rock river arms accuracy

Jeff Bradley shows off the Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR) from Christensen Arms at SHOT Show 2023. The Standard Operator has a 20-inch, cryo-treated chrome-moly barrel. They also like the companys commitment to customer service. Joe Kurtenbach and Caleb Giddings also look at the first-ever optics-ready carry revolvers with the new Taurus 605 and 856 T.O.R.O. Every cowboy needs a revolver. The published bullet diameter for the .350 Legend is .357 inches. They offer a variety of barrel lengths and profiles to choose from, so you can find the perfect one for your needs. Once the rifle is fitted, the barrel is lapped and additional touches made to ensure superior workmanship, accuracy and quality set all Rock River apart from other AR-15 manufacturers. A normal throw lever found on an AR works fine for a right-handed shooter firing off the right shoulder. I settled in on a steady concrete bench and set up my Caldwell The Rock rest. Rounding out the features were a Krieger heavy 1:13-twist barrel ($390) and a Geissele adjustable two-stage trigger ($200). Gun Review: Rock River Arms LAR-15 :: Guns.com The general idea was that high-velocity ammunition was deemed incompatible, for safety reasons, in areas of flat terrain and denser populations. One I especially like is the winter triggerguard; its oversized and creates an opening large enough for a gloved finger. . 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. It's outfitted with a 20-inch fluted and cryogenically treated stainless-steel barrel. This is a difficult question to answer. 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. AR-15 Review: Rock River Arms LAR-15 - Gun Digest It also included an optional scout rail to raise the scope height, but we found it unnecessary with the LaRue mounts. 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. No matter what load we tried, it lagged behind the guns in our test. Rock Rivers manufacturing experience, however, made that a non-issue. Of course, all of this comes at a price but if youre looking for an AR-15 that will serve you well for many years to come, then the Rock River Arms is definitely worth considering. Last edited: Dec 29, 2021. It retains the original direct-gas-operating system, as well as the multi-lug rotating bolt and cylindrical bolt carrier of the original design, but the guns internal and external contours and dimensions have been extensively modified to accept FN-FAL-pattern magazines. 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. Review: Rock River Arms Predator HP LAR-8M - Shooting Times The .350 Legend cartridge introduced in 2019 falls under the latter. The two lefties in the test felt they might have improved their performance, but for the handle that felt it was installed backwards, or as another tester described it like trying to hold a prickly pear. Southpaws should order any handle but this one if they decide on the FAR15. In comparison, the standard AR trigger has most of its mass as far away as possible from the pin about which it rotates. The combination of barrel weight, the proprietary process used to manufacture the barrel and the mid-length gas system makes for one of the lightest recoiling and most accurate AR-pattern rifles Ive tested. Another feature I really liked was the sealed battery storage area . He fired tens of thousands of rounds each year, which made me curious about what firearms he used and how they fared. You have entered an incorrect email address! http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Group_21.JPG, http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Group9.JPG, http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Group_3.JPG, Accuracy International 6.5 Creedmoor SA barrel, Ballistic advantage 18 inch fluted SPR barrel. 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. After seven months Haarlem did not . Our friends at Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine, Texas, graciously granted us permission to use the stores 100-yard shooting tunnel. Which brings me to my point. See below for more information. This handguard is very comfortable in the hand while still leaving plenty of attachment options for any accessories the shooter might want to employ. This is not the first time Ive tested a Rock River rifle with their stainless-steel match barrel, so I was not surprised when group averages hovered near MOA for five shots at 100 yards. Last but certainly not least, the trigger was the most impressive part of this rifle. But the Rock River Arms guns have a very solid reputation for reliability. One Magazine, RRA Case, Manual and Warranty Information. All three exceed the Rock River .75" factory accuracy guarantee. We chose this lefty model to balance the group, assuming left-handed shooters would prefer a gun set up for them. These guns can quickly become complex, so I greatly appreciated the furniture being so user-friendly. This makes them some of the most accurate AR-15s on the market. Flash forward to today. The TaurusTX 22 Compact delivers class-leading reliability, capacity, and shootability in a 22 LR platform, and it's cut for a slide-mounted mini red dot. 