources a very safe and well managed competition was held over the 3 days of shooting.  As always the Stats team was insuring that prelim scores were available on time and that any scoring issues where quickly and addressed.

What stood out for me at this match were all the helpers, including members of the SAPSA executive who assisted in getting all the ranges setup so that we the shooters could enjoy an excellent shoot.

A big thanks needs to go out to the Range officers that had to endure some of the sprints over and over on the long courses as well as the maintenance team who did an excellent job in keeping all the stages running.

The Match

The match consisted of 23 stages with a total round count of 432 rounds.  Target distances were anything from 2 meters to 35 meters and the targets ranged from 6” steel plates, mini paper targets, no-shoot targets, Pepper poppers, mini poppers and normal IPSC targets.

The props included plenty of barricades, swingers, bobbers and even a bus to run through. Cunning target placement meant that accuracy became a very important factor.  Small plates at 12—15 meters as well as tight shots on hostage–covered targets meant that actual aiming became the order of the day.

The way in which the match was setup ensured a good mix of accuracy and speed.

SUMMARY

• 23 Stages, 432 Rounds, lots of plates and mini targets
• 186 Competitors:
• 60 Open Class
• 44 Production Class
• 79 Standard Class
• South Africa, USA, New Zeeland, Czech Republic, Russia, Canada, Zimbabwe

Competitors

A total of 186 competitors took part in the 3 day match broken up into 3 classes as follows:

• Open – 60
• Standard – 79
• Production – 40

There was also good international representation with competitors from USA, Russia, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Canada and Zimbabwe competing.

Categories in the different classes where, Men, Ladies, Juniors, Seniors and Super Seniors.  Medals were awarded in most classes.

Results

The results reflect the technicality of the match.  All 3 classes were won by International shooters.  It is worthwhile remembering is that these shooters are mostly professional sports people who are fully sponsored. Their exposure to many international matches also provided them with match-winning experience.

Teams for World Shoot XVI “Greece”

The teams were announced at the price giving function after the match ended on Sunday.  The last two SA Championships held in 2010 as well as this match were used to select the squad that would represent South Africa at the World Championships.

The following members of SAPSA will represent South Africa at World Shoot XVI:

In addition to the National Squad members, 11 individuals will also be participating at the World Shoot.  Good luck to all and may you bring back gold.

Sponsors

As in any sport we would also like to thank the sponsors that contributed to assist Limpopo province to host the match.  We ask our shooters to please support the sponsors as they are supporting you in your shooting.

The sponsors provide financial assistance as well as prices. CR Speed provided equipment that was used as prizes for the junior shooters.

Gunsite was in attendance and has provided South Africa with a forum to voice opinions as well as to get assistance and information regarding current firearm-related issues.

Where possible links to the sponsors have been added.

Once gain to all the sponsors we thank you for your assistance.

Conclusion

So the bar has been raised for the other provinces to follow in the footsteps of Limpopo for 2011.

The small IPSC style targets where tricky but fun. All the shooters I spoke to enjoyed the match.  It was good to have the international competitors here as well and we hope to see more international shooters attending South African Matches.

To all involved with the Match a big thank you.  To the National Team train hard and a special mention for those attending their 1st World Shoot, It is like nothing you have seen or done before so experience and enjoy the premier Practical experience in the world!

DVC

By Pierre Wrogemann

WARREN TACTICAL SIGHT: SEVIGNY CARRY

WARREN TACTICAL SIGHT: SEVIGNY COMPETITION

WARREN TACTICAL SIGHT: COMPETITION

Versa-Pod

Aimpoint H1

Aimpoint Comp ML2

K.P.O.S Pistol Conversion

PLUS,

Brass Wizzard

KPOS Show Special !

Fab defense – Full Range of Fab Defense Products

PCP Air rifles

The Brand New Air Arms S510 SL Twin

Falcon Single Shot 177

Evanix Windy City 5mm – Buddy bottle Multi

Evanix S10 BlizZard Cub 5mm Multi shot Package – R9500

Arredondo stuff – bases, Springs etc.

Holsters & Pouches, Blade Tech etc…

Speed Timer 3000′s

Revision & Body Specs Eyewear

Show Specials on certain models.

Shot Gun Speed Strippers 4 & 6 Round

Uniqueteck Dillon micrometer powder bar kit

Rescomp

The new Gen4 has several new features designed to satisfy the most demanding consumers. It is based on a full G17/G22 MBS (multiple backstrap) Frame with a reduced Short Frame trigger mechanism housing offering a fully operable pistol. The multiple backstrap system allows the user to change the circumference of the grip to fit their individual hand size. The grip has three options; a short frame version, medium frame or large frame that are easily changed and secured with a single pin. The smallest backstrap is integrated in the G17 MBS reducing the trigger distance of the standard size G17/G22 frame by 2 mm. The medium back strap is a 2 mm back strap offering equal size of a standard G17/G22 frame. The large back strap is a 4 mm backstrap. Biggest advantage is that the grip angle of the GLOCK “Safe Action” Pistol is constant and not changed by back strap modifications. This ensures that the shooter does not shoot high or low when modifying the backstrap or when shooting with a different GLOCK Pistol.

The magazine release catch of the Gen4 is reversible and enlarged. The reversible magazine catch allows users to switch access of the catch to the left or right side of the pistol with no additional parts.

Internally, the original recoil spring has been replaced with a dual recoil spring assembly. The dual recoil spring assembly noticeably reduces the recoil while simultaneously increasing the life cycle of the assembly.

Additionally, the Gen4 has a new Rough Textured Frame (Gen4 RTF) surface designed to enhance grip traction and is present on the frame as well as the interchangeable backstraps.

During recent grueling endurance testing of the GLOCK 22 Gen4 in the United States and at the SWAT Round Up International competition, several US police agencies had a chance to handle and shoot the new pistol and many positive comments were made about the design changes.

The Gen4 is just another step in GLOCK’s commitment to producing the best firearm for Law Enforcement, Military, and private customers.

The Gen4, just like any GLOCK pistol has the same time tested

- “Safe Action” system

- durable exterior finish

- cold hammer forged barrel

- durability

- reliability

- light weight

… that make GLOCK firearms famous!