Ruger AR-556 5.56 NATO M4 Flat-Top Autoloading Rifle (LE)
- Item Number: 8500 X
- /
- View More Items by Ruger
- /
- Law Enforcement/Military Only Learn more
- 4.9 out of 5 (11 customer reviews)
Due to restrictions set by the manufacturer, this item is limited to qualifying customers under the Individual Officer Purchase (IOP) program. These restrictions are set by the manufacturer and cannot be altered by Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore.
Product Description
The Ruger® AR-556™ semi-automatic, M4-style, direct impingement Modern Sporting Rifle offers consumers an affordable, American-made Modern Sporting Rifle with the rugged reliability they have come to expect from Ruger. Chambered in 5.56 NATO, the AR-556’s carbine-length, flat-top, M4 design is fully configured with a Ruger® Rapid Deploy folding rear sight, milled F-height gas block with post front sight, forward assist, dust cover, brass deflector, telescoping six-position stock, improved trigger-reach grip, enlarged trigger guard and one 30-round Magpul® PMag®. Standardized M4/AR components are utilized throughout, so the AR-556™ can be customized easily.
AR-556 Features
Windage Adjustable Ruger® Rapid Deploy Rear Sight: The Ruger® Rapid Deploy folding rear sight provides windage adjustability, and is a solid, reliable aiming system when coupled with the elevation adjustable front sight. The rear sight can be folded out of the way to make room for optics but can be instantly redeployed if needed.
Forged 7075-T6 Aluminum Upper Receiver: Made from aerospace-grade 7075-T6 aluminum forging, the flattop upper receiver includes a forward assist, dust cover and brass deflector, and is Type III hard coat anodized for maximum durability.
Shot Peened, 9310 Alloy Steel Bolt: The bolt is machined from 9310 alloy steel and is shot peened and pressure (proof) tested to ensure strength, structural integrity and durability.
Patent Pending Barrel Nut and Delta Ring: The patent pending Barrel Nut and Delta Ring are designed for one person handguard removal and installation. The design accepts standard carbine length handguards. The barrel nut uses a standard wrench and can be swapped with a Mil-Spec barrel nut if desired.
Elevation Adjustable Front Sight: The front sight post is elevation adjustable, and a front sight tool is included. The A-2 Style F-Height allows co-witness with many optics.
Medium Contour Cold Hammer-Forged Barrel: The 16.10 inch medium contour barrel is cold hammer-forged providing ultra-precise rifling for exceptional accuracy, longevity and easy cleaning. The 1:8 twist rate stabilizes bullets from 35 to 77 grains, and the 5.56 NATO chamber allows the use of both 5.56 NATO and .223 Rem. ammunition. M4 feed ramps provide improved operational reliability, and the matte black oxide finish reduces glare and provides corrosion resistance. A Ruger® flash suppressor is provided, and the 1/2-28 threaded barrel allows for standard muzzle accessories to be installed.
Single Stage Trigger and Enlarged Trigger Guard: The single stage trigger provides durable and reliable fire control. The enlarged trigger guardis designed to allow for gloved shooting.
Matte Black Oxide Bolt Carrier with Staked Gas Key: The chrome-plated bolt carrier inside diameter and chrome-plated gas key inside diameter provide exceptional resistance to hot gases. The gas key is staked so that it will not loosen after extensive firing. A matte black oxide finish on the exterior of the bolt carrier provides corrosion resistance.
Serrated Face Milled Gas Block: The milled gas block is located at a carbine length (M4) position for improved balance and handling. Multiple attachment points include a QD socket and bayonet lug, for many sling and accessory mounting options. Serrations on the angled face of the gas block provide a low-glare surface.
Product Specifications
- Manufacturer: Ruger
- Model: AR-556
- Model Number: 8500 X
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Weight: 6.50 lbs.
- Length: 32.25 - 35.50 in.
- Length of Pull: 10.25 - 13.50 in.
- Width: 2.50 in.
