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danpass
01-25-10, 21:21
since it doesn't fit in the precision rifle section ..... :)


Range Report: Rock River Arms NM A2 rifle

A review of the Rock River Arms National Match A2 AR-15 (RRA NM A2, NMA2) rifle that’s longer than three sentences.


Summary:

I earned my Rifleman badge in mid January with this rifle, brand new, out of the box. Centered, the windage was right on. A few twists down on the front sight and she was zeroed for 25m (Appleseed standard range distance).

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v3/p87889272.jpg


Fantastic rifle. No play in the receivers. Included with the package is one NHMTG 20-rnd Al magazine (made 3-09), owner’s manual, empty chamber indicator (pretty short chamber nub though) and a really nice plastic carry case (see pics) though it requires you to separate the upper and lower (and its blue lol. I might actually paint it or perhaps better yet, RitDye it).

Ordered Dec 1, 2009, delivered to my FFL Jan 6, 2010. According to RRA the ship date (“born-on-date”) was 12-21-09. Ordered from Mudcat on USRifleteams.com.



Specifications:
Manufacturer: Rock River Arms
Barrel: Wilson air gauged stainless steel, 20in, Wylde chamber (.223/5.56), 1/8 twist rate, A2 flash hider, A2 integral front post sight/gas block.
Handguard: RRA free float handguard
Trigger: RRA NM 2-stage trigger.
Front Post: 0.050
Rear sight: NM 1/4x1/4, .030 hooded aperture in fixed upper handle receiver.
Standard A2 pistol grip and A2 buttstock, utilizing GI canvas sling

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v4/p230564044.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v8/p538135450.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v1/p620814940.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v6/p673431908.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v4/p582500844.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v8/p820998360.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v4/p535775563.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v6/p264893185.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v3/p469768392.jpg

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v6/p498923121.jpg




I used Federal 223 bulk pack (BP223BL) for the Appleseed event, fairly clean burning ammo and sufficiently accurate (at 25m anyway lol )

Closest data http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/rifle.aspx?id=5

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v7/p991554947-3.jpg
http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v8/p762353736-3.jpg



My Best standing group:

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v8/p448212443.jpg




Best overall group:

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/v3/p435442330.jpg






600yd results

http://www.danpassaro.com/img/s9/v15/p434030304.jpg

USAFR
01-26-10, 12:26
OK, I see where RRA is having a sale om a couple of their guns. I lik ethe idea od a two stage trigger, is it working OK for you?

Thanks and be safe.

danpass
01-26-10, 13:44
2-stage working out great :D

Fly'nBuff
01-28-10, 02:22
Very cool. I've been interested in trying to make it to an Appleseed shoot. Congrats on the Rifleman badge. Your pics are wreaking havoc on my checkbook.

agr1279
01-28-10, 07:58
Congrats on you purchase. You should get rid of that Bulk Pack ammo and get some match stuff. Now that you have your rifleman patch start workng for your badge and shoot some E.i.C. matches. Mudcat will set you straight.

Dan

Mark15
01-28-10, 10:11
It looks like the handguard retainer just in back of the front sight is cracked.

What are my tired old eyes not seeing correctly?

Mark H

C4IGrant
01-28-10, 10:19
Ahh, I see that they are still machining in feedramp cuts AFTER anodizing and staking their gas key poorly (also looks like the gas key screws are either under sized or the holes in the gas key are too big).


Enjoy your RRA!



C4

ST911
01-28-10, 10:22
Thanks for posting this. Always handy to have these references for others.

C4IGrant
01-28-10, 12:46
Thanks for posting this. Always handy to have these references for others.

Agree.



C4

danpass
08-05-10, 15:55
Congrats on you purchase. You should get rid of that Bulk Pack ammo and get some match stuff. Now that you have your rifleman patch start workng for your badge and shoot some E.i.C. matches. Mudcat will set you straight.

Dan

Just earned my first 4 points this past M16 EIC match at Camp Perry

justin_247
08-05-10, 17:47
Specifications:
...
Handguard: RRA free float handguard


An odd statement, since that is in no way, shape, or form a free-floating handguard.

outrider627
08-05-10, 18:10
An odd statement, since that is in no way, shape, or form a free-floating handguard.

Actually it is. The handguards attach to this barrel sleeve:
http://www.rockriverarms.com/images/products/nmsleeve.gif

If you look at the 5th pic in the OP, you can see the handguard cap is not attached to the FSB.

danpass
08-05-10, 18:18
An odd statement, since that is in no way, shape, or form a free-floating handguard.

are you the fun one at parties? :p

justin_247
08-05-10, 18:32
Actually it is. The handguards attach to this barrel sleeve:
http://www.rockriverarms.com/images/products/nmsleeve.gif

If you look at the 5th pic in the OP, you can see the handguard cap is not attached to the FSB.

