Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. 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. He loved his Rock River rifle. twist, stainless steelOverall Length: 36.5 in.Weight: 7 lbs., 14 oz.Stock: Rock River Operator A2Grip: Ergo SuregripLength of Pull: 13.5 in.Finish: Type III, hard coat, anodizedTrigger: RRA MatchSights: Adjustable, flip-upSafety: Selector, two positionMSRP: $1,370Manufacturer: Rock River Arms,309-792-5780, rockriverarms.com. Fluted Stainless Steel Bead Blasted Fluted Stainless: +$35.00. Several of our bolt-action shooters didnt have an issue with the Stags weight, since they lugged guns heavier than our test model. The construction and fit of the rifle are among the best Ive seen in years. Need Help?service@guns.comCall (866)582-4867, PO Box 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville, MN 55337 2023Guns.com. Sadly, Nguyen was killed in action in Iraq later that year, so the rifle is particularly special to me and will always remain in my possession. 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. Leader of the Pack: Rock River Arms Fred Eichler Predator Review Select Barrel. . All Rights Reserved. Rock River Arms All Terrain Hunter (ATH) Semi-Auto Hunting Rifle: New Jeff Bradley shows off the Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR) from Christensen Arms at SHOT Show 2023. We felt the Giessele trigger was the best out of all the guns tested, but was also the hardest name to pronounce. 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 . Gun shoots better than I do because for 5 I just to an inch and know it is me. The Wylde chamber and tight freebore prevent that from occurring. Although the particular model tested for this review was a few years old and had seen plenty of use, it was still as tight as any gun I have shot. 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 The AR-15 Complete Owners Guide.The FAR-15 inside was a striking gun, complete with a Magpul, PRS Precision adjustable sniper stock, $245, which provides exact cheek-weld and LOP adjustments. Of course, lefties complained it was in their way. InterLock; 5-shot string #1, Hornady American Whitetail, 170-gr. And if youve ever waded into some of the online forums devoted to things-AR, you know just how bewildering it all can be. The gun arrived in a plastic carrying case, with a safety block that can also used to remove the takedown pins attaching the upper and lower assemblies. In fact, they even have a testimonial from an FBI agent on their website. The deep-freeze cryogenic process that each barrel receives removes any stress imparted on it during the manufacturing process. At 100 yards, my groups were a bit to the right, but I was just looking for groups so I didnt touch the scope. Subscriber Services. Be it new tactics for hunting or customizing your firearm - we cover it all! The monolithic receivers and . The published bullet diameter for the .350 Legend is .357 inches. The company made its humble start in 1963in Gussago, Italywhen Giuseppe Pietta made a commitment to produce guns as authentic and true-to-original as possible. 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. 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!) I settled in on a steady concrete bench and set up my Caldwell The Rock rest. So, this rifle is as good as any. The Rock River Arms Advanced Half Quad fore-end leaves the barrel free-floating for improved accuracy. This eliminates all stress risers in the barrel that can cause a barrel to shift point of impact as it heats when shot. Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance. Give a Gift Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry the guns prices at the time of the original review. They have to improve quality, offer customized options and mark it all at a fair pricesounds like the ideal business model, but no its not. The best grouping in testing at 100 yards was .935 inch with 155-grain Hornady TAP Precision. One of the challenges of introducing an all-new cartridge is getting rifle manufacturers to chamber for the new round. The average velocity of the load from the Rock River was 2,728 fps. Lots of groups under an inch. 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. Wigbolt Ripperda, governor of Haarlem at the time of the spanish siege, inspired the people of Haarlem to resist the spanish. People appreciate the quality of their products and the fact that they offer a lifetime warranty. The overmold means minimal hand-slip when wearing gloves, and it makes the A2 grip more comfortable when shooting bare-handed. Gun Review: Rock River Arms LAR-15 :: Guns.com You might wonder why we listed the prices of each option at the beginning of this review. When it comes to comparing Rock River Arms to other manufacturers, there is no clear winner. Rem .260 schmidt and bender. These guns can quickly become complex, so I greatly appreciated the furniture being so user-friendly. Also included were an owners manual, two-stage trigger assembly and adjustment procedures, lock, maintenance instructions, 25-meter zeroing target, and break-in instructions for the stainless barrel. 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). 