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Rifles

Rock River Arms LAR-15 Elite Comp: A Top Notch AR-15 Variant With Some Great Features Out Of The Box

Rock River Arms has introduced a new AR-15 variant: the LAR-15 Elite Comp. Guaranteed to shoot 1.5″ MOA, the Elite Comp features a number of very nice features, typically seen only on nicely upgraded AR rifles.

Chambered in 5.56 NATO (.223 Remington), the LAR-15 Elite Comp has a forged A4 upper with a 16″ chrome-lined barrel with a 1:9″ twist. The threaded barrel features an RRA Tactical Muzzle Brake standard.

Sighting is handled by the combination of a flip front sight gas block assembly and a PADS flip rear sight.

The trigger is a two-stage match trigger in a winter trigger guard. The front end features an RRA half-quad, free-float mid-length rail system. The pistol grip is an Ergo SureGrip.

The buttstock is my favorite: the Magpul CTR stock. The Magpul is fully adjustable, feels very good when the rifle is mounted and is designed in such a way as to prevent any inadvertent adjustment of the length.

I currently have a LAR-15 from Rock River Arms that I bought before they announced the Elite Comp. On my LAR-15, I installed the Magpul buttstock, the front flip-up sight/gas block, rear flip-up sight, and the SureGrip. All totaled, I paid more than what Rock River is asking for the Elite Comp.  So, I think the rifle package is a very good deal.  Also, my Rock River has run pretty well.  I don’t know who makes the “best” AR-15, but these Rock River rifles seem to be well built.

The LAR-15 Elite Comp ships with only one magazine. I would expect at least two magazines at this price point, but fortunately, new magazines are relatively inexpensive.  You can pick up Magpul PMAGs for less than $15 for example.

MSRP is listed at $1470, and advertised prices start very close to this number. Dealers are accepting orders now, and the Elite Comp is due to ship in the third quarter of 2008.

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Rifles

Smith and Wesson M&P15R: 5.45×39 Rifle and Upper

The new Smith and Wesson M&P15R is a rifle chambered in 5.45×39.  S&W developed this new AR variant due to the rising costs of .223/5.56 NATO ammunition.  The 5.45×39 cartridge was developed for the AK-74 rifle in the early 1970s.  Few guns in made the United States are chambered for it, and consequently, surplus ammo is comparatively cheap.  The 5.45×39 is not interchangeable with the 5.56×45 NATO (or .223 Remington) cartridge which is the standard cartridge AR-15 platform rifles.

Smith and Wesson M&P15R

The M&P15R features a chrome-lined 16″ barrel with a 1:8″ twist, M4 style post front sight, and a six-position collapsible stock. The rifle comes with one 30-round magazine.

A “mil-spec” upper is also available for people who already own an AR, but would like to shoot 5.45×39. The upper comes with a 30-round magazine and a bolt carrier assembly and should drop right onto any mil-spec AR lower.

The M&P15R has a suggested retail price of $1146.00 and the upper alone has an MSRP of $751.00.  Street prices should be significantly less.

Categories
Rifles

Ruger M77 Hawkeye Rifles in .300 and .338 RCM

In 2008, Sturm, Ruger & Co. introduced two new M77 Hawkeye “extreme hunting rifles” using cartridges developed by Hornady. These rifles were offered in .300 RCM and .338 RCM.

While the guns are no longer built or sold by Ruger, they are an interesting part of the company’s history. If you have one of these great rifles or are looking at buying one from a friend, this article might be of interest.