Rock River Arms versus Armalite for first AR-15 (Vanity)

[Patriot95]

I was just wondering if I could get some Freeper advice on the first AR-15 purchase. I've heard great things about both, but would appreciate any input from those with multiple ARs.

[BipolarBob]

You didn’t explain the purpose/usage of your firearm purchase. For personal defense, an AK47 is very reliable. or so I’m told.-)

[Durus]

He's already made the choice of platform and picked the clearly superior one in a clear sign of good taste and breeding. Let's not confuse matters with a commie knock off of a nazi rifle.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Walmart has gotten in new shipments of Colt and Sig ARs. Definitely worth the money.

For those interested, I bought a pair of hearing aids. They cost as much as THREE Colt rifles.

Bummer.

[BipolarBob]

Opinions are like elbows. Everyone’s got one.

[DainBramage]

I saw a Palmetto Armory M4 with aimpoint pro optics for 999$ on their website.

[astounded]

I suggest considering a Ruger Mini14 Tactical with collapsible stock, flash suppressor and rails. It can take any 0.223 cal loads, but also NATO 5.56mm, which makes it versatile. You can buy 10, 20 and 30rd magazines for it. It is rugged and less expensive than an AR15. Plus it looks baaad.....

[astounded]

Well, you are certainly correct, but I guess it holds....FUNSA. Oh, and by the way...FUBO.

[Durus]

Not everyone has elbows unfortunately. Regardless...just like elbows, not all opinions are equal.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Dude get a Windham HBC. For the dollar they are about the best AR out there right now. You can pick one up at Academy Sports right now for about $900. We have one and its sweet.

When we took it apart there were no machine marks, tolerances were very tight, bolt carrier is M-4 full auto style, and overall its just a very clean tight weapon.

[CopperTop]

Armalite had an issue when many other mfg's were refusing to sell to "authorities" in states that were trying to deny their citizenry possession of such weaponry. And some kindof snarky response from the Armalite PTB to the "unwashed" of the "gun culture". There was a stink about it on ARFcom. I'm sure it can be found with a search. Not sure what RRA's stance was on that, but hard to beat'em for a middle-of-the-road AR. I've had many different mfg's offerings in the AR platform. Whatever you get, don't cheap out on the trigger. Those mil-spec gravelly, get-out-a-comealong triggers suck and will ruin an otherwise accurate platform.

I personally prefer a Noveske/Geissele combo. But then again I'm somewhat of a gear-ho'. d:^)

[chuckles]

ping for later

[Raven6]

Georgia Girl 2 is right in post 29... Get the Windham. I am a FFL retail gun store owner and have dealt with all of them. I am also a tactical trainer for several law enforcment agencies. Because of that, I have witnessed the performance of all of these AR's over a period of weeks under constant fire during different courses.

In my opinion, the best buy on the market when it comes to direct gas impingement AR's is the Windham. It comes with a lifetime warranty. They don't care if you are the first owner of the fifteenth - lifetime warranty means lifetime warranty. You can spend more money on an direct gas AR, but you won't get a better one.

[Raven6]

BTW... Support your local gun shop! When the chips were down, Academy and and Dick’s pulled their AR’s off the shelves. If your gun (not under warranty) breaks, they can’t help you... Local gun shops are the last place left were you can get something fixed without having to send the firearm off to the manufacturer.

[SENTINEL]

Wrong guy... But +1 on the training $ over high end AR for #1. It’s not the 90’s anymore, finding an undependable AR is the exception these days rather than the norm.

[usconservative]

In my opinion, the best buy on the market when it comes to direct gas impingement AR's is the Windham. It comes with a lifetime warranty.

Just for the record, Rock River Arms guarantees their AR-15's for life also. (One of the many reasons I chose them over other AR-15's.) BTW: DHS purchases Rock River Arms exclusively, or so I've read...

[SENTINEL]

The DPMS Sportical with a couple add-ons is a dependable 16”AR-15. A local shop here has them right now for only $639. I have several upgraded with full Magpul plastics (stock, grip, forend), a PWS Muzzle Brake, and JP Competition trigger with DUTY springs. Very good bang for the buck.