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 match grade trigger (what RRA calls their two-stage) was very smooth and crisp. I acquired Federal and Hornady cartridges for the range test. Are you in the market for a new AR-15? We selected this scope for several reasons. 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. Get Guns.com offers and news!! Most of our testers were competitive shooters, and they were very picky about what they liked, and didnt, on the gunsexactly what we wanted. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Each company has its own strengths and weaknesses. Make zone hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. Several high-quality triggers exist today that will hold up under the harshest conditions yet allow for more accuracy and faster follow-up shots. This was a gun that transformed itself on the bench. Accurate to 1 MOA, or about one-inch at 100 yards. This handguard is very comfortable in the hand while still leaving plenty of attachment options for any accessories the shooter might want to employ. Interestingly, a couple of our shooters who were primarily bolt-gun specialists liked the handle for bring unobtrusive. In this blog post, we will take a look at Rock River Arms reviews to see what people have to say about their products. The included magazine, which is specific to the .350 Legend, boasts a 10-round capacity. If you are looking for an AR-15 that is built to last, then Rock River Arms is a great choice. The rest of the ATH V2 compliments the barrel work. 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 A4 had a winter trigger guard, which allowed gloves to be used with the gun. My best 5-shot group was with the Hornady TAP Precision 155-grain A-Max Law Enforcement Ammunition, measuring .935 inch. 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. Federal Gold Medal Match delivered the best group, which measured 0.81 inches. 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. All of these options bring the gun to a wallet-emptying $1994 retail price. 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. But that was the point: Im a proficient pistol shooter and, as a professional firearms photographer, I know guns as well as anyone. Last year, I got to spend some time with a pre-production version of the LAR-15M and managed to shoot sub-MOA groups. This makes them some of the most accurate AR-15s on the market. In parts of the South, varmint hunters are calling in foxes, coyotes, bobcats and other predators. When we took the Bushmaster to the range, some of positive feelings dissipated when bullets started flying downrange. Loves Federal Premium 69g Match. 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. 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. Well, not any more of an idiot than I usually feel like, I suppose I should say. The FALs feed lips are built into the receiver rather than the magazine itselfa feature that, in theory, should offer more reliable feeding. Besides helping with accuracy, the lapping makes it easier to clean the barrel. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. This website contains many older reviews. We didnt have any problems with the gun operating at all, but I didnt expect any. This means that they will fit with most other AR-15 parts on the market. . My experience with Rock River AR-pattern rifles hasnt involved round counts like my friends, but theyve been just as positive. The 1:10-inch twist rate will stabilize both the 168- and 175-grain bullets used in long-range loads. Accuracy is the average of five, five-shot groups from a rest at 100 yards. This rifle also has an RRA TRO-XL extended free float rail handguard and an accuracy of 3/4 MOA at 100 Yards. If youre looking for a reliable AR-15 manufacturer, Rock River Arms is definitely worth considering. See below for more information. Gun Review: Rock River Arms' LAR-15 Operator III Either way, its clear that Rock River Arms is a reputable company with a history of providing quality products to law enforcement agencies. 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. And not only are their guns excellent, theyre actually very reasonably priced. The last couple decades have seen a veritable explosion of new, modified, and hybrid platforms designed to meet just about any objective you can think of that involves propelling a projectile downrange. The ATH V2 comes with an 18-inch, stainless steel, heavy match barrel. He has also authored and co-authored several DIY gun building books. Rock River Arms Reviews: The Best AR-15 Manufacturer? - YESTACTICAL Then again, this is the beauty of the MSR its a completely modular system as long as the foundation is there, and the BT-3 is one heck of a foundation upon which to personalize a precision rifle build. Join our Mailing list for special perks and updates from Shoot On. 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. Although Ive shot a few, I didnt really know much about them until a couple of years ago. Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. 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. 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. Rock River Arms uses barrels from a variety of manufacturers, including FN, Criterion, and Wilson. There, review done. Despite being assembled and disassembled numerous times, we never lost zero on the rigs. The rifled features billet aluminum upper and lower receivers. 