AR-15 RRA A4 Midlength

[Dr.Zubrato]

Need opinions guys! Just spotted a RRA middy A4 with the nice grip, RRA carbine stock, regular bolt and what i was told is a chrome lined barrel (not sure about bore) for ~800. It comes with a cheapie chinese tactical holo sight, but that's better than nothing.

This will be my first AR, and though I've done research on AR's a year or so ago, I haven't been in the market due to time constraints. I'm planning on using this to build a race gun, possibly for competition or carbine classes.
I'd like to pick up the 45 deg slanted sights, and maybe a failzero bolt.
I've checked the M4 chart and the RRA doesn't look so good without MPI, HPT or even any batch testing.

The fit and finish was excellent and looked like real quality! Gas key staking was aggressive and excellent as well. Could you guys shoot me some opinions, or reviews of RRA middies, or m4's? I was sold on it a day ago, but now after reading up it doesnt seem like such a great buy..
Will it hold up to the rigors of a carbine class, and is it good enough to be battle ready?

Thanks in advance! Merry christmas, guys! Hope you get something nice under the tree. :]

 

[kwelz]

It is a RRA. So yes "Fit and finish" will be great. However Fit and finish are about as important to an AR as Wing Flaps are to a car.

They are not made for hard use or self defense. And you may or may not put yours through hard use or need it for self defense. However a Colt 6920 or BCM Middy will be about $150 more and much higher quality.

 

[Dr.Zubrato]

That's what I figured. However, I think with a better bolt, I'd be back in the game, yes? For example let's say I purchased a BCM bolt to go with this RRA upper and lower. I was planning on buying a spare bolt/bcg for backup anyway in case of catastrophic failure.
I'm looking at this platform as a base model to build up from, and I can see I'd need to slap an ACOG/EOTECH on the upper, and on the picatinny rail front sight gas block some canted sights.
I know BCM is great but I can't find them anywhere at gun stores. I'm a bit wary of ordering something online that expensive without having it in my hands and being able to inspect it before laying down that kind of cash.

Is this plan feasible? To the best of my knowledge the most important part of this weapons platform is the bolt. I know the barrel is button rifled by wilson and chrome lined, and I noticed M4 feedramps on the upper receiver as well, so I see attention to detail and quality.

 

[kwelz]

Well a good bolt is going to run you about 150. So why not just buy the better rifle to start with? Don't forget the RRA will also have an inferior barrel.

 

[MistWolf]

You could get a RRA with a cheap Chinese optic, inferior barrel and a bolt carrier group that will need upgrading for $800, or you can get the real deal Colt for $945
View attachment 588890
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6920

Or a PSA middie with FN made barrel and the right BCG for $700

http://palmettostatearmory.com/8925.php

Or, you can get a PSA complete with a real Aimpoint red dot sight for $1100 (sight alone is over $400)

http://palmettostatearmory.com/2557.php

Bottom line, there are rifles out there that are a much better value than the RRA

 

[Batta]

Well I droped a colt sp1 bolt and carrier in mine and it runs very well.

 

[giggitygiggity]

I have a RRA Entry Tactical that has run great. I would trust my life to it. You will find a bunch of opinions from everyone.

I know some people will dispute me, but when it boils down to it, all AR's are pretty much the same with a few minor differences. I honestly believe that all the testing and what not that other companies boast about really doesn't make a difference. I have fired RRA's, Colts, FN's, and Bushmasters in the AR15/M16 configuration and have had all of them hicup.

Get whatever AR you like best and don't look back. It will serve you well and you well regardless of whose stamp is on the side.

 

[MistWolf]

But is an $800 RRA a better value than a $945 Colt 6920? Or a $700 ($750 when you add a rear sight) PSA middie with the correct BCG and and an FN manufactured CMV barrel? In a direct comparison, dollar for dollar, the RRA comes up short

 

[Frankl03]

Spikes Tactical or or PSA. Not the RRA.

If you are looking for a competition (high power) gun look for an A2 with a 20 inch barrel. Colt, RRA or white oak will have one.

 

[kenken]

I have a DPMS that I love and has not missed a beat.
Just sayin'

kenken

 

[Boomie]

Since you can get a new RRA "Elite Operator", which is nicer IMHO, for $1000 (including shipping) from their website I'm not sure that used Middy A4 for $800 is a great deal.

I have a Rock River and love it. Not sure why it isn't made for "hard use or self defense".

 

[Dr.Zubrato]

I see now that the market is saturated with much better AR's at better prices than a year or two ago!
I'm going to eat more beans and rice, maybe drink a bit less wine and save up for the BCM. Complete upper with sights is 800$, which is kinda crazy but I know that price includes my confidence in the platform.