[B4Ranch]

Federations of United Nations Staff Associations (FUNSA)

Right?

[Red Steel]

Here watch this.

Youtube vid:

Rock River Arms AR15 Review by Nutnfancy

"Uploaded on Feb 26, 2012

RRA produces some of the best high value AR-15 variants in the world. They are extraordinarily accurate, reliable, and long lasting. In this in-depth review vid, I address my thoughts on "mil-spec" and Rock River's departure from it. The QA portion of the spec is desirable but adds substantial cost and it generally overkill for the average AR user. It also limits features to those determined by US Government committees...a bad thing. The civilian market has long been where the best guns are made. Some forum elitists may balk at the materials of the Rock Rivers and features but few have extensive experience with the type and therefore their criticisms ring carry no weight with me. Granted, on paper, the 4140 steel 1/9 twist Wylde chambered barrels, commercial buffer tubes, non-HP/MPI bolt carrier, lack of barrel chroming, and other mil-spec departures may seem disappointing. But that's on paper. Shot for over SEVEN years before this review, RRA AR-15s (LAR-15s) have been stellar performers under hard TNP testing. The Elite Operator2 and Entry Tactical, wearing a few modifications of my own (discussed), achieved 1 MOA groups with STANDARD BALL ammo. With premium 77 gr Fiocchi Match Kings, the groups shrunk to 1/2 inch. Keep in mind these are tactical carbine variations of the LAR-15, not target rifles with overly thick barrels. Most high end AR-15s, piston or DI, have failed to achieve this accuracy. And this accuracy testing came only after many 1000s of rounds shot in TNP tactical drills as well. You're getting a lot of gun for your money. Features included in most models add to the value and the guns' excellent ergonomics: 2-stage RRA match trigger (excellent), star selector, RRA gas block/folding front sight, RRA CAR Operator stock, Ergo or Hogue grip, RRA Tactical Muzzle Break (effective, I would not change it out if I were you), included iron sights, winter trigger guard, and choice of forends. Current generations of the RRA Half Quad rails (discussed) are too thick and heavy (17 oz) but they're getting better. The RRA Quad rail is currently too bulkiy and old school to be attractive however; avoid it. Application of the industry leading Troy Industries Alpha rail will lighten the gun, make it easier to grab, and faster into action. Reliablity, not attributable to ammo, was 100% with both steel and brass cased rounds, all brands fired. Weights are manageable for their configurations and the excellent heavier barrel profiles Rock River uses. Many models exist and you can choose your choice of barrel, grips, stocks, and accessories but these are my two favorite (add in the ATH Carbine as well with its cryo'd SS barrel). The receivers and internals are the same. Value is excellent for these stellar performers which I feel set standards for the high value AR market. Other great options exist which achieve the same as well. Unless you are sponsored shooter and run them as rentals, chances are you will never wear out these guns in normal use. We didn't. //////////////////////Nutnfancy Likability Scale: 9 out 10 for most models; with my mods as shown: 10 out of 10. Highest rec'd model is the Rock River Arms Elite Operator2 or ATH Carbine model for most POUs/////////////////////Music by MSquare Recordings, licensed with permission "

[metalurgist]

I have them both. An Armalite LEC15A4, law enforcement carbine and a Rock River Standard A4 with a 20 inch stainless barrel and a low profile gas block, no sights.

Both are good, well made guns and haven't given me any problems.

The Armalite comes with a chrome lined barrel and a 2 stage trigger, the Rock River you have to order ala-carte.

If you want a Rock River AR, be prepared to wait at least 3 months.

If you get a chance, look at a Sig. My brother bought one and it's a nice gun too.

To my friendly NSA watchdogs: UP YOURS. And you can tell your jug eared Kenyan boss he can go F*** himself too.

[Raven6]

Yes, RRA got the DHS contract... and the DEA contract. And they build a good weapon. I sold over 160 of them just on weekends during the summer of 2008. I personally own 3 of them, along with several other brands. But I’ve not been as impressed with their product as of late when compared to their product even as late as 1 year ago. Not sure what is going on at RRA, but something is not working the same as it was just a short time ago.