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. Full Member. If you a, Those who need an easily managed carry pistol without sacrificing ergonomics and performan, With the new Veracity PH, guessing holdover, doing math, or running DOPE cards are no more, Burris Optics caters to Precision Rifle competitors with a made-in-the-USA riflescope buil, Youve invested a lot in your guns, now invest in making yourself a better shooter by Brad, TESTED: Rock River Arms LAR-15M .350 Legend, Straight-wall rifle cartridges are getting big play in hunting circles this year, and Rock River Arms has delivered an AR-platform chambered for this exciting new round, Premier Body Armor Releases Full Line of Vertx-Compatible Armor, Smith & Wesson Releases New 9mm Pistol Carbine: Introducing the M&P FPC, AR-platform rifles chambered in .350 Legend, Hornady American Whitetail, 170-gr. And since then, they have continued to be one of the major manufacturers of AR-platform guns and parts. Rock River Arms guarantees one-m.o.a. The shorter stainless barrel gave us better balance in the heavy barrel category, allowing us to shoot off-hand with reasonable accuracy. Every cowboy needs a revolver. This is a .350 Legend. Turned out, he had just bought that rifle for deer hunting and got a youth version because it was the only one in stock. Performance of Rock Rivers new ATH V2 was exceptional. Rock River Arms Basic Limited 1911 Review - Firearms News Their rifles are built to last and their customer service is second to none. Reasonable Accuracy from LAR-15 Predator Pursuit I use the term "good" loosely because it really is subjective. Our Sitemap. RRAGE LAR-15 Type: Direct-impingement, semiautomatic Cartridge: 5.56 NATO Barrel: 16 in., 1:9-in. Ammunition for the .350 Legend was available, but he couldnt find anything for his .270. Rock River Arms also offers a lifetime warranty on their products, which is another reason why they are considered to be high end. Even the two lefties in were impressed with this feature. We chose this lefty model to balance the group, assuming left-handed shooters would prefer a gun set up for them. Hard to imagine a city without a river, and this is Haarlem's. The waterway brings in air and light to the city. Their rifles are backed by a lifetime warranty, so you can be sure that your investment will be protected. We also found the left ejection pattern did not bother righties. The bottom of the gas block has a short length of Picatinny rail for attaching a bipod. All Rights Reserved. It felt comfortable to the shooters, settled in nicely for repeat shots, and turned in a second best 0.940-inch overall average group. This makes them some of the most durable and reliable AR-15s on the market. Facing off in a handgun challenge featuring the smallest professional-grade enclosed red dot sight on the market, Eric and Tom put the Acro P-2 to the distance test by doing a walk-back challenge. At the time, both AR-10 and SR-25 magazines were scarce and expensive, so Rock River designed its own AR-10-style rifle around a more abundant and affordable magazine. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. It is ambidextrous as well and can be activated with the trigger finger. Loves Federal Premium 69g Match. Rock River LAR-15LH Pistol: Full Review - Guns and Ammo For my scope, I wanted something powerful and sharp. Oh, you want more? If a bullet enters the rifling crooked, accuracy will always suffer. Review: Rock River Arms ATH V2 - Guns and Ammo It was comfortable, but I prefer a little bigger grip. Caleb Giddings, Marketing Manager at Taurus, introduces the all-new TaurusTX 22 Compact. It's absolutely sufficient for . A pair of horizontally opposed internal tunnels for holding spare batteries creates a full contour buttstock that is compatible with a solid cheek weld. Rock River Arms has been making their two-stage match trigger for more than a decade. 0608-Fulton-Armory-FAR-15-Predator-Varmint.pdf. Rock River started this trend long before it became mainstream. For testing purposes we selected three mid-range bullet weights with different price points: The Remington Express 55-gr. I picked the SIG Optics Tango6 5-30X56mm riflescope with an illuminated MRAD/MOA reticle, and I mounted it on a SIG base and rings. We should all get a little more practice shooting off our weak shoulder. The Nylon 66, a relatively inexpensive rimfire with faux woodgrain, was the first successful synthetic-stock firearm. 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. Like 3/8 to 5/8 of and inch accuracy for three shots. The LAR-8 will accept metric- or inch-pattern magazines as well as current-production Rock River magazines. Here, deer hunters were often restricted to using shotguns, muzzleloaders, or handguns chambered for straight-wall pistol cartridges. Thats one of the nice things about the platform. Rock River seems to understand the hunter when they put together this gun. Rock River Arms is a popular option, but is it the right one for you? The company says on their website that most orders for built guns will take 60 to 90 days. Kenau and Ripperda Monument - Tripadvisor First, is an ambidextrous magazine release consisting of two fenced buttons mirrored on both sides of the lower receiver. When the carrier key hits the gas tube, that disturbance travels down the tube and into the barrel. Epic 22 Pocket Pistol: The Beretta 71 Jaguar. One Magazine, RRA Case, Manual and Warranty Information. Anyway, I was lucky to have someone I could turn to for information. 