The Rock River also turned in the tightest group in our test at 0.57 inch with the Black Hills Ammo. Even though Ive worked with lots of two-stage triggers in the past, this one was about the best Ive had the pleasure of shooting. There is also a fundamental difference in the definition of the varmint hunter. The Smith flash hider worked very well and the 1:10 twist ratio seemed perfect for the 165-grain Hornady TAP ammo. A big reason that these rifles shoot so well is the barrel. Rock River Arms, Olympic Arms, MGI and Del-Ton (upper only). Bushmasters Varmint Special Model PCWVMS 24-9SS featured a 24-inch-long 1:9 twist heavy sporter stainless barrel, not a bull barrel like those found on the other guns in the test. Several have stepped up to the .350 Legend plate, and one of the most recent is Rock River Arms. Be it new tactics for hunting or customizing your firearm - we cover it all! Wilson makes the barrel, contours it and starts the chambering process. Loves Federal Premium 69g Match. Rock River Arms guarantees this pistol will shoot 2.5-inch groups at 50 yards with 185-grain Federal Gold Medal Match semi-wadcutter ammo. Keep in mind that, although I dont shoot a lot of long guns, Im a professional firearms photographer and I recognize quality and attention to detail when I see it. Rem .260 schmidt and bender. Gun Review: Dead Accurate Rock River Arms BT-3, AR Basics: Initial Diagnosis Of AR Gas System Issues, New AR: Springfields SAINT Pistol Goes .300 Blackout, Shadow Systems DR920 P And L Review: Full-Size Fun From The Factory, Smith & Wesson EQUALIZER Review: Crafted For Carry, Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical Review: Stretching Your Dollar Long, 8 On-Target Concealed Carry Insurance Options (2022), 10 Affordable Double-Barrel Shotgun Options (2022), Best AR-15 Options For Any Budget And Buyers Guide (2022), Best Concealed Carry Handguns For Women (2022). Not only did I get to learn even more about the platform, I got to shoot his Rock River Arms LAR-15 as part of the test sequence. Stocky's Owner Don Bitz walks David Faubion through the company's new rifle stocks for 2023. Loves Federal Premium 69g Match. Certainly not, considering the quality. The barrel and trigger are certainly the two greatest contributors to the V2s accuracy, but Rock River gets the small things right that most others miss. They've been producing 5.56mm and 7.62mm models since the beginning of their AR-15 manufacturing, and that's pretty standard. The new big bore pistols feature industry-first capacity, with a standard 15-round capacity and 22+1 rounds of 10mm or 18+1 rounds of .45 ACP from the extended magazines. I didnt know I was capable of shooting like that, and especially not after a mere dozen rounds. Billed as the LAR-15M . Oh, you want more? The barrels Rock River use come from the Connecticut-based company, Wilson Arms (wilsonarms.com). The rifles they were issued were manufactured by Rock River Arms, and were carbine variants in similar spec to the U.S. militarys M4. So, this rifle is as good as any. So got a brand new Rock River Arms Predator Pursuit in .223. Using several surplus FN-FAL magazines as well as the one provided with the rifle, there were no failures to feed. The side-cocking module deserves a little more explanation. Find the perfect make zone stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. The rear half of the fore-end is rounded and smooth for a comfortable hold, while the front half has four rails that provide plenty of space for mounting accessories. However, I always thought they were a good platform, but I was more than a bit intimidated by the myriad options, terms and manufacturers. Good value. For testing purposes we selected three mid-range bullet weights with different price points: The Remington Express 55-gr. And the BT-3 didnt disappoint. The LAR-8 will accept metric- or inch-pattern magazines as well as current-production Rock River magazines. He pointed out how good the Rock River trigger was, so Ive had it in that rifle ever since. The second part of our testing took place under blue skies at the Arlington Sportsmans Club, one the largest private gun clubs in Texas with over 1300 members and offering a full range of shooting opportunities (www.arlingtonsportsman.com). Rock River Arms produces some of the most reliable and durable AR-15s on the market today. Contrary to what youll find on the internet, most rifles are not capable of this kind of performance with factory ammunition. To some, a varmint hunter is someone who blazes away at prairie dogs and other such small targets from a rest. The gas block has a folding front sight assembly that can be locked down when not in use and three hinged sling loops, one on the bottom and one on each side. Rock River Arms sent me a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle with a tan stock and 24-inch barrel for testing. I like the RRA star safety selector, which rolls nicely under your thumb (for right-hand shooters). But the chances are if youre in that group, this will be a refresher. To start, the Stag sported an ambi-safety, and produced the same complaints from righties that it interfered with their grip. Accurate to 1 MOA, or about one-inch at 100 yards. The Rock River Varmint A4 sported a heavy bull 416SS air-gauged barrel, but it was only 20 inches in length. