Rock River Arms PDS Pistol

Ammoland ^ | 27 Aug 2010 | unattributed

[smokingfrog]

Colona, IL --(Ammoland.com)- Rock River Arms has the reputation for producing top quality AR15s.

What sets Rock River Arms apart from the competition is their versatility to produce and innovate weapons to such rigorous specifications.

The Rock River Arms PDS Pistol is the first of a new generation of firearms employing Rock River Arms’ patent-pending Piston Driven System (PDS).

Utilizing a purpose-designed bolt carrier, an adjustable gas piston and an over-the-barrel spring and guide rod arrangement, the Rock River Arms PDS is able to completely eliminate the traditional recoil system associated with AR-style firearms, making for an extremely versatile weapon platform. The design of the upper receiver and guide rod base prevents gas blow-by to the back of the receiver.

The two position adjustable regulator is conveniently positioned on the right side of the regulator housing.

The New PDS Pistol has a full length top mounting rail from the rear of the receiver to the regulator housing, allowing flexible placement of numerous optics, lights, lasers and other accessories. The folding ambidextrous, non-reciprocating charging handles may be used independently or in unison to charge the RRA PDS Pistol. The RRA PDS Pistol features a MS1913 rail on the rear receiver adaptor as well as an MS1913 rail on the regulator housing which allows sling or weapons mounting capabilities. The handguard features an integral Operator Safety Flange to help prevent support-hand movement/slippage towards the muzzle.

[doorgunner69]

Sort of like that brand new Colt HBAR with such a sloppy fit between upper and lower that it rattled during normal handling?

My .308 DPMS is so tight I have to work to get the halves to separate. A bit of difference in tolerances...........

[Pontiac]

I did find it.

8” barrel 1 in 9 twist.

Any guess at what muzzle velocity would be?

Maybe 1600 to 1800 fps?

[STD]

How do you like your DPMS 308? Which version?
What did it set you back?

[killjoy]

Sort of like that brand new Colt HBAR with such a sloppy fit between upper and lower that it rattled during normal handling?

Fit between upper and lower doesn't matter to me. I am interested in fighting guns that are reliable. Rock River isn't.

[Arlis]

Ah, yes. But in battle nothing ever goes as planned.

Nice to have IF they get that close........

IMHO.

arlis

[rickb308]

Bushmaster Carbon 15
http://www.bushmaster.com/catalog_carbon15_AZ-C15P97.asp
Weight w/o magazine: 46 oz. (2.88 lbs.) [1.31 kg]
Weight of empty magazine: .25 lbs [.11 kg]
Weight of loaded magazine: 1.0 lbs. [.45 kg]

[chadwimc]

Says who?!?!?!?

“...Go run a few thousand rounds through one and let me know if it is still in one piece...”

Been there, done that. The one I’m shooting now has about 4,000 rounds through it. The vanilla, A2 model has about the same. You must sell Vulcan ARs...

[Celtic Conservative]

Looks like a broomhandle mauser on steroids.

CC

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Any guess at what muzzle velocity would be?

Based on this data, it would probably end up with a velocity around 2540 fps. Seems like you lose about 50 fps per inch, pretty consistently. The 9.2" barrel of the Kel Tec has been reliabily chrono'd at 2600 fps, so subtract 50-60 fps for the 8" barrel of the RR.

[TexasBarak]

A major problem with using rifle ammo in a pistol is that you waste a lot of powder in muzzle flash. You just do not have enough barrel length to get full burn of your powder load.

One of my brothers has an amt automag III (.30 carbine) inherited from our father. That thing is the loudest firearm I have ever heard, with a huge muzzle flash(great ball of fire!). I finally figured out that this is caused by the large amount of unburned powder mixing with the air, and then igniting. In essence, it's a small fuel-air bomb.

On the fourth of July we were all out shooting for fun. At one point, three of us with .22's and my nephew with the automag. It sounded like this-

"pap"- "pap"- "pap"- *POOOOOOOM!!!!*

I still laugh thinking about it. :)

P.S.- ran into that brother at a gun show last month- he was stocking up on .30 carbine ammo, cause he likes the noise :)

[PugetSoundSoldier]

The Bushmaster:

Big old buffer tube sticking out the back, not a piston version at all. Considerably longer than either the KT or the RR (4+ inches longer), even though the barrel on the BM is only 7" long (meaning it'll lose 200 fps and 260 fps to the RR and the KT, respectively). And you have a one year warranty, when you get lifetime with KT or RR.

At least the BM is 2 ounces lighter than the KT...;)

[Pontiac]

Thanks for the link.

Interesting project.

I don’t think I would have been able to do that to one of my guns.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

I couldn’t either! It was bad enough cutting 1” off the end of my SU-16A and threading it for a flash suppressor. Couldn’t imagine taking it down like that (or waiting for the BATFE stamp so I could make a rifle less than 26” long/16” barrel).

It’s very interesting data, though, and I love the fact they walked it down an inch at a time, and did all the different loads as well. Seriously valuable info! I love the Internet for this kind of thing...

[ctdonath2]

Quite. I don’t see the point of these. If the barrel isn’t over 11 inches it’s just an expensive way to turn powder into noise. There is no advantage. Add a stock, a few inches to the barrel, and a suppressor and you’ll have a useful gun.

[Pontiac]

Add a stock, a few inches to the barrel, and a suppressor and you’ll have a useful gun.

Well I won’t go that far. Utility is in the hands of the holder (to hijack a phrase).

I am sure that someone will have a use for this weapon, even if it is only to plink, target shoot or admire in their gun room.

I like you are more of a purist when it comes to gun design but I don’t want to be the law giver on what constitutes a useful gun.

The more people who buy more guns the safer the Second Amendment is for us all. If it takes this kind of counter intuitive design features to sell more guns to more people that is fine with me.

[ctdonath2]

Don’t get me wrong.
I lust after those things as much as anyone.
I’ve got a 12ga pistol. And know from experience it, like these AR pistols, is nigh unto useless.
Induces a shit-eating grin though.

[Lurker]

Go run a few thousand rounds through one and let me know if it is still in one piece.

Mine's fine after probably about 8 or 9K rounds.

[Pontiac]

I’ve got a 12ga pistol…is nigh unto useless. Induces a shit-eating grin though.

Pure destructive pleasure is a requirement for a man’s true happiness.

On the other matter a 12 gage pistol would make a good home defense weapon (not my first choice though). Better have a strong wrist to handle it.

Kind of like the Taurus “Judge”. Is it a single shot (I’m guessing)?

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Maybe it's one of these:

Short enough you could put that in a holster, too! That on the right hip, the PLR-16 pistol under the left arm, extra shells on the left hip, and two extra PMAGs under the right arm and you're ready to go Road Warrior Style!

[javachip]

My last AR build was all Rock River parts - basic A2 style rifle.

Haven’t kept a round count - best guess is several thousand - no problems at all and would have no concerns with Rock River products based on my experience.

Of course, I’ve now seen the light and learned that guns are icky, especially evil black rifles. Traded it for a gift card at one of those ‘no questions asked’ gun buy back things.