I love the RRA setup, with regular handguards, and a picatinny gas block (Instead of the quad rail/free float tube) but I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Thanks for putting my head back in a good place, I needed a few days away from the gun store since I got so fired up I was ready to buy on the spot. Turns out the sales guy didn't know it was a Chrome-moly barrel and not chrome. A little research goes a long way, and RRA has a fall special on that particular model..

Thanks again, gentlemen! Enjoy your New years!

 

[helotaxi]

Realize that the "chart" compares against mil-spec. You said that your intended use is likely as a race gun. If you were to see where a race gun falls on the "chart" it would probably do worse than the RRA you were looking at. The "chart" is merely a tool, it isn't the only tool and, like any tool, has to be used correctly to be of any value.

What you would likely find with that RRA is it would shoot light a house on fire (RRA has a reputation for VERY accurate rifles) and with a different bolt would serve you well.

 

[memphisjim]

what do the psa riflles lack as far as military spec?

 

[highpower]

"what do the psa riflles lack as far as military spec?"

I don't know. The barrels are made by FN, The bolt is marked T-MPI, which means that it's magnetic particle inspected I have one that I just built and it went together seamlessly. In fact, every thing that I have read about them says that they are a quality product.

I think that for some people if a product doesn't cost an arm and a leg they think it can't be any good.

 

[Hit_Factor]

I have 3 RRAs and a Bushmaster and race with all of them. Each is setup a little different based on the type of match I'm shooting. Things like iron sights, acog, eotech, midlength gas or bull barrel. We carry Colt at work.

The bushy probably has 20k through it, the RRAs range from 5k to 10k shots.

Quite frankly, they all work just fine. I personnaly find it hard to justify spending $150 more on an AR by itself. Spend the money on ammo or proper optics for the task at hand.

 

[DoubleMag]

"I know some people will dispute me, but when it boils down to it, all AR's are pretty much the same with..."

"I have a DPMS that I love and has not missed a beat.
Just sayin'..."

"I have a Rock River and love it. Not sure why it isn't made for "hard use or self defense". ..."

"What you would likely find with that RRA is it would shoot light a house on fire (RRA has a reputation for VERY accurate rifles) and with a different bolt would serve you well. ..."

"I have 3 RRAs and a Bushmaster and race with all of them. Each is setup a little different based on the type of match I'm shooting.....
The bushy probably has 20k through it, the RRAs range from 5k to 10k shots....
Quite frankly, they all work just fine. I personnaly find it hard to justify spending $150 more on an AR by itself..."

ARs: mil spec is mil spec. If the Company states it's rifles are mil spec, and once questioned about materials and its the same aluminum etc. manufacturing processes,give a reasonable statement of accuracy,guess what. It's Mil Spec!

That said, I've been around guns well, let's say, many decades (sigh). Personal observation; the vast majority of gun failure is improper lube (too much or too little...depends)and/or improper cleaning. If I never fired any manufacture gun because of a posted problem, I'd never fire ANY guns!

I'd offer the guy less $$ on it, all he can do is say no. If you do it, enjoy the rifle that will in 99.77556644% of the time be ok in these catagories, 1)an occasional box ammo at range 2)300 rds continuos fire 3) hunting 4)clean it & leave in safe "WHATEVER",NEVER, EVER FAIL YOU

 

[Tirod]

If you want a race gun, find out what parts go in those - because fine tuning them to operate on the range means not using milspec parts.

Different brakes, light bolt carriers, different springs, different buffers, a long free float, the potential absence of a FSB, a higher grade range or target trigger, ad infinitum.

Milspec is a nice starting place for a high round count duty gun, but it isn't what is taking the top twenty spots in three gun any more. Bluntly, the competitors want an advantage, and milspec is holding them back.

Define what you want this gun to do, then work thru what barrel, upper, stock, bolt carrier, and fore end is optimum for that job. You'll likely find some milspec parts pretty far down the list when it comes to delivering the performance you need.

Mid length gas is just one example - it's not milspec, its the optimum gas placement on a 16" barrel - which is ALSO not milspec. M4's run carbine gas on 14.5". Three gunners running 16" typically run midlength to modify the pressure curve and smooth out the recoil impulse to reduce time off target.

Goes to, what targets and ranges will be shot, work from there to pick what components meet the task. Milspec isn't what is always needed.

 

[helotaxi]

^^^^In fact if I had to guess on the mil-spec parts on a race gun it might be limited to some of the pins in the lower and the bolt itself. Maybe the buffer tube depending on what stock is being run. Pretty much everything else is specific to the task.

 

[MistWolf]

When it comes to a race gun, nothing has to be milspec