Comparing my RRA

[Dietz]

Yes this is true...

As for RRA from the variances i have seen they seem to not follow the TDP, but all manufactures have there own standards that they adhere too. Other issues that come to mind is i would not see the gas key staked very well and would have to be re-staked after 10,000 or 15,000 rds for example.keep in mind though that many failures i have seen are due to the armorer not keeping up with parts replacement specified in there armorers manual.

The one website that makes me laugh is M4carbine.net at times because they follow what ever Colt's employees say and yet i would say most manufactures have gone beyond the milspec standard in many regards.

I was not impressed with Colt's line of rifles at many times, and i find a lot of die harder mentality push's there product. I would choose KAC,LMT,POF,DD, hell even spikes as well before Colt USA. I have seen several Colts have catastrophic failures, they were older model from early 2000's due to quality control and not meeting there own standard. They do make a good rifle but have shown little innovation as of late in that company..

All in all, I would choose KAC every-time for the most part, due to the fact there customer service is stellar and there is a lot of work put in there guns.

Do you really want to be taken seriously? A lot of people on that forum have forgotten more about the AR-15 than people here will ever know. What they say about some AR-15 mfgs is based on what they repeatedly experience during classes, and trust me they go through A LOT. It's normal if most canadian AR-15 owners don't know s**t about parts failure, or just plain and simple quality, our f**king mags are pinned to 5 rounds and most shoot less than 200 rounds a year. THEY shoot thousands of rounds in a matter of days, out of 30 round mags, all day long. That's why they know what they know and say what they say.

Some mfgs produce an AR-15 that repeatedly fails during classes, and some produce one that NEVER fails. That's where the difference is.

 

[Leibermuster]

Do you really want to be taken seriously? A lot of people on that forum have forgotten more about the AR-15 than people here will ever know. What they say about some AR-15 mfgs is based on what they repeatedly experience during classes, and trust me they go through A LOT. It's normal if most canadian AR-15 owners don't know s**t about parts failure, or just plain and simple quality, our f**king mags are pinned to 5 rounds and most shoot less than 200 rounds a year. THEY shoot thousands of rounds in a matter of days, out of 30 round mags, all day long. That's why they know what they know and say what they say.

Some mfgs produce an AR-15 that repeatedly fails during classes, and some produce one that NEVER fails. That's where the difference is.

For a lot foul language you say very little if anything of substance in that post. I feel like I'm arguing with a teenager..

Who is they...

An unknown person on the internet,

Besides LAV and Hackathorn and tigerswan, Jason Fella, they rarely post anyways.

Sorry Dietz, but for the average shooter they will never shoot a high enough rd count to test there safe-queens to the limits regardless. Also considering how many post some of those guys have and the time they put on the internet i highly doubt many of them are shooting there rifles to properly push them to there limits.

I have noticed and obvious pattern of certain brands only being mentioned there, some of these brands i use my self, but i don't see how Colt USA gets to carry the torch on there as something special. Colt "Canada" has something worth buying for the price, to bad we cannot own one of there rifles. Keep in mind there are many great option in Canada that i already previously mentioned.

Also keep in mind just because we are limited to 5rd and 10rd(LAR) mags...thought you should know that Dietz, there are a lot of current serving and Mil/Leo on this forum that have got to test there guns out when bringing them in for work at times. There are a lot of people on this forum that can utilize there AR to find out these differences them selves.

Were not in the stone ages up here in Canada...

 

[Dietz]

It's not because someone shoots very little with his DPMS and doesn't experience any malfunctions that it suddenly is a top tier, high quality AR-15, that's what I'm saying.

RRA is kinda in between. I assembled one of their stripped lowers with their LPK (probably from CMT)and I, along with those "unknown Internet people with too much posts to be able to run their guns", have nothing wrong to say about it apart from some take-down pin holes that sometimes are too tight, but I wouldn't run an RRA upper, I have an LMT.

 

[Boomer686]

Just lock the thread please!!!!!

Do you really want to be taken seriously? A lot of people on that forum have forgotten more about the AR-15 than people here will ever know. What they say about some AR-15 mfgs is based on what they repeatedly experience during classes, and trust me they go through A LOT......