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. Overall, we found its price (a little more than half that of the Fulton gun), the extras, and its performance at the range ranked it as a Best Buy. Rock River Arms uses barrels from a variety of manufacturers, including FN, Criterion, and Wilson. Like 3/8 to 5/8 of and inch accuracy for three shots. 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 resulting in 1.5-MOA accuracy at 100 yards. We began wondering if we would like the breakdown case nearly as much after our assembling difficulties. 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. Other accoutrements included a target-gray stainless barrel ($35), a tac-latch on the charging handle for easier access when a scope is used ($20), a pre-installed Harris bipod ($80), and a side-cocking module ($125). The Rock River Arms BT-3 is a .308 modern sporting rifle, featuring Rock River Arms billet upper and lower receivers, fluted 20-inch cryogenically treated stainless-steel barrel, Rock River Arms .308 A2 flash hider, Magpul PRS stock, Hogue rubber over-molded grip, new lightweight M-LOK compatible 17-inch aluminum floated handguard with MS1913 top rail and a Rock River Arms 2-stage trigger. This rifle is fed by a 10-round AICS-pattern detachable box magazine. The FALs feed lips are built into the receiver rather than the magazine itselfa feature that, in theory, should offer more reliable feeding. This is not due to any sort of apathy or ingratitude, but more a result of limited perspective. 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. The best grouping in testing at 100 yards was .935 inch with 155-grain Hornady TAP Precision. 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.          Email *, Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Shoot On. 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. 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. AR-15s tend not to fit standard gun cases when set up with the high mounts required to clear the charging handle, and still provide a solid sight picture. Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance. The 1:10-inch twist rate will stabilize both the 168- and 175-grain bullets used in long-range loads. The testers preference for the Fulton gun was further enhanced when rounds started being sent downrange. And if youve ever waded into some of the online forums devoted to things-AR, you know just how bewildering it all can be. Not everyone likes to shoot off both shoulders, but those who do are familiar with how difficult the selector struggle is. models. Even with only 16 inches of launch, the .223's velocity averages 2900-3000 fps. Rock River Arms: LAR-15 X-Series X-1 Rifle in .223/5.56mm | VIDEO Metallurgists indicate that the extreme temperatures eliminate the stress imparted on the metal from cutting the chamber and contouring the barrel profile. Unlock the Benefits of Knowing Your Winchester Serial Number, Complete Buyers Guide to the Sig Sauer P228. We selected this scope for several reasons. The new RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol from Rock Island Armory features a patented RVS Recoil system that maximizes barrel mass and linear movement to give shooters super soft recoil. I like shooting rifles its fun and its challenging but I certainly dont feel as though Im capable of producing the level of accuracy todays precision rifles are capable of delivering. Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry the guns prices at the time of the original review. 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. soft point; 5-shot string #2, Hornady American Whitetail, 170-gr. (Photo by Mark Fingar) December 07, 2021 By Craig . Gun Review: Dead Accurate Rock River Arms' BT-3 - Gun Digest Rock Rivers triggers not only have a lighter pull weight and crisper let-off, the hammer shape promotes excellent accuracy. This often requires carrying guns through thickets of brush, and a rest, if available, is a handy tree branch. Anyway, I was lucky to have someone I could turn to for information. Scopes, guns, boots and other tactical stuff in-between. Like 3/8 to 5/8 of and inch accuracy for three shots. It seems almost every manufacturer out there is turning out some version of this genre. Rock Rivers winter triggerguard solves this problem. What the fuck is going on here? One of the things that makes the Rock River Arms so accurate is its attention to