Midlength Rock River carbine (AR15) pics

Zak Smith · September 7, 2004, 11:39 PM

I recently got this Rock River carbine together. It's based on a RRA 16" stainless 1:8" twist upper, with a mid-length gas system and handguards I had a local gunsmith turn down the barrel profile (from about 0.9" under the handguards to around 0.75") to reduce weight. He also bead-blasted the finish.

Rear BUIS is the ARMS #40-A2. Optic is the Aimpoint M2 on a Knights cantilever mount. Trigger group is a JP single-stage 4#. Stock is a Magpul M93A.

[ link to larger image ]

natedog · September 8, 2004, 08:50 PM

Very cool. What's the unloaded weight? Any plans to blacken the barrel?

Zak Smith · September 8, 2004, 08:57 PM

No idea on the weight. My bathroom scale isn't cooperating today. It's going to be a little heavier than an M4.

I might haul off and paint the barrel the next time I'm on an Aluma-Hyde II spree:

Brian Williams · September 17, 2004, 09:08 AM

Zak where did you obtain your mid length barrel and handguards???

nssa4914 · September 17, 2004, 10:09 AM

I'm stuck betweeen the RRA Elite CAR A4, and Bushmasters version. Both are within a few dollars of each but you get a better trigger with the RRA, any suggestions?

Zak Smith · September 17, 2004, 11:36 AM

The upper is more or less a "stock" Rock River 16" midlength stainless. The only difference between that one a one off the shelf is that I had a local gunsmith turn down the barrel profile under the handguards.

-z

CopeLC · September 17, 2004, 06:27 PM

That's a fine looking weapon. I've been eyeballing RRA for a long time to get one of their AR's. I cannot decide on whether or not to get the CAR length handguards or the Mid length ones.

I am up in arms, so to speak, about deciding upon the Tactical CAR A4 and the Elite CAR A4. The Tac A4 has CAR length handguards and the Elite has the mid length ones. Does anyone have any experience mounting a bayonet on either of those models? It looks like one won't mount on the CAR length handguard model because the lug may be too far toward the magwell.

Also, Zak...can you explain that badarse looking stock you have?

Zak Smith · September 17, 2004, 06:43 PM

I think a bayonet will fit on an M4, or a 16" with mid-length handguards.

The stock is a Magpul M93.

Zak Smith · September 17, 2004, 07:01 PM

Oh, and by the way, there are significant advantages of the mid-length gas system over carbine.

OBIWAN · September 27, 2004, 08:43 AM

Nice!

Mind sharing the name of that "local" gunsmith

Always looking for talented people to take my Money!

Thanks,

Bill

witmen · September 27, 2004, 10:03 AM

very nice AR you have there

TheStrasbourgGoat · September 27, 2004, 10:49 AM

Zak,

Could you discuss the advantages of the mid-length gas system over the carbine-length?

I'm considering putting one of these guys together and trying to determine what practical differences exist between CAR style uppers and M4 style uppers. Thanks.

Zak Smith · September 27, 2004, 10:58 AM

TSG-

In general, the longer the gas system (up to rifle length at least), the more mild the gas impulse will be, the more reliable the rifle will be, and the less the gun will move during recoil.

For barrels 17" and longer, it's best to go with a rifle gas system.
16" ought to use mid.
I don't know if 14.5" can use mid or not.

-z

Zak Smith · July 7, 2005, 11:37 AM

Recently replaced the regular handguard with a Larue 9.0

[ link to LARGER image ]

Wildalaska · July 7, 2005, 01:36 PM

Zak what do you think about the magpul stocks, any details info? Thinkin of tossin one on my Bushy or even on one of the big pile of 6920s I got in, one of which gets stashed for you know who

WildarseverywhereAlaska

Zak Smith · July 7, 2005, 02:25 PM

I highly recommend the Magpul stock. Check out my other thread for pics of the M93B model.

Onslaught · July 7, 2005, 02:36 PM

If I may, I have a RRA mid-length barrel that I had turned down to .850 and fluted. The bbl weighs 35.1 ounces. According to the Maryland AR15 Shooter's site, a mid-length barrel turned to .750 should weigh approximately 34 ounces.

My rifle, with a DD 9.0 forend, CavArms C1 stock, and a TA01 weighs approximately 7.5 pounds...

Using the Maryland AR15 Shooter's site weight table, Zak's rifle may weigh just under 8 pounds (7.91) with optic and mount. (I had to guess on the KAC mount as it's not listed).

I REALLY like mine. I don't have a camera, but if I did, I wouldn't post my crappy pics in a thread with Zak's excellent photos anyway

Quote:

I am up in arms, so to speak, about deciding upon the Tactical CAR A4 and the Elite CAR A4. The Tac A4 has CAR length handguards and the Elite has the mid length ones. Does anyone have any experience mounting a bayonet on either of those models? It looks like one won't mount on the CAR length handguard model because the lug may be too far toward the magwell.

Get the Elite! I could care less personally about mounting a bayonet, but I can tell you that a 16" carbine (RRA barrels don't come shorter than 16" for Civvies) will not mount a bayonet, but a 16" mid-length will.

14.5" - Carbine
16" - Mid
18+ - Rifle

And it looks SOOO much better to boot!

226 · July 7, 2005, 08:47 PM

Zak, Hey, you got a Larue QD AP mount and Troy BUIS. That's exactly what I'm getting for my 6920, along with an AP CompM2 4 MOA. Good choices.

