I know the RRA 9mm carbine is not a "Colt", but is it a reliable carbine to use in carbine classes? I like the Colt 6450, but would prefer a flat top to mount a T-1. Opinions (mixed with some first hand experience and facts)? ;)
Thanks,
NB
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I know the RRA 9mm carbine is not a "Colt", but is it a reliable carbine to use in carbine classes? I like the Colt 6450, but would prefer a flat top to mount a T-1. Opinions (mixed with some first hand experience and facts)? ;)
Thanks,
NB
photo comparison
you need to check with your potential instructor about the use of the 9mm carbines. I know several instructors that don't allow the 9mm because of reliability problems with them in the past. The biggest weak link, IMHO, is the magazines.
Also if you're looking for a stand-in for a 5.56 in training be mindful of the fact that it's not a 1:1 comparison.
i had a RRA 9mm upper that was very fun to shoot.
as with many 9mm uppers, even those made by the Hartford Horsey, they can be somewhat problematic (=picky) when it comes to various magazines and ammunition.
if you're using if for home defense (this setup is ideal IMO if you can get it to work 100% reliably), make sure you've tested, with repeatable results, the magazine block, magazine and ammo combination that works as close to 100% as you can.
another note ... the blowback design makes the 9mm very very very dirty. keep it clean and wet.
Rob, you should do a new comparison with the newer RRA guns. They have made a number of improvements. Mine has the correct hammer, a lower made specifically to accept 9mm Magazines, and a few other improvements.
I am not saying it is as good as a colt in every way but they have made some nice improvements.
Here my 0.02.
I build my own - I acquired complete 10.5" RRA upper and build it for my Stag stripped lower using Stag LPK except the hammer (I used RRA 9mm) and Hahn mag adaptor.
The gun is reliable until
a) it gets dirty - about 300-500 rounds using my reloads (Win 231 which is a bit dirty powder)
b) I use C-products mags. The 20 round mags are especially problematic as they feed fine until last round that sits too low for the carrier to strip it resulting in bolt locking on empty chamber.:rolleyes:
Colt pre-ban mags work extremely well as well as the Pro-mags to my surprise.
Its very accurate up to 50 years - that is as far as I shot it - well I shot at steel gong at 200 yards and I was able to score a hit 50% of the time. :o
I'm going to ramp the bolt and install M16 hammer.
Paul
You were clear I was not.
Essentially I was saying I would like to see a comparison from an expert of the current RRA Carbine to the Colt. I know the game is slightly different than with 5.56 guns. I ended up getting the RRA for a number of reasons. The main being availability followed buy the fact it is an A4 as opposed to an 1 style upper. I am curious as to how bad of a choice that was LOL.
I gotcha. If I got my hands on a current-production factory RRA gun I would work it in. I know that my examples are a bit of an apples:oranges, but I also posted it more as a "lessons learned" kind of thing in terms of what I think I've learned about the 9mm AR and how I'd do things differently today.
based on my (uninformed) recollection, the fit and finish of my last RRA 9mm upper was pretty darn good. i had a crappy block (don't exactly recall which one) and pro-mag waffle 32 rders.
if i had to do it over again, i'd get a 9mm with a dedicated 9mm lower so i wouldn't have to put up with the magwell block. and i would get a metric ass-ton of colt mags.
then again, for all the trouble you go to ... to set up a 9mm carbine ... i might just hold out for a decent MP5/HK94 clone (Professional Arms looks promising), although I like the AR ergos a lot better.
Yeah I think all current production RRA 9mm come with the dedicated lower. It is nice but of course means you can not move the block if your lower becomes damaged. Also both the RRA guns I have had come with UZI mags not the cheap plastic ones.
I have about 750 rounds through this one so far and the only problem I have had so far was some hollow point allow that made it into the Surplus junk I was shooting. It fed but the POI was WAY off because the nose of the round gets so badly deformed.
I know this probably isn't much help but I took some similar photos of my RRA 9mm to what you had on your thread.
You can see the hits and misses they made. The most obvious Miss is the Staking job but how important is that in a 9mm?
http://homepage.mac.com/kwelz/.Pictures/9mm1.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/kwelz/.Pictures/9mm2.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/kwelz/.Pictures/9mm3.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/kwelz/.Pictures/9mm4.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/kwelz/.Pictures/9mm5.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/kwelz/.Pictures/9mm6.jpg