detail and craftsmanship. Lots of groups under an inch. That is amazingly accurate, and far more accurate than most people are capable of shooting a handgun. The barrels on all the RBGs are from Wilson Combat and are stainless steel and air-gauged for precision. The fluted stainless-steel barrel pretty much proves that you dont need a bull barrel to achieve precision on a rifle. Rock River Arms All Terrain Hunter (ATH) Semi-Auto Hunting Rifle: New Your prediction proved true, as we were besieged with other requests to visit additional limbs on the AR family tree: New caliber performance match-ups, more accessories testing, and national-match gun comparisons were just a few of the suggestions that popped up. All of these options bring the gun to a wallet-emptying $1994 retail price. This gun is also available with the same components in the right-hand Model 6, and we believe our comments about the left-hand configuration will apply to the Stag gun set up for right-hand shooters. Rock River Arms Review: Take Me To The River, Drop Me In Colona? - Gunivore Accurate. AR Accuracy with 7.62x39 mm | An Official Journal Of The NRA Its like tapping the barrel with a hammer between shots, but the folks at Rock River obviously found a consistent way to avoid this from happening in the V2 during its assembly process. My first task was to get acquainted with the rifle. 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. To some, a varmint hunter is someone who blazes away at prairie dogs and other such small targets from a rest. The rifled features billet aluminum upper and lower receivers. Give a Gift Gun shoots better than I do because for 5 I just to an inch and know it is me. 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. But that was the point: Im a proficient pistol shooter and, as a professional firearms photographer, I know guns as well as anyone. I look forward to hitting the range again, and Im certain that I wont need to burn through too much more ammo before this rifle and I approach the -MOA mark together. I am by no means an expert on ARs, but I do know a bit about quality firearms. The fire control is Rock River's 2-stage trigger. He was an agent with the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and a member of their tactical team. Several have stepped up to the .350 Legend plate, and one of the most recent is Rock River Arms. If youre looking for a good, dependable AR at a reasonable price, I dont think you could go wrong with a Rock River Arms product. All Rights Reserved. Several years ago, I was visiting with a good friend of mine when the discussion turned to the guns he carried on duty.. The barrels Rock River use come from the Connecticut-based company, Wilson Arms (wilsonarms.com). RRAGE LAR-15 Type: Direct-impingement, semiautomatic Cartridge: 5.56 NATO Barrel: 16 in., 1:9-in. My best group this go-around was 1.443 inches. The other gun barrels come lapped from the factory and do not require this break-in procedure. Full Member. Guys from my grandpas era (at least in my area of the Appalachians) seemed to cling to the classical deer rifle forms, led prominently by the Winchester model 94 lever action. Either way, its clear that Rock River Arms is a reputable company with a history of providing quality products to law enforcement agencies. Dependable. The first three shots with Remington 168-grain BTHP factory ammunition at 25 yards showed that I was 3 inches low and 1 inch to the right. About the only thing someone might complain about is having to wait for a few weeks to get a custom gun they order. SIG Sauer P322 Rimfire Pistol: First Look, Non-Lethal Personal & Home Defense with Byrna, Range Tested: EAA Girsan Pistols & Shotguns, New for 2023: Christensen Arms Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR), New for 2023: All-American RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol, New for 2023: FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor, New Big Bore Pistols for 2023: FN 510 Tactical and FN 545 Tactical, New for 2023: FN SCAR 15P Rifle Caliber Pistol, First Look: Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum Revolver With 10.5-Inch Barrel, New-for-2023 Taurus Judge Executive Grade 410/.45 Colt Revolver, Smith & Wesson Equalizer and the Brand New M&P 5.7 Pistol. Stags first entry into the varminter category sported an extra heavy 24-inch 416SS Shaw barrel that made the gun extremely front heavy, and a rifle you definitely want to shoot off the bench. And not only are their guns excellent, theyre actually very reasonably priced. Thats one of the nice things about the platform. Stocky's Owner Don Bitz walks David Faubion through the company's new rifle stocks for 2023. Leading the charge is RRAs Operator muzzle brake. The LAR-8 will accept metric- or inch-pattern magazines as well