September 7, 2004, 11:39 PM	#1
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	Midlength Rock River carbine (AR15) pics I recently got this Rock River carbine together. It's based on a RRA 16" stainless 1:8" twist upper, with a mid-length gas system and handguards I had a local gunsmith turn down the barrel profile (from about 0.9" under the handguards to around 0.75") to reduce weight. He also bead-blasted the finish. Rear BUIS is the ARMS #40-A2. Optic is the Aimpoint M2 on a Knights cantilever mount. Trigger group is a JP single-stage 4#. Stock is a Magpul M93A. [ link to larger image ] [ link to larger image ] [ link to larger image ] __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

September 8, 2004, 08:57 PM	#3
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	No idea on the weight. My bathroom scale isn't cooperating today. It's going to be a little heavier than an M4. I might haul off and paint the barrel the next time I'm on an Aluma-Hyde II spree: __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

September 17, 2004, 11:36 AM	#6
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	The upper is more or less a "stock" Rock River 16" midlength stainless. The only difference between that one a one off the shelf is that I had a local gunsmith turn down the barrel profile under the handguards. -z __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

September 17, 2004, 06:27 PM	#7
CopeLC Member Join Date: June 25, 2004 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 95	That's a fine looking weapon. I've been eyeballing RRA for a long time to get one of their AR's. I cannot decide on whether or not to get the CAR length handguards or the Mid length ones. I am up in arms, so to speak, about deciding upon the Tactical CAR A4 and the Elite CAR A4. The Tac A4 has CAR length handguards and the Elite has the mid length ones. Does anyone have any experience mounting a bayonet on either of those models? It looks like one won't mount on the CAR length handguard model because the lug may be too far toward the magwell. Also, Zak...can you explain that badarse looking stock you have? __________________ [1]Kimber Custom II Pkzd [2]Kimber .22LR Target Conversion Kit [3]Kimber Ultra Compact Pkzd [4]SA XD45ACP 4" Service Model Pkzd [5]SA XD9 4" Service Model Pkzd [6]Sig P229 9x19 Pkzd [7]Vector Underfolder 7.62x39mm [8]RRA Elite CAR A4 / Surefire M85 / ARMS #40L / IOR M2 / Specter SOP w/TRB and ERB [9]RRA CAR A4 / YHM Quad Rail FF / Aimpoint CompML2 / ARMS #40 / Surefire M951C / Specter SOP w/TRB and ERB

September 17, 2004, 06:43 PM	#8
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	I think a bayonet will fit on an M4, or a 16" with mid-length handguards. The stock is a Magpul M93. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

September 8, 2004, 08:50 PM	#2
natedog Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 105	Very cool. What's the unloaded weight? Any plans to blacken the barrel?

September 17, 2004, 09:08 AM	#4
Brian Williams Senior Member Join Date: September 4, 2001 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 1,288	Zak where did you obtain your mid length barrel and handguards??? __________________ Brian <><

September 17, 2004, 10:09 AM	#5
nssa4914 Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 162	I'm stuck betweeen the RRA Elite CAR A4, and Bushmasters version. Both are within a few dollars of each but you get a better trigger with the RRA, any suggestions?

September 17, 2004, 07:01 PM	#9
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	Oh, and by the way, there are significant advantages of the mid-length gas system over carbine. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

September 27, 2004, 08:43 AM	#10
OBIWAN Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 1999 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,340	Nice! Mind sharing the name of that "local" gunsmith Always looking for talented people to take my Money! Thanks, Bill

September 27, 2004, 10:03 AM	#11
witmen Member Join Date: September 9, 2004 Location: INDIANA Posts: 24	very nice AR you have there

September 27, 2004, 10:49 AM	#12
TheStrasbourgGoat Junior Member Join Date: May 20, 2004 Posts: 11	Zak, Could you discuss the advantages of the mid-length gas system over the carbine-length? I'm considering putting one of these guys together and trying to determine what practical differences exist between CAR style uppers and M4 style uppers. Thanks.

September 27, 2004, 10:58 AM	#13
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	TSG- In general, the longer the gas system (up to rifle length at least), the more mild the gas impulse will be, the more reliable the rifle will be, and the less the gun will move during recoil. For barrels 17" and longer, it's best to go with a rifle gas system. 16" ought to use mid. I don't know if 14.5" can use mid or not. -z __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

July 7, 2005, 11:37 AM	#14
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	Recently replaced the regular handguard with a Larue 9.0 [ link to LARGER image ] __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

July 7, 2005, 01:36 PM	#15
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	Zak what do you think about the magpul stocks, any details info? Thinkin of tossin one on my Bushy or even on one of the big pile of 6920s I got in, one of which gets stashed for you know who WildarseverywhereAlaska

July 7, 2005, 02:25 PM	#16
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	I highly recommend the Magpul stock. Check out my other thread for pics of the M93B model. __________________ Zak Smith . DEMIGOD LLC . THUNDER BEAST ARMS CORP . COLORADO MULTI-GUN *My PM inbox full? Send e-mail instead.*

July 7, 2005, 08:47 PM	#18
226 Member Join Date: May 7, 2005 Location: USA Posts: 99	Zak, Hey, you got a Larue QD AP mount and Troy BUIS. That's exactly what I'm getting for my 6920, along with an AP CompM2 4 MOA. Good choices.