I am very torn in this situation, due to so many factors. My personal experience was both pleasant and unpleasant. I bought the rifle new and unfired from an individual on GunBroker. Once I received it and got the drool wiped off, I took it out for a test drive. I loved it! The rifle fired well with anything I gave it, but the very next day a problem arose. My greatest fear was confirmed on this dream gun that I had scored such a deal on and saved on months end for.
I found a crack in the rear trunion of the cast receiver. I immediately called MSAR and was promptly placed in contact with a nice older gentleman named Paul. He was VERY professional and kind and asked me to ship it to him and he would take a look. By this point in time, MSAR had already been fighting bankruptcy and restructuring, attempting to develop the E-4 rifle. MSAR had several instances where there were issues with a few of their rifles and I won't go into all that, a quick google search and you will have your fill of all the haters online. Long story short, MSAR made it right for me. They hunted down a brand new receiver and placed my serial number on that new piece, then gave it a complete factory overhaul with all the updated parts. I asked them to shoot it until they felt confident it was fixed, so they did. When I got the rifle back it was perfect, updated and has never missed a beat since!
Now the reason I say it was also unpleasant, as a member of a class 3 firearms business myself, I have attempted to become a dealer for them ( multiple times) because I was SO blown away with the service Paul gave me in the shop. Unfortunately Paul doesn't run MSAR, he is actually in retirement, the company struggles with customer service in returning calls and email department. So with all that said, I am extremely happy with my stg-556 but will most likely not be buying anymore MSAR rifles due to such unstable management. If i'm going to drop $2000 on a new rifle, I want to be reassured that company will be around if and when it breaks so I can get replacement parts and service. With that being said, I hate to be a Judas, but I'm going to have to say I would go with a STEYR if purchasing another.
Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points
Claim to Fame: Quality construction and capabilities.
Target Market: Military, LE Officers and gun lovers alike.
FNB's (features and benefits of this product):
- Bull Pup semi auto rifle
- Gas operated rotating bolt, short piston drive
- Comes in 5.56 and 300 AAC
- 16.5’ or 18.5’ barrel
- STG-556 accepts proprietary aug mags only( 10,20,30,and 42) , but the e-4 accepts regular ar-15 magazines
- Last round bolt hold open
- AR style bolt catch lever on left side of stock
- well machined fluted barrel ⅛ twist chambered for 556 NATO
- cross bolt safety
- 1913 picatinny top rail
- optional 1913 rail for right side
- QD sling swivels on top front and rear side
- built in forward vertical grip
What other aesthetic options are available ?: Available in black, OD and tan.
What others are saying:
Price Point:
Our Rating:
+ High quality polymer construction + Very impressive fluted quick detach barrel + High 42 round magazine capacity + Ambidextrous design + Easy disassembly and assembly for cleaning + Very well balanced center of gravity when fully loaded + Adjustable gas settings for different ammunitions or when firing suppressed
- Hard and sloppy trigger - Short sight radius if using BUIS - Little room to spare on top rail for optic and BUIS - Knuckle buster charging handle if using an EOTECH or QD optic mount - Ejects expended brass right into your teeth when shooting transitions such as a right handed shooter firing left handed ( E-4 comes standard with brass deflector)
Score: 7.5