as current-production Rock River magazines. Generally, Rock River makes good rifles and pistols. I was neither hot nor cold about the Hogue over-molded grip. 49865 Leupold QRW 30mm Quick Detach Mounts for a robust, portable mount. The hammer in Rock Rivers trigger moves most of the mass to a location much closer to the trigger pin. Once they hit 300 below zero, theyll bring the barrels up (also in steps) to 200 degrees above zero. Their AR-15s are made with forged aluminum receivers, chrome lined barrels, and MIL-SPEC parts. ROCK RIVER ARMS VARMINT A4 - Sniper Central This month we chose one of the most popular requests, the AR-15 varmint/predator rifle. Our lone exception to this mounting protocol was the Bushmaster, which came with two riser blocks already installed on the gun. Being M-LOK compatible, you can fit whatever railed accessories you like or keep it clean. In parts of the South, varmint hunters are calling in foxes, coyotes, bobcats and other predators. When I formed my frame of reference for hunting rifles in the early 1980s, there was something of a generational overlap going on. The Rock River also turned in the tightest group in our test at 0.57 inch with the Black Hills Ammo. This gives the hammer considerable inertia. SCCY DVG-1 Sub-Compact Striker-Fired Pistol: Full Review, .505 Gibbs Rifle Brass 'H H' Headstamp: Maker and Quality Info Sought, SIG Sauer P322 .22 Rimfire Pistol: Full Review, How to Choose the Best Scope Reticle for Your Application, Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical Optic-Ready Autoloading Shotgun: First Look, Shadow Systems Full-Size DR920P and Subcompact CR920 Handguns: Full Review, Instructional Tools for Modern Sight Alignment Training, Springfield Armory Hellion 5.56 NATO Bullpup Rifle: Tested. Place just the bolt carrier back in the upper receiver and slide it into battery while observing the short section of gas tube that comes into the upper receiver. The "U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1903," better-known as the M1903 Springfield, has become one of the most popular U.S. military small arms to collect. pullStock: black synthetic fixed Rock River Arms A2 Operator; length of pull, 14"; drop at heel, 1/2"; drop at comb, 1/2"Overall Length: 42" Weight: 10 lbs., 3 ozs.Accessories: owners manual, one 20-round magazineSuggested Retail Price: $1,720. As for recoil, the .350 Legend cannot help but to be compared to its more famous straight-wall cartridge bruiser, the .450 Bushmaster. VMAX ($40/50). They've been producing 5.56mm and 7.62mm models since the beginning of their AR-15 manufacturing, and that's pretty standard. InterLock; 5-shot string #1, Hornady American Whitetail, 170-gr. The Hornady. First, is an ambidextrous magazine release consisting of two fenced buttons mirrored on both sides of the lower receiver. Certainly not, considering the quality. Rock River Arms Standard A2 (.223 / 5.56) 20" Barrel He had nothing but respect for those Rock River rifles. On the other hand, they add a pair of critical dimensions to the receiver in an already crowded area just below the barrel extension. Join our Mailing list for special perks and updates from Shoot On. The safety lever also sported a rounded knurled knob for easy activation. We quickly found that choosing four guns to test wasnt going to be easy. Although Ive shot a few, I didnt really know much about them until a couple of years ago. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. Rock River Arms LAR-8 Standard Operator - An Official Journal Of The NRA 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. . 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. Not cheap, but not horribly expensive, either. Contrary to what youll find on the internet, most rifles are not capable of this kind of performance with factory ammunition. In this blog post, we will take a look at Rock River Arms reviews to see what people have to say about their products. 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. Select Trigger. Here's a full review. For that purpose, it chose the 20-round box magazine used in the FN-FAL, which was readily available and priced as low as $5 each. Knowing first-hand the accuracy reputation of RRA rifles through many weve tested for Shoot On and looking at the ballistic performance of the two cartridges tested for this evaluation, I must conclude that neither load hit this particular LAR-15s sweet spot, although the Hornady American Whitetails performance would absolutely get the job done. 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. 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 dimensional specs play to the geek intrigue, the real value of the .350 Legend is its ballistic performance and shooter experience. 