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. Scopes, guns, boots and other tactical stuff in-between. 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. Lower Receiver: Forged RRA LAR-15 Upper Receiver: Forged A4 Barrel: 16-inch Chrome Moly, 1:9 Twist Muzzle Device: RRA Tactical Muzzle Brake/-28 Thread . The majority of Rock River Arms parts are mil-spec, including the receivers, barrels, handguards, and more. The company has created a unique, so-called Star safety selector switch that is both fast and positive. For more information on the BT-3, please visit: https://www.rockriverarms.com/www.rockriverarms.com. Review: Rock River Arms X-Series LAR-6.8 AR-15 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 The M1 Garand Complete Assembly Guide, The M14 Complete Assembly Guide, and The AR-15 Complete Assembly Guide. soft point; 5-shot string #1, Federal Non-Typical, 180-gr. Feel free to reach out to us or read our affiliate disclosure and privacy policy. Depending on exactly what kind of gun you want, with all those myriad options I mentioned, you can spend as little as $900. Rock River Arms RBG-1S Rifle: Full Review - RifleShooter But Im lucky. 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. Bergara BXR Review: Is the Bergara BXR the Best Rifle for Hunters? This attention to accuracy is especially evident in Rock Rivers new model, the Advanced Tactical Hunter V2 (ATH V2). An important accuracy check you can run on any AR without even firing the rifle is to separate the receivers and remove the charging handle and bolt. InterLock, Burris Veracity PH Rifle Scope: Drop Compensation for the Masses, Why You (Yes, You) Need Next-Level Firearm Training. Customer experience was, and still is, the primary focus, a key to the firms longevity and success. Those of our fathers generation, on the other hand, usually gravitated toward bolt action hunting rifles of the Remington 700 or Winchester model 70 flavor. The gas block has two setscrews that hold it in place, and the contour is Rock Rivers heavy match. Far from what youd call a heavy match barrel on a bolt-action rifle, the barrel on the ATH V2 has almost a straight contour and measures three-quarters of an inch at the muzzle. The LAR-15 NM features a stainless heavy match barrel with a 1:8 twist. This is a difficult question to answer. How does a company that makes AR-15 platforms stand out in a market thats flooded with product? So, when I was tasked to review the new Rock River Arms BT-3 .308 Modern Sporting Rifle, I decided to meet the challenge head-on. RRA offers two AR-platform rifles chambered in .350 Legendblack phosphate or stainless-steel barrels. Being M-LOK compatible, you can fit whatever railed accessories you like or keep it clean. Generally, Rock River makes good rifles and pistols. Like 3/8 to 5/8 of and inch accuracy for three shots. We chose No. 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. Spent a whole lot of time lurking, listening, and learning on this forum - I know that my knowledge does not offer much compared to most posting on this site. 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. Their rifles are built to military specifications, which means they are tough enough to withstand the rigors of combat. As configured, our testers said the FAR15 was a first-class performer that richly deserved the A grade we gave it. Colt Model 1861 Special Musket: What's Its Value? Rock River Arms sent me a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle with a tan stock and 24-inch barrel for testing. Another feature I really liked was the sealed battery storage area . Once we began firing, we took the time to swab each barrel after each ammo change to ensure carbon build-up did not influence the guns accuracy with the new ammo. The Rock River Arms X-Series LAR-6.8 AR-15 is specifically designed for this bigger brother to the 5.56 NATO. Accurate. 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. JavaScript is disabled. The fluted stainless-steel barrel pretty much proves that you dont need a bull barrel to achieve precision on a rifle. 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. It's outfitted with a 20-inch fluted and cryogenically treated stainless-steel barrel. This is topped off with Rock River's .308 A2 flash hider. 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. Last but certainly not least, the trigger was the most impressive part of this rifle. 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. The fire control is Rock River's 2-stage trigger. rifle. An exceptionally volatile Texas spring brought a series of gusty winds, heavy rain, the occasional hailstorm, and a few tornados thrown in for good measure. This handle received mostly positive reviews, although our female tester found it a little too large. 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. We had planned on getting 10X scopes, but SWFA had shipped all they had to the Army for their Designated Marksman Program. Review: Rock River Arms RRage Carbine - An Official Journal Of The NRA Rock River Arms: LAR-15 X-Series X-1 Rifle in .223/5.56mm | VIDEO