Just brought home my AK-556, finally. I’ve wanted the AK556 since it was first teased at SHOT’22, but now I have mine. First impressions seem pretty good, rivets are uniform, action runs pretty smooth. Front sight base has a very minor cant, it’s almost unnoticeable, will have to see what zeroing looks like. Button mag release works just fine, mags drop free. At first the paddle mag release was picky about mags, it would release USGI, but not Pmags, After some working in, Pmags will release just fine.
I’ve read about others having feeding issues with different mags, once I can get this out to the range I have a few mags to test with. gen3 Pmags in 20/30/40, USGIs ranging from '91 to '10 (all upgraded with Magpul followers). Troy, MFT, Hexmags and an ASC 10 rounder are also in the inventory. Test feeding with dummy rounds on one USGI and a Troy mag led to rounds fed from the left side to be launched out before chambering, or getting caught in a stovepipe. The FTF wasn’t consistent in occurrence, but when it did happen was always from the left side of the mag. Could be a mag issue, could be a fluke with a particular dummy round, could be the feed ramp, will have to see if the issue persists with live ammo.
I do want to mount a red dot eventually, I’m siding towards a microdot on a rear sight mount.
5.56 mags are garbagio. And keep in mind, its not out of the ordinary for an AK to not like certain mags, and you just have to try different mags until you find some your rifle likes. Lots of people like the AC unity mags, Beryl mags from FB Radom are popular as well. Even mags from reputable places can be duds. The one my rifle came with sucks, but every other one after was fine. some might even need some shaving. Just part of kalash life.
As for the canted sights, odd for PSA, but not un AK. If she zeroes, then its fine. As for optic, dont skimp of the mounting solution, theres a lot of good ones, and just as many bad ones.
ive had mine for over a year now. when i first got i was really impressed with how flat and accurate it was. but then the feeding and ejection issus came about. recorded it and sent it back to psa. they sent it back doing nothing and saying it was fine. took it back to the range, and sure enough it was. maybe it was just breakin drama. everybody i know wants to buy it off me, and the thing is a tank. good buy i think. pro tip. save up a little more cash and get the upgraded furniture from the get go, i went with magpul and the non folding option stock and handguard were no go.
Went to the range a couple days ago with the AK556 (along with a no4mk1 and 1903A3), and zeroed the ironsights. First group before zeroing was about 3.5" right and 1.5" down at 25 meters, plenty of adjustment to correct with an AK sight tool. I used a gen3 pmag-20 for zeroing, no feeding issues whatsoever. I usually bring some M16 ALT-C targets whenever I shoot 5.56, this gave me an opportunity to test some mags (albeit loading 40 rounds into 4 mags, 10 rounds each). I used a USGI, Hexmag, Troy Battlemag and an MFT 15/30. All 4 had no issues, no stovepipes or launched rounds like I had experienced with the dummy rounds. As far as the ALT-C itself went, the sight picture itself obscures the 250/300m sized targets rather easily. I was also astonished to how little felt recoil there is, damn near feels about as light as an AR15-A2 or my 18" SPR.
As far as mounting a microdot mentioned previously, I finally received a Vortex Crossfire from a Springfield gear-up rebate, and also ordered a rear sight mount from Attero Arms.