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 high-quality triggers exist today that will hold up under the harshest conditions yet allow for more accuracy and faster follow-up shots. With this in mind, we went to LaRue Tactical (www.laruetactical.com) for the exceptional LT104 30mm QD Lever Mount, $195. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. 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. This was a gun that transformed itself on the bench. 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. I know several manufacturers that swear by the process and they all turn out highly accurate rifles, so there is something to be said for the treatment. Their rifles are built to last and their customer service is second to none. The 16-inch barrel is certainly maneuverable in the brush, and with its 6.8-lb. In particular, they liked the Magpul stock, side-charging handle, and target handle. Rock River Arms LAR-15 Caliber: 5.56mm/.223 Cal. Putting a barrel through the cryogenic process at Rock River means the barrel is cooled down in steps until it reaches 300 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. Their AR-15s are made with forged aluminum receivers, chrome lined barrels, and MIL-SPEC parts. Oh, you want more? A Cold War era classic with smooth lines, a legendary back story, and an exotic-sounding name, Beretta's Model 71 was definitely a mouse that roared. It is 11 inches long, so it covers the mid-length gas system and has sections of M-Lok cut into the sides and bottom. Accuracy with the rifle was commendable. The Wylde chamber and tight freebore prevent that from occurring. Im talking no slop, no gaps and excellent quality. This eliminates all stress risers in the barrel that can cause a barrel to shift point of impact as it heats when shot. Second is the bolt stop lever located between the magazine well and the trigger guard. More load testing is definitely on the menu. New For 2022: Rock River Arms All Terrain Hunter According to Rock River Arms, the FBI has used their rifles in the past. The case length hits the 1.71-inch mark with an overall cartridge length of 2.26 inches. Its an aggressive little thing that, should you run out of ammo to fend off a charging beast, could be turned into a defensive tool in its own right. Interestingly, a couple of our shooters who were primarily bolt-gun specialists liked the handle for bring unobtrusive. The Rock River Arms Advanced Half Quad fore-end leaves the barrel free-floating for improved accuracy. The rest of the ATH V2 compliments the barrel work. In 2003 they got a big government contract to supply the Drug Enforcement Administration with a bunch of AR-15 style guns. Several of our bolt-action shooters didnt have an issue with the Stags weight, since they lugged guns heavier than our test model. I acquired Federal and Hornady cartridges for the range test. As a result, Rock River rifles enjoy significantly improved reliability with all types of 5.56mm ammunition. Rock River Arms (RRA) has a terrific reputation for turning out top-notch AR-15s and AR-10s chambered for a wide selection of cartridges, including the standard 5.56/.223, .204 Ruger, 7.62x39, 6.8 SPC, and the .458 SOCOM, a real thumper, if there ever was one. ), it would have shot gaudy numbers. The BT-3's furniture includes a Magpul PRS stock and Hogue rubber over-molded grip. soft point; 5-shot string #1, Federal Non-Typical, 180-gr. Federal Gold Medal Match delivered the . We should all get a little more practice shooting off our weak shoulder. Tight. This is topped off with Rock River's .308 A2 flash hider. There will probably be a slew of hunters this year who end up walking out of their go-to sporting goods retailer with empty hands and long faces because their standard ammo is not to be had. Let me put this out there right away: Im not a rifle shooter by trade. Gun Digest Editor, Luke Hartle, had a brand new gun he wanted reviewed, and he wanted it reviewed from the perspective of a fairly novice precision rifle shooter looking to get into the game. The Rock River Star selector makes that process more intuitive and does it without the expense of purchasing an ambidextrous switch. Rock River has been around for a long time and they maintain a devoted following because they continue to use quality components while giving attention to the details. Feel free to reach out to us or read our affiliate disclosure and privacy policy. This makes them some of the most durable and reliable AR-15s on the market. Ballistic Silver Tip SBST223B, $21.48/20, and Black Hills Match New Production Red Box 50-gr. Save my name and email to use for future comments. Testing. The pistol grip is a Hogue rubber unit and the synthetic buttstock is a fixed Rock River Arms Operator A2 stock. The top rail runs the full-length of the fore-end and mates with the flat-top upper receiver.