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Their AR-15s are made with forged aluminum receivers, chrome lined barrels, and MIL-SPEC parts. While the location and function of the trigger is identical to what Stoner and Sullivan originally specified, Rock River includes a two-stage trigger of their design, which is superior to the standard semiautomatic trigger found in most ARs. Interestingly, a couple of our shooters who were primarily bolt-gun specialists liked the handle for bring unobtrusive. Select Grip. Aside from being a superb cartridge for deer, hogs, and bear, the .350 Legend and rifles so-chambered, such as the Rock River Arms LAR-15M, may be among the few firearm/ammo matchups in stock this seasonat least for the next month or so. As a result, Rock River rifles enjoy significantly improved reliability with all types of 5.56mm ammunition. Each company has its own strengths and weaknesses. My first task was to get acquainted with the rifle. Users can access the storage compartment by depressing a button recessed into the ribbed rubber buttpad that slides it down and out of the way. So, if youre looking for a cheap AR-15, Rock River Arms probably isnt the best option. All that inertia transfers to the back of the bolt carrier when the hammer slams home. (stock extended) Weight: 5 lbs., 11 oz. Flash forward to today. twist Overall Length: 36 in. AR1700.V1 Sale LAR-15M R3 Competition Starting at: $1,525.00. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. In particular, they liked the Magpul stock, side-charging handle, and target handle. Rock River Arms ATH V2Type: Gas operated, direct impingement, semiautomaticCartridge: .223 WyldeCapacity: 20 or 30 rds.Barrel: 18 in., 1:8-in. The two-stage trigger allows for perfect control and a clean break. Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaer became famous for being intensively involved, along with many of Haarlem's women, with fighting the spanish, who laid siege to the city. My buddy had a significant amount of experience on several of them, so I value his opinion of the platform. Smith & Wesson Model 586: Reviewing A .357 Revolver With Class. The overmold means minimal hand-slip when wearing gloves, and it makes the A2 grip more comfortable when shooting bare-handed. This will cause the occasional flyer when shooting groups because the other end of that gas tube is attached directly to the barrel. Several high-quality triggers exist today that will hold up under the harshest conditions yet allow for more accuracy and faster follow-up shots. It really comes down to personal preference. When we took the gun to the range, it was the first gun the testers reached for when the guns were laid out on a desk. This div height required for enabling the sticky sidebar, 2022 Yestactical.com We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. accuracy in the Standard Operator, and our testing, at least with match ammunition, was consistent with that claim. The .350 Legend offers a totally new cartridge case (not based on a parent case) that features the same rim diameter as the .223 Rem, allowing Winchester to employ existing equipment and some processes to control manufacturing costs. After our article on Compact AR Carbines (October 2007) and a related article on AR-15 Adjustable Stocks (March 2008), some of you warned us that we had opened Pandoras Box. Theyve managed this because they make excellent guns. Time warp? The included magazine, which is specific to the .350 Legend, boasts a 10-round capacity. Either way, its clear that Rock River Arms is a reputable company with a history of providing quality products to law enforcement agencies. K-Mart Classics: Remingtons Nylon Rimfires Engineered To Last. The tight adherence to exacting tolerances of their chamber dimensions and the stress-relieving effort are two of the big contributors that I credit for this brands reputation for accuracy. This handle received mostly positive reviews, although our female tester found it a little too large. In this blog post, we will take a look at Rock River Arms reviews to see what people have to say about their products. We knew from the moment we hoisted this bad boy out of its case where Stag Arms had invested its money. It felt comfortable to the shooters, settled in nicely for repeat shots, and turned in a second best 0.940-inch overall average group. The construction and fit of the rifle are among the best Ive seen in years. About the only thing someone might complain about is having to wait for a few weeks to get a custom gun they order from RRA. How does a company that makes AR-15 platforms stand out in a market