Rock River Arms or STI Varmint AR?

[CmdrSlander]

I want a varmint/target rifle for eliminating varmints on my property, plinking, and target shooting. I am interested in the following two rifles:

-STI "Sporting Rifle http://www.stiguns.com/guns/SR/SportingRifle.php
-RRA Varmint EOP http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=227

The RRA is configured like this:


Mobility is not an issue, rifle will be shot from a rest most of time.

Anyone know of a good optic for either of them as well?

 

[pantannojack]

I would be interested to read of someone's experienced opinion of the Rock River "Weidley" chamber in reguards to down range accy compared to a match 223 chamber.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

I have a RRA Varmint upper with some tricks below. Coyote's tell stories about it to scare their kids (kits?). Good optics cost money, how good you wanna' go?

 

[BigMag]

I've only ever had a Rock River. I did sell it to fund another purchase but in the time I owned it I had zero issues with and and it was crazy accurate. Makes me what a new one....

 

[CmdrSlander]

Optic & Ammo

Scope: $150 Maximum. Let's change good to "acceptable"

Also, I will be shooting Remington 47 Grain BTHP mostly. A little bit of Wolf 55 grain for random plinking.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Ahhhh, come on Cmdr. you gotta' bump that scope budget a little . Go to $230 and find a bargain on a Bushnell 3500 Elite. That's as low as I'd go.

 

[CmdrSlander]

To Above

Ummm... $200, I have a real appreciation for quality rifles, but super nice scopes don't really interest me.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

That's not super nice pard. That's just barely worth mounting on the rifle you've got in mind. $200?, a Mueller APV I guess.

 

[CmdrSlander]

Okay, how about this: the rifle is around $1250 Configured as it is. I'll go to $1550 with scope. What do you recommend.

 

[nipprdog]

Ummm... $200, I have a real appreciation for quality rifles, but super nice scopes don't really interest me.

Quoted for one the, if not the, most ridiculous post ever.


What good is a quality rifle with cheap glass?

 

[CmdrSlander]

above

yah, I guess you are right about that, I've been spoiled by cheap red dots I suppose

 

[Cal-gun Fan]

Ok, so $300 for a scope. That's fine, for that price range I would look at the Leupold Mark AR riflescopes and the Nikon M223 scopes-they seem perfect for your price range!
Maybe you could change out the "operator" stock for a standard version and bump up your scope price even more.

 

[CmdrSlander]

How about Barksa? They are really well reviewed by users, but those could easily be fakes/plants by Barska.

 

[Cal-gun Fan]

Nah, don't go Barska. They're in the same category as BSA/Tasco/NCstar. You're getting a nice AR, it deserves a nice scope The leupold Mark ARs seem perfect-afordable, great quality, and they have leupold's amazing warranty.

 

[wnycollector]

I would second the Mueller APV. It's a great scope for the money. Bright clear glass and solid construction.

I would also add the Simmons Whitetail Classic 6.5-20x50 on sale at Midwayusa for $110 to the mix.

 

[rkadair]

I would dump that 1:12 twist and go with 1:9 or 1:8
with 1:12 you can't shoot anything bigger that 60gr bullet

 

[Mr.Blue]

Have you taken a look at the Bushmaster Varminter? I wasn't sold on Bushmaster when I bought mine, but bought it on a friend's recommendation. Man, was he right. It is the most accurate rifle that I own. You have to TRY to shoot worse than 1/2 MOA at 100 yds.. I put a Leupold VX-II 4-12x40.

Here's a review on the rifle. I have never seen a negative review on this gun.

http://www.gunblast.com/Bushmaster_Varminter.htm

 

[Mot45acp]

Lower: pic what stamp you like. A2 stock or PRS if feeling froggy.

Upper: WOA 20"

Optics: Nikon M223, Bushnell Elite 3200, Redfield

Extras: good trigger (pic flavor)

 

[Boomie]

I have a Rock River Varminter and I love it. It is crazy accurate. With ammo it likes five shot groups at 1/2 MOA are not uncommon (probably capable of better with a better shooter). I have it topped with a Vortex Viper 6.5-20 scope which I got on clearance and I love it. It wore two cheaper scopes before that and I could not get the accuracy out of it then that I do now - especially outdoors and beyond 100 yards. I think the scope goes for about $400 now which is cheaper than most scope snobs would pay.

However

The RR Vaminter has a 1:8 twist barrel and mine really likes heavier (75 grain) bullets. To be fair, I've never shot anything lighter than 55 grain through it and the light stuff I've shot is mostly surplus - I'm not sure how well it would like it. If you are dead-set on using 47 grain bullets, I'd get a rifle with a slower twist (1:9's are easy to find). For $1250 you should be getting *exactly* the rifle you want. Don't compromise - you will regret it.

If you are dead-set on getting a $100 scope I'd take a look at this. It is one of the scopes I used to have on my RR and it did okay. I'm not sure you could do better for $100. It's not great, but it's okay. It will hold zero and track well. The mil dots are kind of big and some people online claim theirs came broken (not my experience). It is much nicer than a comparable Barska/NCStar/Centerpoint and Vortex is a company that will stand by their products (even their cheap ones) no matter what.