Rock River Arms Debate
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Kaylee
Member
I've two friends with RRA lowers -- their receivers have significantly better fit, finish, and trigger pull than my stock Bushmaster. Take that for what it's worth.
I suspect your friend may be making the classic mistake of confusing Rock River with Rock Island.
I suspect your friend may be making the classic mistake of confusing Rock River with Rock Island.
cowboybobb693
Member
I think that your friend might be confusing Rock River Arms with the RIA brand.
Rock River makes a very good quality weapon. I will not comment on the quality of RIA since I have not had the opportunity to handle/fire one of their products.
Rock River makes a very good quality weapon. I will not comment on the quality of RIA since I have not had the opportunity to handle/fire one of their products.
Hardly. I've got quite a bit of trigger time with Colts, Bushies, Armalites, FNs, Olys, and RRA. Also some time with some of the others. Been thru them with a fine tooth comb. My RRA is one of the finest yet. Several of my people run RRA. All the makers turn out very fine weapons, some have had QC problems over the years, but I've yet to see a bad RRA.
BTW, RRA has the current DEA contract.
BTW, RRA has the current DEA contract.
Black Majik
Member
Ditto Cowboybob,
He's confused Rock River Arms (RRA) and Rock Island Armory (RIA).
RRA, the company you two are debating over, are on the high end...
He's confused Rock River Arms (RRA) and Rock Island Armory (RIA).
RRA, the company you two are debating over, are on the high end...
Jim Watson
Member
Rock River Arms is a US maker of high quality, high priced 1911 type pistols and AR type rifles.
Rock Island Armory is a brand name for Philippine copies of 1911 pistols, cheap but serviceable.
The REAL Rock Island Arsenal was a US Army facility. Do you think the commercial manufacturers, importers and dealers are trying to confuse us?
Rock Island Armory is a brand name for Philippine copies of 1911 pistols, cheap but serviceable.
The REAL Rock Island Arsenal was a US Army facility. Do you think the commercial manufacturers, importers and dealers are trying to confuse us?
Tejas Gunwerks
Member
Rock River Arms is of equal quality to Colt, Armalite, DPMS or Bushmaster. They are no better or no worse. They all bring something to the table, such as reputation, name recognition, accessories that come with the firearm and price. Just like everyone else they don't neccessarliy manufacture their own components, they assemble them. Over the years I have had problems with all of them to one degree or another. My experience isn't with just one or two, but many hundreds if not thousands. I am a professional gunsmith, specializing in AR 15s. Rock Rivers' National Match trigger, which they don't make, can be dropped into any receiver. When they entered the market their prices were very competitive, RRA is slowly bringing their prices in alignment with everyone else. On Jan. 1st they had a significant price increase.
C. H. Luke
Member
"My RRA is one of the finest yet."
The RR 16" Varmint I own is the only AR have ever had but do have Garands, Carbines, M1A's, FAL's, a Dae Woo & an AR-180B.
With a good Leupold Tac scope it will easily punch 5-shot .83x groups at 200 yds. off machine rest and bags with Black Hills 68 gr. and am no great shot by any means. It does have Arnold Jewell's trigger in it though.
All the Bench Rest Snobs with bolt actions stick their noses up at our local Private Club range .until they see its targets!
Even Love shooting it at 100 yds. with iron sights!
Bad gun tho', made me spoiled and lazy still am not hand-loading for it!
The RR 16" Varmint I own is the only AR have ever had but do have Garands, Carbines, M1A's, FAL's, a Dae Woo & an AR-180B.
With a good Leupold Tac scope it will easily punch 5-shot .83x groups at 200 yds. off machine rest and bags with Black Hills 68 gr. and am no great shot by any means. It does have Arnold Jewell's trigger in it though.
All the Bench Rest Snobs with bolt actions stick their noses up at our local Private Club range .until they see its targets!
Even Love shooting it at 100 yds. with iron sights!
Bad gun tho', made me spoiled and lazy still am not hand-loading for it!
idakfan
Member
Rra
I just got an Elite CAR A4 Midlength w/Standard Carry Handle for $809.
Chrome Lined
National Match Two-Stage Trigger
Hogue Grip
Comparing this price to NIB Bushmasters I got a good deal.
I just got an Elite CAR A4 Midlength w/Standard Carry Handle for $809.
Chrome Lined
National Match Two-Stage Trigger
Hogue Grip
Comparing this price to NIB Bushmasters I got a good deal.
It really is that simple. RRA is not the best or perfect but they very good. I would probably rank them at #4 all around. Colt, BM and Armalite would get spots 1-3 in my book. If RRA would offer chrome lined barrels standard (on at least some models) and offered some non-hbar options I would then probably rank them as #2 or #3.
I have three RRA uppers, and two a varmint wt. uppers. They are both tac drivers. I have a RRA A2 16in upper that is a shooter too! I have a total of 4 RRA lowers, one mated with a BM upper that is as tight as can be! If they are good enough for the DEA et al they must be doing somethings right!
Not really. It just took awhile for them to build the "name" that they have today in the AR field. Some of this is sketchy on my part (so don't take it as gospel) but my understanding is they have been making custom 1911s for a while (and their 1911 are considered top tier) and then somewhere around 10 years ago they decided to get into the AR game.
