Rock River Arms Car-A4

[imprezagm4]

I'm seriously considering a RRA Car-A4 to be my "go-to" rifle. I want it to handle everything from casual target shooting, social purposes, and varmint (coyote and ground squirrel mostly). I know RRA makes a coyote ar, but I want an all around gun.

Does the car-a4 fit the bill? Anyone have experience with one? I'm somewhat concerned that it wont have the long range accuracy I need.

 

[DMK]

For a 16" AR, I'd go with one of RRA's Midlength guns. I don't see the point to buying the AR with the shorter sight radius and more violent gas system.

If you want to shoot out to 200-300 yards, get a 20". It will add about 100fps and flatten the ballistic curve a bit.

 

[rdaines]

I have two 16 inchers and they are great and accurate. Should be able to dispatch a coyote at 300 yards with the right loads and sighting in with a scope. Sight radius would apply if you didn't put a scope or dot on it. I recommend you do.

 

[benEzra]

That page says that RRA guarantees 1 MOA with match ammo, i.e. 1" groups at 100 yards. That's excellent accuracy.

I would second the recommendation to go with a midlength handguard/gas system and a 16" barrel, like this:

Or this:

The one on the bottom is my personal favorite. All are guaranteed to shoot 1 MOA with match ammo.

 

[Ash]

From what I understand, the mid length still uses the short gas system and so the only advantage is the longer sight radius.

Ash

 

[rdaines]

This is the one I'd pick,

The 16 inch. Forget those silly sights, you can add pop-ups later if you want. Just put a good scope or dot on it. You can add the collapsible stock too but must sold today are crappy, there are better after market ones.

 

[ZeroCool]

My RRA Midlength (which I got right after the ban) has the proper "midlength" gas system.

Unless they changed things (which I doubt they did, considering that the gas tube should connect the the front site base), RRA's middy's should still have the arguably less violent, more reliable midlength gas system.

I really like my middy, and have it set up as a KISS rifle. They do however look really good as a RECCE setup.

As soon as the funds allow, I am going to get an M4 Tacti-cool rifle as well.

 

[fastbike]

I have a 20" Predator Pursuit. Outstanding rifle. A bit lighter than an equivalent Varmint. The trigger is easily the best standard AR trigger I have experienced. Overall construction and fit is excellent.

I would recommend any RRA.

 

[txgolfer45]

I thought about getting the RR. Also considered a Stag Arms, Bushmaster and S&W. Went with the S&W M&P15A. Quite similar to the RR you are considering.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

You should consider a Stag-15.

 

[Eightball]

From what I understand, the mid length still uses the short gas system and so the only advantage is the longer sight radius.

Well...no offense, but your understanding (at least so far as RRA is concerned) is wrong. My Middy that I bought yesterday says otherwise (the Mid-Length M4 pictured above). On most companies' dissipator models, however, your understandings seem to ususally be correct.

 

[DMK]

From what I understand, the mid length still uses the short gas system and so the only advantage is the longer sight radius.

You're thinking of the Dissipator (and some Dissys use midlength or rifle gas systems, verify what you are buying).

Midlengths all use a gas port about halfway between a CAR/M4 and rifle gas system (right under the sight block in the pics above).

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

I'm somewhat concerned that it wont have the long range accuracy I need.

With the right optic and the right loads, you will have plenty of accuracy with the 16".

Well I guess I should ask, how far out are we talking about shooting?

 

[KC&97TA]

DO NOT GET A STAG! Everyone I've seen has been horrible, in every respect.

I do notice a difference between a M16A4 20" and the M16M4 16", but it's pretty minimal, I think alot has to do with the cheak weld and sight radius, with the RCO's minimal 4x32 power, most of that is difference is made up for. If I remember right muzzle velocity on the 20" is 3110 f/s and on the 16" is 2970 f/s. For the record, the M4 barrel is a bit less than 16", I think it might be 16" from the back of the chamber to the flass suppressor, the RRA is about 1.5" longer when the uppers are laid next to each other.

My Personal Rifle and Wifes

I have a RRA Entry Tactical as I just stated in another thread, 16" barrel, 6pos stock. With M885 SS109, other wise known as 'green tip', I've scored shots @ 750m with an ACOG, 10 back to back shots on a 12" steel target, she had 10 little holes blasted through her.

My wifes RRA NM, will hold SUB MOA @1000m, 5 shots on a 19" silhouette target with a 12" center circle, shots measured 7-3/4" at the farthest, from sand bags on iron sights, 77gr Blackhills, molly coated hollow points, mid morning dessert shooting.

I think 90% of rifles will out shoot the guy squeezing the trigger. RRA makes a great rifle. I think they're just as good as Colt.

Remember the US Marines shoot rack grade M16's at 500 yrds on iron sights scoreing on a 19" wide target, only useing a web sling for support from the prone. You're talking about useing a scope and have the ability to use support.

 

[no_problem]

Go with the A2 for the full stock

I'd go with the A2 with the full stock. IMHO, it gives you a better sight picture and cheek weld for long range shots.

 

[Eightball]

DO NOT GET A STAG! Everyone I've seen has been horrible, in every respect.

Please, explain. I'm quite interested. Other than the fact that they don't have the configuration I wanted, and of the only two decent-sized AR dealers in my area one was way overpriced and the other didn't have any STAGs that fit my bill, all the Stag's I've seen were quite well manufactured, with quality fit & finish, albeit not what I was looking for, and being too expensive to boot. Maybe the units you looked at were the lemons of the batch, or was there something about them that I just missed when looking over them?

That being said, I like my RRA. Quite a bit. Though, I much prefer Middys for most of the reasons DMK has suggested, I also hold a bit long with my supporting arm (habit that has carried over from things like my Garand and other full-length wood-stocked rifles), so a CAR wouldn't work well for me; to each their own. However, RRA seems to make quite the quality product for the money.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Stag has a much better track record than most AR manufacturers. It's a better value than RRA or Bushmaster. I've literally built dozens of rifles and Stag is by far the best bang for the buck out there. Great quality, very good guys to deal with too.

 

[imprezagm4]

Thanks for the help!

 

[JonB]

ANother +1 on a RRA midlength. I have the Elite CAR A4 and love it. I'm not a 'go through 1000 rounds in a weekend' kind of guy, but really enjoy this rifle. I didn't like the looks of the M4 style short handguards, but wanted a 16 inch barrel so the RRA middy was the winner. I ruled out Stag as they didn't have a midlength version.