thats flooded with product? There are several candidates that also would have worked from other manufacturers such as DPMS, Bushmaster, Armalite and others, but we had to pick one and wanted to see if RRA's reputation would hold up. The bottom of the gas block has a short length of Picatinny rail for attaching a bipod. However, the standard selector lever can be a struggle when a right-handed shooter moves the rifle to the left shoulder and tries to work the selector with the index finger. For a couple hundred more, you can get a gun fitted with extra features, maybe a nicer trigger or barrel or sighting system. Sporting a medium-weight 16-inch stainless steel barrel, it represents the top of Rock River's current four-model line of ARs specifically configured for coyote pursuit. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. At each temperature step, Rock River will let the barrels soak at that temp for a specific period of time. Its Rock River Arms business model and today Guns.com reviews the Rock River Arms LAR-15. With the LAR-8, the choice of the FN-FAL magazine created the opportunity for a pair of significant ergonomic improvements. The chamber is 5.56mm NATO, so it will work fine with .223 Remington ammo, too. Manufacturer: Rock River Arms; (866) 980-7625; www.rockriverarms.comCaliber: .308 Win.Mechanism Type: direct-gas-impingement-operated semi-automatic, center-fire rifleReceiver: 7075-T6 forged matte-black aluminum alloyBarrel: 20" matte-black steelRifling: six-groove, 1:10" RH twistMagazine: one 20-round FN-FAL-type detachable box, compatible with both inch and metric pattern FN-FAL magazines; Rock River Arms polymer 20-round magazines available as aftermarket accessories. The SCAR 15P is chambered for 5.56 NATO and, with its 7.5-inch barrel, is the most compact SCAR to date. The stock also has flush cups compatible with quick-release sling swivels, including one at the wrist and one at the toe. Newer models are sporting a more robust Hogue grip. Welcome to Shoot-On.com - The outdoor and shooting industry's premier source of up-to-date news, media, entertainment and new product information. Rob has a troublesome habit of pulling guns and things apart to see how they work; occasionally, he manages to get them back together With its plug-n-play simplicity, environmentally adaptive technology, and low-profile desi. The reset on the trigger was smaller than I expected, so it allowed for very quick follow-up shots. I have yet to find a Rock River rifle that wasnt extremely accurate, so its only natural to have a favorable impression of the brand. This process alone will add another $30 to $50 dollars to the $1325 price tag. While you might not associate the AK-47's cartridge with accuracy, out of an AR-15 the 7.62x39 mm can produce tiny groups. When we took the Bushmaster to the range, some of positive feelings dissipated when bullets started flying downrange. Winchester touts the .350 Legend as, The Worlds fastest straight-wall hunting cartridge, with energy exceeding that of the .30-30 Win, .300 BLK, and .223 Rem and 20% more penetration than the .243 Win. He was an agent with the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and a member of their tactical team. A few other features that lend the LAR-15M to hunting include the winter trigger guard, making the trigger more accessible when wearing cold-weather gloves; the Operator CAR stock, with its generous cheek weld and length-of-pull adjustability to accommodate clothing layers; and the overmolded A2 grip. Accurate AR-15 Rifles: Buy the Fulton Armory, Rock River Guns, Fulton Armory is one of the top providers of M1, M1a, and M14, competition guns, and Clint McKee (the owner) and Walt Kuleck (sales manager) have also written books on firearms, including, Their gun arrived in a plain cardboard box, with no gun case, just the gun sandwiched between two sheets of foam, along with a set of tools and directions for the Geissele trigger, and a modified version of their, SIG Sauer P365XL Spectre P365V001 9mm Luger, Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro HCP9379BOSP 9mm Luger, SHOT 2023: Savage Arms Introduces 1911 Government Model Pistols, 5 Best 9mm Pistols for Concealed Carry in 2023, New Shooters Guide: The Best Gun For Home Defense Isnt a. Nice. It's outfitted with a 20-inch fluted and cryogenically treated stainless-steel barrel. Last edited: Dec 29, 2021. Top accuracy honors came from three flyweight varmint loads. The other guns were so strongly right-handed that having an available left-handed model is a big plus for southpaws, which we too-often forget in our evaluations. Although Ive shot a few, I didnt really know much about them until a couple of years ago. The A4 also featured a Hogue-style grip, which received no negative comments. The increased profile of the unit makes it easy to locate, engage and manipulate with the left hands index finger when firing off the left shoulder. I decided I wanted calm and shade: Spring in Arizona