I'll be damned. How many oz does it weigh?

outrider627
08-05-10, 18:39
I'll be damned. How many oz does it weigh?

A quick google search came up with 16oz from Brownells but I'm guessing thats for the complete package they're selling: barrel sleeve, handguard, sling swivel and gas tube.

danpass
08-05-10, 18:48
I'll be damned. How many oz does it weigh?

I'm guessing the 1lb estimate is close, the tube is rather beefy. The handguards themselves weigh nothing in comparison.

If you're thinking of retrofitting the setup to another rifle the only thing I've ever found online about it is the extreme difficulty in doing the retrofit, though I forget the details, something about the whole barrel/receiver/nut mating.

danpass
08-05-10, 18:50
It looks like the handguard retainer just in back of the front sight is cracked.

What are my tired old eyes not seeing correctly?

Mark H

It's as if it got cut into. It was a sliver that I subsequently pulled off and it didn't affect the function.

kwelz
08-05-10, 19:04
I'll be damned. How many oz does it weigh?

The ones I have seen were a bit heavy. But on this kind of rifle shaving weight isn't always a top priority.

sinister
08-05-10, 21:10
You can lighten the free-float tubes. You can also modify the issue KAC M5 rail to go over them. These are on an issue GI barrel and a Rock River.

http://i36.tinypic.com/30agkuw.jpg
http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx319/jayjaypunisher/m5-11.jpg

agr1279
08-05-10, 23:09
Just earned my first 4 points this past M16 EIC match at Camp Perry

Good job. Sure wish that I could have made it this year to shoot with the team (Navy Reserves).

Dan

justin_247
08-06-10, 01:41
are you the fun one at parties? :p

Nah, I just think RRA puts too much money into coming up with useless gadgets all the time instead of improving the quality of their rifles, that's all.

mark5pt56
08-06-10, 02:25
Glad yours was ok, I picked up one of these 3 years or more ago new and it took 7 m's of windage to zero. The front sight was so canted it was a shame. It's something I never thought to look at at the store or even before shooting. I went back to the store and inspected another--guess what--it was obvious on that one also. I ended up fixing it myself(tapped the fsb and did flats on barrel) after RRA thought I was on crack.

I'll never buy their crap again.

110JBP
01-13-11, 07:27
Thanks for the detailed report. Very informative.

Smuckatelli
01-16-11, 18:44
OP, do you still get gas leaks at the FSB? My daughter has been competing with a RRA NMA4 for the past 2 years and there is still gas leaking.

ra2bach
01-16-11, 22:28
An odd statement, since that is in no way, shape, or form a free-floating handguard.

wanna bet a couple mags on that? :cool:

danpass
01-16-11, 23:03
OP, do you still get gas leaks at the FSB? My daughter has been competing with a RRA NMA4 for the past 2 years and there is still gas leaking.
Thru a quirk of warranty work I'm using a second RRA NMA2 upper and they both have gas leaks.

Not much but the carbon is noticeable and builds up.

danpass
01-16-11, 23:09
OK, I see where RRA is having a sale om a couple of their guns. I lik ethe idea od a two stage trigger, is it working OK for you?

Thanks and be safe.

After about 800 rounds the first stage began to hang and the second stage became a hair trigger.

Failed to make weight at an EIC match.

After the tech played with the trigger springs and some cleanup it still failed to make weight and a kind soul allowed me to use their lower for the match that I drive many hours and miles for.

Instead of messing with it I simply put in a Giessele SSA trigger.

agr1279
01-17-11, 07:41
OP, do you still get gas leaks at the FSB? My daughter has been competing with a RRA NMA4 for the past 2 years and there is still gas leaking.

It doesn't affect much other than the look of the front end. If you are that worried about it run some green locktite around it and that will seal it. Usually it seals itself after a while.

Dan

Amicus
01-17-11, 08:27
While I am not a great fan of RRA rifles for "tactical" purposes, I own a RRA DCM rifle (about 10 years old) that is almost identical to the above. Besides the AWB-compliant stuff (mine does not have a compensator or a bayo lug), the only difference is that my rear sight lacks the hood (my flip apertures are the same). Also, the vertical adjustment wheel is slightly different (not GI, but calibrated in sequential numbers: 1, 2, 3, etc.)

