USMC03
08-15-2005, 15:11
A few guys have asked me recently about the quality of Rock River Arms rifles. I rank them in the top 3 or 4 AR15 manufacturers.
Recently I have been extreemly impressed with Rock River Arms' quality, even better than Bushmaster quality, and Rock River Arms has their guns priced well below Bushmaster.
That being said, there are a few things that RRA does to their guns that I don't like:
-They come from the factory with a 2 stage trigger (I do not like 2 stage triggers on defensive / tactical gun, seen too many of them go tit's up in classes, matches, and other training)
-Most models come with a HBAR profile barrel (too heavy for my personal preference)
-Most models come with a NON-Chrome lined barrel (a chrome lined barrel is a desirable feature on a defenseive / tactical carbine).
Now that I've pointed out the things I don't like about RRA, these "undesirable features" can be a blessing in disguise.
If you order a RRA from Steve at http://www.adcofirearms.com he will credit you approximately $65 if you request the two stage trigger be replaced with a standard trigger group.
For around $100 Steve will install a RRA Chrome Lined Barrel on the gun and can profile it to your specification. With the RRA I just ordered, I got a mid-length barrel (I LOVE mid-lengths) I had Steve install a RRA mid-length chrome lined barrel.
The RRA chrome-lined, mid-length barrel is a HBAR profile, which was too heavy and the Govt A2 profile was too thin. I had him profile the mid-length barrel to .73 under the handguards (for reference, the A2 barrel is .75 from the front sight post forward and it's .64 under the handguards).
Currently RRA's prices are $100 to $200 under Bushmaster's prices, depending on the model.
http://www.coloradoshooting.org/ute2.jpg.JPG
http://www.coloradoshooting.org/ute2a.jpg.JPG
http://www.coloradoshooting.org/ute2b.jpg.JPG
http://www.coloradoshooting.org/ute2c.jpg.JPG
Here are a few of the things that I like about the RRA Elite CAR UTE 2 over the M4 length gas system:
1) the front sight post and gas system are 2" forward of where they are on an M4
2) the mid-length gas system is slightly smoother cycling than the M4
3) because the front sight post is 2" forward on the mid-length it gives you a longer sight radius
4) because the front sight post is 2" forward on the mid-length is also gives you a longer handguard....not a big issue for smaller guys, but some taller guys like to have the extra room so they can put their hand further out on the handguard (when not using a vertical foregrip)
5) the RRA Elite CAR UTE 2 has both a fixed A2 sight and a rail. The down side to this is you can never use a magnified optic on the gun (which, for the most part is not a desierable item on a civilian/LEO - defensive / tactical gun)....The up side is that you have a rock solid back up iron sight that costs you no extra money, it will always be there, it will always be in the "up position".
The UTE 2 is a great setup for a new shooter getting into defensive / tactical shooting.
If the new shooter doesn't have the money for an electronic red dot optic, doesn't know which electronic red dot optic he wants, or wants a basic gun that he can learn to shoot with irons prior to moving onto optics, the UTE 2 give the new shooter a gun that is ready to go out of the box, and optic platforms can be upgraded easily.
Recently I have been extreemly impressed with Rock River Arms' quality, even better than Bushmaster quality, and Rock River Arms has their guns priced well below Bushmaster.
That being said, there are a few things that RRA does to their guns that I don't like:
-They come from the factory with a 2 stage trigger (I do not like 2 stage triggers on defensive / tactical gun, seen too many of them go tit's up in classes, matches, and other training)
-Most models come with a HBAR profile barrel (too heavy for my personal preference)
-Most models come with a NON-Chrome lined barrel (a chrome lined barrel is a desirable feature on a defenseive / tactical carbine).
Now that I've pointed out the things I don't like about RRA, these "undesirable features" can be a blessing in disguise.
If you order a RRA from Steve at http://www.adcofirearms.com he will credit you approximately $65 if you request the two stage trigger be replaced with a standard trigger group.
For around $100 Steve will install a RRA Chrome Lined Barrel on the gun and can profile it to your specification. With the RRA I just ordered, I got a mid-length barrel (I LOVE mid-lengths) I had Steve install a RRA mid-length chrome lined barrel.
The RRA chrome-lined, mid-length barrel is a HBAR profile, which was too heavy and the Govt A2 profile was too thin. I had him profile the mid-length barrel to .73 under the handguards (for reference, the A2 barrel is .75 from the front sight post forward and it's .64 under the handguards).
Currently RRA's prices are $100 to $200 under Bushmaster's prices, depending on the model.
http://www.coloradoshooting.org/ute2.jpg.JPG
http://www.coloradoshooting.org/ute2a.jpg.JPG
http://www.coloradoshooting.org/ute2b.jpg.JPG
http://www.coloradoshooting.org/ute2c.jpg.JPG
Here are a few of the things that I like about the RRA Elite CAR UTE 2 over the M4 length gas system:
1) the front sight post and gas system are 2" forward of where they are on an M4
2) the mid-length gas system is slightly smoother cycling than the M4
3) because the front sight post is 2" forward on the mid-length it gives you a longer sight radius
4) because the front sight post is 2" forward on the mid-length is also gives you a longer handguard....not a big issue for smaller guys, but some taller guys like to have the extra room so they can put their hand further out on the handguard (when not using a vertical foregrip)
5) the RRA Elite CAR UTE 2 has both a fixed A2 sight and a rail. The down side to this is you can never use a magnified optic on the gun (which, for the most part is not a desierable item on a civilian/LEO - defensive / tactical gun)....The up side is that you have a rock solid back up iron sight that costs you no extra money, it will always be there, it will always be in the "up position".
The UTE 2 is a great setup for a new shooter getting into defensive / tactical shooting.
If the new shooter doesn't have the money for an electronic red dot optic, doesn't know which electronic red dot optic he wants, or wants a basic gun that he can learn to shoot with irons prior to moving onto optics, the UTE 2 give the new shooter a gun that is ready to go out of the box, and optic platforms can be upgraded easily.