is often unpredictable and weather varies from wet and soggy 60s to hot and steamy upper 90s. Whether you are looking for a basic AR-15 or a fully customized weapon, Rock River Arms is a great choice. This allows the hammer to move faster (once released) and still get positive ignition of the cartridge without generating a ton of reticle disturbance. Rock River Arms also offers a lifetime warranty on their products, which is another reason why they are considered to be high end. Ive had this rest for more than 15 years and its still my favorite. The .223 Wylde chamber has a tight .224-inch freebore that keeps bullets especially long 69- and 77-grain types from yawing in the chamber prior to engaging the rifling. The Rock River Arms X-Series LAR-6.8 AR-15 is specifically designed for this bigger brother to the 5.56 NATO. The result is a super-reliable, mid-level AR with clean lines and solid accuracy, to boot. The crosshairs bounce all over the place. Our testers said the Bushmaster was handsome and svelte at 8.84 pounds, due to its lighter-weight barrel, and a vented, free-floated forend that included a sling/bipod stud mounted. Some reviewers have had negative experiences, but this is rare. To fix this issue, Rock River has given its Star selector a nipple that sits at the end of the lever, and it protrudes away from the receiver. Head to the range this week with American Rifleman staff as they discuss a trim little repeater from Savage Arms that comes chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. The hammer in Rock Rivers trigger moves most of the mass to a location much closer to the trigger pin. Our Sitemap. However, if youre looking for a cheap AR-15, there are better options out there. Think about that for a moment: As a new rifle shooter, I shot a sub-MOA group after pulling the trigger less than a dozen times. We found it an excellent choice for extreme accuracy testing, plus it was a designated tornado shelter to boot. But Im lucky. It also had an owners manual, assembly tool and lock. This gives the hammer considerable inertia. Unlock the Benefits of Knowing Your Winchester Serial Number, Complete Buyers Guide to the Sig Sauer P228. This handguard is very comfortable in the hand while still leaving plenty of attachment options for any accessories the shooter might want to employ. We spent the better part of two days recording data in what Bass Pro employees affectionately call the Dungeon. Our time there also allowed us to schedule testers to come in and fire away, including a young lady who broke away from her teachers job to school us, by posting the second best group of 0.49 inch in our tests. The Rock River Arms RRage Carbine 's straightforward construction and choice of components allows Rock River Arms to achieve a very reasonable MSRP of $759.99, and real-world prices will. This makes them some of the most accurate AR-15s on the market. Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. The Rock River Star selector makes that process more intuitive and does it without the expense of purchasing an ambidextrous switch. Here's what it's like to shoot this classic scattergun. Im talking no slop, no gaps and excellent quality. Rock River Arms (RRA) has introduced a new AR-style rifle to its lineup, designed specifically with the modern hunter in mind, with the new All Terrain Hunter (ATH). Ballistic Silver Tip SBST223B, $21.48/20, and Black Hills Match New Production Red Box 50-gr. Rock River Arms uses barrels from a variety of manufacturers, including FN, Criterion, and Wilson. Firearms dont get much more iconic than John Moses Brownings legendary Auto-5 semi-auto shotgun, affectionately called the Humpback for its distinctive drop at the rear of the receiver. Shoot On Editor-in-Chief Rob Reaser is a lifelong outdoorsman, former magazine editor, columnist, and contributing editor to numerous national publications in the automotive and outdoor segments. You have entered an incorrect email address! RRAGE LAR-15 Type: Direct-impingement, semiautomatic Cartridge: 5.56 NATO Barrel: 16 in., 1:9-in. If so, you may be wondering which manufacturer is the best. Perhaps the greatest praise was directed toward the side-cocking mechanism. What the fuck is going on here? Chris Johnson, FN Senior Product Manager, walks us through two new FN striker-fired pistols at SHOT Show 2023: the FN 510 Tactical, chambered in 10mm Auto, and the FN 545 Tactical, chambered in .45 ACP. It made all the difference in my performance. Classic Browning Light Twelve Auto-5 Review: Busting Clays With the Old Humpback Shotgun. We knew this test would prove to be hotly contested, so we chose topnotch mounts and scopes for this showdown. | This might sound ridiculous, but not to the keen ears of a 'yote. Wigbolt Ripperda, governor of Haarlem at the time of the spanish siege, inspired the people of Haarlem to resist the spanish. If youre looking for a reliable AR-15 manufacturer, Rock River Arms is definitely worth considering. This allowed