The key is only lightly staked, but as a target rifle the rifle is unmatched for me. It shoots about 3/4 MOA at 200 yards (Fed Gold Match ) and is easily the most accurate rifle I have at 200 yards with irons.

justin_247
01-17-11, 10:29
wanna bet a couple mags on that? :cool:

How about you read the rest of the thread before commenting, genius.

m249saw
01-17-11, 12:20
Nice write up none the less.

Suwannee Tim
01-17-11, 18:14
Nah, I just think RRA puts too much money into coming up with useless gadgets all the time instead of improving the quality of their rifles, that's all.

These things are ubiquitous on competition Service Rifles in fact a Service Rifle is not competitive without it. BTW, RR rifles are very common and well respected at Service Rifle matches. Competitors will add lead to the buttstock and the forend to bring the weight up to 15 pounds or so. Seems to me you are clueless about Service Rifles.


How about you read the rest of the thread before commenting, genius.

If you can't dazzle them with your genius then throw in a little gratuitous insult. After all, this is the Internet and they can't get their hands on you so insult away! Ain't the Internet great!!?? Seems to me you don't know anything about genius either, Justin.

justin_247
01-17-11, 18:35
These things are ubiquitous on competition Service Rifles in fact a Service Rifle is not competitive without it. BTW, RR rifles are very common and well respected at Service Rifle matches. Competitors will add lead to the buttstock and the forend to bring the weight up to 15 pounds or so. Seems to me you are clueless about Service Rifles.

Just because it is "common" and "well respected" by some at a bunch of matches means absolutely nothing. Just because there's a plurality does not mean that they are right. There are many times in which the extreme minority are absolutely correct and the vast majority is mind-blowingly and utterly wrong.


If you can't dazzle them with your genius then throw in a little gratuitous insult. After all, this is the Internet and they can't get their hands on you so insult away! Ain't the Internet great!!?? Seems to me you don't know anything about genius either, Justin.

Yes, I am attacking your intellect, and I will not apologize for it. All you had to do was continue reading the thread to see my response, but you saw a single statement and became so emotionally entangled in it that you immediately quoted it and replied. The egg is on your face, not mine. I suggest you become more patient in your ways and take the time to read and learn a little bit before jumping to conclusions. Have a great day!

Suwannee Tim
01-17-11, 19:06
You err Justin. It was ra2bach you insulted, not me! Maybe you should take your own advice and read more closely, maybe take your own advice and don't get so emo. This is a technical forum not a chat room. How 'bout laying off with the personal shit, OK?

justin_247
01-18-11, 04:05
You err Justin. It was ra2bach you insulted, not me! Maybe you should take your own advice and read more closely, maybe take your own advice and don't get so emo. This is a technical forum not a chat room. How 'bout laying off with the personal shit, OK?

LOL! No, it was both of you, silly.

Also, unless you guys want this thread locked, lay off.

danpass
01-18-11, 10:24
some 600 yard results added to op

JDW67
01-18-11, 10:52
In before the RRA haters...:haha:

Smuckatelli
01-18-11, 17:04
After about 800 rounds the first stage began to hang and the second stage became a hair trigger.

Failed to make weight at an EIC match.

After the tech played with the trigger springs and some cleanup it still failed to make weight and a kind soul allowed me to use their lower for the match that I drive many hours and miles for.

Instead of messing with it I simply put in a Giessele SSA trigger.

At Butner, the Marine Armor 'tweaked' my daughters trigger spring, this allowed play in the slave pin. I figured this out before I broke the weapon down....she was impressed. At the same time, she couldn't explain what the Marine did so I jumped on her about allowing someone to modify her rifle without knowing what is being modified. I ended up putting new springs in for Perry.

I'm not worried about the gas leak, just seemed odd that after this amount of time/rounds that it still occurs. She swears by the rifle, her 600 yard line scores are good for a 15/16 year old so I'm good to go with it.

Suwannee Tim
01-18-11, 20:47
LOL! No, it was both of you, silly.

Also, unless you guys want this thread locked, lay off.

You make childish personal remarks and I'm subject to call you out for it. This is how these threads descend into shouting matches. So, like I said, lay off the snarky personal shit.

Sgt_Gold
01-19-11, 21:19
Nice write up. It looks like you are on your way tward earning your distinguished riflemans's badge. One thing you can do to improve your shooting is ditch the canvas USGI sling for a no pulse model.

http://www.jarheadtop.com/Slings.htm

The canvas sling is good, and you can shoot some great scores with it, but the biothane all weather sling won't stretch on you. I noticed that I stopped 'droping' points when I started using the no pulse sling because I took that variable out of the equation.