They started by buying out the remaining inventory of PWA when they closed up and, at least at first, RRA specialized in the target\DCM area of the AR world. In the last few years they have really expanded their line-up, secured more dealers and started producing parts\options that other companies do not have. Their "fame" really took off in the AR world when they won part of the federal DEA contact about a year ago.
Don't Tread On Me
Member
Colt is THE best AR on the market - period.
The only thing the RRA would beat it on, might be better finish/looks and the fact it comes with more features for the money. But Colt is the only maker of AR's that does serious quality control testing on EACH and EVERY rifle as well as uses the best materials and mil-spec standards.
For Finish/looks, I'd rank them like this:
1] RRA/Armalite
2] Colt/Bushmaster
3] Everyone else.
Although, 1 & 2 are very close and it is almost a matter of nitpicking.
For quality, I'd rank them like this:
1] Colt
2] LMT
3] RRA, Bushmaster
4] Armalite, DPMS, Olympic
5] Kits
6] Vulcan, Hesse
The only thing the RRA would beat it on, might be better finish/looks and the fact it comes with more features for the money. But Colt is the only maker of AR's that does serious quality control testing on EACH and EVERY rifle as well as uses the best materials and mil-spec standards.
For Finish/looks, I'd rank them like this:
1] RRA/Armalite
2] Colt/Bushmaster
3] Everyone else.
Although, 1 & 2 are very close and it is almost a matter of nitpicking.
For quality, I'd rank them like this:
1] Colt
2] LMT
3] RRA, Bushmaster
4] Armalite, DPMS, Olympic
5] Kits
6] Vulcan, Hesse
ScottsGT
Member
My first AR was a Colt SP-1. Too old to compare with the latest AR's on the market.
My second was a Bushmaster. OK, but had a few flaws. When I went to purchase this one, I took a look at the Colts. By far, the castings were terrible on the Colts at that time, two tone in color, and the upper and lower was loose. I love my Colts (1911's) but I could not buy this AR.
My third is a RRA. Top notch! The upper and lower is extremely tight, shoots better than I can, and the finish is excellent. Besides, they started the 16" mid-length fad, I bought one, and in my opinion is the best looking combo made! Don't care for a full length rifle, but the short handgrip on the 16" barrel just looks out of place.
My second was a Bushmaster. OK, but had a few flaws. When I went to purchase this one, I took a look at the Colts. By far, the castings were terrible on the Colts at that time, two tone in color, and the upper and lower was loose. I love my Colts (1911's) but I could not buy this AR.
My third is a RRA. Top notch! The upper and lower is extremely tight, shoots better than I can, and the finish is excellent. Besides, they started the 16" mid-length fad, I bought one, and in my opinion is the best looking combo made! Don't care for a full length rifle, but the short handgrip on the 16" barrel just looks out of place.
Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
My first post in weeks:
Jon Coppenbarger
Member
Great post Steve!!! LOL
Now do not count my word for everything. I only use them in competitions.
Rock river? only one of two company's to have a rifle win the national service rifle title right out of the box.
armalite? The other company to of done it. not much other success in that field but they are working on it.
Colt? Ok if you replace most every important piece like trigger, barrel, sights, Ect.
Bushmaster? yeah I guess you could get one to work with enough tweeking and in the right hands.
The others? well they would not be much left but the housings and small parts that came off of them when converted. same as the colts.
Steve I plan on shooting my space rifle in its first match for me using it this coming sun. should be interesting and exciting. Hit 13 X's on sat at 600 yards in a tough wind. Have not been beat by another ar15 at 600 yards in the last like 6 matches or more. End of season luck I guess. Got tommy and Kyle for beers a few weeks ago. shot a 196 to kyles 195 in a killer wind up at the creek. Tommy bet me a beer on the first sighter at 600 with me using my new upper for the first time at 600. He hit a solid 10 and I just used my come ups for my ammo and guesed for the conditions and light(lol). I hit a solid X and half the folks on the line started rolling with laughter. We miss you dude!
Jon
Now do not count my word for everything. I only use them in competitions.
Rock river? only one of two company's to have a rifle win the national service rifle title right out of the box.
armalite? The other company to of done it. not much other success in that field but they are working on it.
Colt? Ok if you replace most every important piece like trigger, barrel, sights, Ect.
Bushmaster? yeah I guess you could get one to work with enough tweeking and in the right hands.
The others? well they would not be much left but the housings and small parts that came off of them when converted. same as the colts.
Steve I plan on shooting my space rifle in its first match for me using it this coming sun. should be interesting and exciting. Hit 13 X's on sat at 600 yards in a tough wind. Have not been beat by another ar15 at 600 yards in the last like 6 matches or more. End of season luck I guess. Got tommy and Kyle for beers a few weeks ago. shot a 196 to kyles 195 in a killer wind up at the creek. Tommy bet me a beer on the first sighter at 600 with me using my new upper for the first time at 600. He hit a solid 10 and I just used my come ups for my ammo and guesed for the conditions and light(lol). I hit a solid X and half the folks on the line started rolling with laughter. We miss you dude!
Jon
modifiedbrowning
Member
ScottsGT, actually Armalite is the company that invented the midlength gas system.
ScottsGT
Member
I did not know that! Who ever invented it, kudos to them. In my opinion, it is one of the best looking ........oops, already said this once
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