us to position the scope well above the charging handle, yet remove the scope for transport, and re-attach it via two quick-throw levers. But that was the point: Im a proficient pistol shooter and, as a professional firearms photographer, I know guns as well as anyone. Their AR-15s are some of the most durable and reliable on the market, and they offer a lifetime warranty on their products. There is a reason almost all of the so-called match triggers available today have a hammer shape very similar to the one found on this Rock River. As a rifle-shooting newbie of sorts, I wanted a scope that would mitigate my lack of rifle shooting experience. The testers preference for the Fulton gun was further enhanced when rounds started being sent downrange. Are you in the market for a new AR-15? My ultimate conclusion is that the Rock River Arms BT-3 is a winner for both novice and experienced precision shooters, though I would change a couple of the accessories. If youre already among the AR-cognoscenti then you probably already know general information about Rock River Arms and their line of LAR-15 rifles in particular. Despite being assembled and disassembled numerous times, we never lost zero on the rigs. Billed as the LAR-15M, these rifles are familiar RRA fare, featuring the companys forged A4 upper and multi-caliber lower receivers, 13-inch extended free-float handguard, Operator CAR stock, and two-stage trigger. For years, deer hunters in certain states and areas were limited in their firearm options due to regulations curtailing the use of high-powered centerfire rifle cartridges. Rock River Arms has a reputation for making high quality AR-15s, but they also have a reputation for being expensive. For my scope, I wanted something powerful and sharp. If Stag used a vented forend to reduce weight, used a stock with more butt weight to balance the rig, and used a shorter barrel, this gun might have won. Still, the balance of the gun kept it from receiving our highest mark. Select Trigger. Bob Meinert, FN Marketing Director, introduces FN's first commercial pistol suppressor, the FN Rush 9Ti. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, New for 2020: Rock River Arms BT-9 4.5" Pistol, New for 2020: Rock River Arms LAR-15M 350 Legend, NRA Gun of the Week: Rock River Arms BT9 R9 Competition, NRA Gun Of The Week: Rock River Arms Assurance-C, Product Preview: Rock River Arms M1911 Mainspring Housings, 7 Simple Follow-Through Tips to Improve Your Accuracy (Right Now!) Elsewhere, we also found the two-stage trigger to be quite good in our test firing, much better than their standard trigger in our tactical carbine test in October 2007. Here are the features to watch out for. This gives the hammer considerable inertia. AR-10-style rifles, the Rock River Arms LAR-8 stands alone. Usually, there is about a -inch gap that will shred the knuckle of the shooters middle finger if they fire a couple hundred rounds (or more) in a day. Select Barrel. Our testers felt that the gun had the versatility to shoot prairie dogs off of a rest, but was light enough to tote through mesquite thickets in search of coyotes. The other gun barrels come lapped from the factory and do not require this break-in procedure. The Rock River A4 won some points from us when we uncrated it to find a blue plastic breakdown case with foam storage areas for extras, like scopes. Join our Mailing list for special perks and updates from Shoot On. Their rifles are backed by a lifetime warranty, so you can be sure that your investment will be protected. This was often the first rifle stuck into the tender hands of my generation, being readily available, easy for a youth to carry, and familiar territory to operate since all of us had plenty of muscle memory built-in from our childhood adventures with Red Rider BB guns. This was a tough test to judge: Four varmint/predator rifles from Bushmaster, Fulton Armory, Rock River, and Stag Arms went head to head, and only minor differences separated them. If you are Bushmaster fan and are looking for a gun that can shoot off a rest or pop an off-hand shot at a loping coyote, this gun may fit the bill. While I was pleased to see the new rifle perform well, I like to know all the reasons why. Stay in the know. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. At 100 yards, my groups were a bit to the right, but I was just looking for groups so I didnt touch the scope. SAAMI Accepts 30 Super Carry As New Standardized Cartridge, SHOT 2022: Federal Premium Announces 30 Super Carry Cartridge, Remington Introduces New Model 597 Rifles. In the hands of a skilled rifle shooter, the groups from this rifle will shrink dramatically. Best precision/Varmint/3-Gun Bravo Company (BCM) 18 Upper Decent quality, accurate, soft shooting $780 at Rainier Arms Jump to Details Best Budget Short Barrel Option Palmetto State Armory 10.5 Wallet friendly, decently reliable $329 at Palmetto State Armory Jump to Details Best Lightweight Upper Faxon ION Upper