- Height: 8.00 in. (Without Magazine)
- Capacity: One 30-Round Magpul® PMag®
- Buttstock:Six-Position Telescoping / Mil-Spec Buffer Tube
- Handguards: Heat Resistant Glass-Filled Nylon
- Grip: Ergonomic Improved Trigger Reach / Enlarged Trigger Guard Opening
- Sights: Elevation Adjustable Front / Windage Adjustable Ruger® Rapid Deploy Folding Rear (Front Sight Tool Included)
- Upper Receiver: Flat Top 7075-T6 Aluminum Forging / Forward Assist Dust Cover and Brass Deflector / Type III Hard Coat Anodized
- Lower Receiver: 7075-T6 Aluminum Forging / Type III Hard Coat Anodized
- Bolt Carrier Group: Staked Gas Key / Chrome Plated Bolt Carrier ID and Gas Key ID / Matte Black Oxide Finish
- Bolt: 9310 Alloy Steel / Shoot Peened / PT Tested
- Barrel:
16.10 in. Medium Contour
Cold Hammer-Forged 4140 Chrome-Moly Steel
1:8 Twist Stabilizes Bullets from 35 to 77 Grain
M4 Feed Ramp Cuts
PT Tested
Threaded ½ - 28 with Ruger ® Flash Suppressor
Barrel Contour is .850 Under the Handguard .750 Under the Gas Block .700 Forward of the Gas Block
Matte Black Oxide Finished - Gas Block:
A-2 F-Height Pinned in Place
Multiple Sling Attachment Points and with QD Port and Bayonet Lug
Machined Low-Glare Serrations on Angled Face - Barrel Nut/Delta Ring:
Patent Pending Design
One Person Removal
Accepts Standard Handguards
Uses Standard Wrench Can be Swapped with a Mil-Spec Nut if Desired
Customer Comments & Questions
Customer Reviews
You receive a lot of gun for the money. Lots of features and set up to easily add more.
Great AR rifle, highly recommended.
Very nice gun. Both upper and lower mated very tight no shakes or rattles. Good quality and great Ruger quality.
Thank you Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore for prompt shipping and honoring Law Enforcement Officers with discounted prices. Easy transaction and very quick to ship. Received in just a few days, considering it is the holiday season. Will do more business in the future.
Very well made by Ruger, compact, quality equipment and near silent operation mechanically. This is a dream to shoot right out of the box. Cycled over 400 rounds the day after receipt with no jams or feeding issues. When cleaned it was darn near the easiest cleaning of a AR platform I have ever done. Mind you I have over 27 years of military service and have cleaned and shot my fair share of M16s in all variants. As usual excellent packaging and shipping speed from Sportsmans...I will continue to buy all of my firearms from them. Top-notch!!
Shipping was very fast. My dealer received my firearms within a couple of days. I plan on buying more firearms from Sportman's! The Ruger AR556 is an outstanding firearm. It's reliable and functions flawlessly.
I would like to start my review off by how smooth a transaction I had with SOS. They shipped quickly and had the best price around. As far as this Ruger rifle, it was great. It came right out of the box accurate and is a nice shooting rifle. No FTFs and fired every brand of 5.56 ammo I put thru it with no issues. I changed out the buttstock, hand grip and hand guards with Magpul furniture, which is just my personal preference. This is a great little rifle for the price!!
I want to start out my review and say that I ordered this rifle on Friday, and it was at my FFL dealer on Monday. Lightning fast shipment by Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore! They also had a great price as well. I used to do all of my shopping at Cabelas and Buds Gun shop, but you just can't beat SOSS prices and customer service.
Now about the rifle. I took it out to the range yesterday and made three clicks to the right on windage, and I was shooting 1 inch groups. Pretty accurate rifle right out of the box. I put about 200 rounds downrange with no issues. I have rifles that cost twice as much as this one, but I really don't think they are much better than this basic rifle Ruger has produced. The handguards do not have a heat shield and it will get a little hot on you after shooting lots of rounds, but you can always take care of that with an aftermarket handguard. The only thing I am going to change is the buttstock, as it is not the most comfortable, and digs into my shoulder after putting a couple of hundred rounds thru it. In closing, I have to give 5 stars all around on this transaction and the Ruger. If you can get your hands on one you will not be disappointed!
Excellent rifle for the price shoots good no problems
I purchased this rifle and what an awesome rifle for the money! Great price, great service and fast shipping! I will buy again!
I was very pleased with my first AR-15 purchase and the service from this seller. I waited quite a while for this to return to stock and its worth waiting for a made in the U.S.A.item. You never know what you're getting online and you won't go wrong with buying from sportsman outdoors. The shipping was pretty fast to my FFL.