I think it is you who should reconsider his words if he wants to be taken seriously. With your 50 posts and less than a month here on CGN you assume we are nobodys with little or no experience let alone those of us that HAVE had extensive training and to allude to your statement "professional" experience and in fact know what we know because we send "more than 200 rounds a year down range". Some of us here even went on after the MIL / LE careers to work in private security abroad, yeah you know... the type of security that gets you killed if you don't know your sh*t and yes the type that means not all of them come home at the end of the contract. Some of them even moved on to work for major firearm manufacturers. Can you believe that??? A lowley Canadian actually working for guys who make "top tier" AR 's and accessories for them!

We attend courses and clases both thru our profession and on our own dime as well. When is the last time you put 750+ rounds a day down your AR barrel during any type of course that was professionally run or certified by Mil/LE agencies? Believe it or not some of us backwoods Canadians even travelled thousands of kilometers and even abroad to attend training, just imagine!!! Probably not as impressive as posting (or should I say posing) on AR forums but hey.....

So before you go pegging us as rookies who nothing about the AR platform your best bet is to read A LOT more and do some research of your own then get out of your armchair and actually get some life experince. Oh by the way you'll be shocked to know that on some courses I participated in on my own time I used an Armalite and on others I used a RRA and based on your "standards" they must be top tier because neither of them failed.

So based on my actual AR platform experience yeah sure RRA is good to go. You can spend a lot more cash on "top tier" models but if you are a recreational shooter I stand by my opinion, based on my personal experience, that you will enjoy a lifetime of problem free shooting with any of the RRA models or Armalites or Bushmasters or Stags or Colts or....

Regards,

 

[Kayser Sose]

Norinco CQB for the win...?

 

[Boomer686]

Norinco CQB for the win...?

I am more likely to buy one than listen to any more of this "top tier" BS!!!!

Regards,

 

[Clobbersauras]

This thread is getting a little ridiculous.

Top end rifles like LMT and Daniel Defense and many others will generally run longer and with less malfunctions than others because they take the time to build them to the proper specs. They use the right methods and materials and have systems in place to check their work for problems.

Other bands take their QC or use of components less seriously. Generally this is where the price difference lies.

I'm sure your RRA is good to go. I'm sure it will give you lots of years of trouble free shooting. But you started a thread asking if it is good as other brands, and I'm sorry to say that the general consensus is "no" it's not as good as some other brands. You might want to have some spare parts on hand in case of failure, but this is true for any rifle system.

Shoot it, break it, repair it, repeat.

Take my rifle for instance. It's has a Bushmaster lower and a Model 1 Sales upper. I've gone through it thoroughly and know to watch for some potential problems. Here's a pic of the staking of the carrier key:

^^^This is a common problem area for AR's. If not properly staked it may come lose and cause the rifle to malfunction. This one isn't properly staked. It's probably adequately staked for most uses, but It's not a "proper" stake job. This is what it should look like....

I posted these pics to illustrate my point. Lower end brands tend to do things adequately (sometimes poorly), like my carrier key. Upper end brands do things properly, like Colt, but it takes more time....and usually costs more money.

 

[smak_daddy]

I have a 20" RRA (non free floated barrel) 1/9" that shoots under 1 MOA at 100 meters and just under 4" at 300 meters with my reloads and a 4x ACOG.

No failures of any kind after about 4000 rounds.

Whats not to like?

RRA's are great and I've owned them all (Colt, LMT, Stag, Armalite, etc...)

 

[Clobbersauras]

^^^My rifle shoots well too. No failures of any kind.....yet. But this doesn't mean it can be compared to LMT or DD or Noveske, or any of the other well respected brands. In high school I had an 88 Pontiac firefly that wouldn't quit. It just ran and ran and ran, but it wasn't a "good" car, nor would it ever be.

 

[smak_daddy]

^^^My rifle shoots well too. No failures of any kind.....yet. But this doesn't mean it can be compared to LMT or DD or Noveske, or any of the other well respected brands. In high school I had an 88 Pontiac firefly that wouldn't quit. It just ran and ran and ran, but it wasn't a "good" car, nor would it ever be.

Well LMT has better QC, but is it really required for your average AR shooter? If your shooting full auto, you bet. 130 shots at the service rifle match? Not so much.

I've been around the platform for over 20 years and I've owned them all. I can find nothing wrong with my current RRA. I don't feel undergunned or out classed in any way by the guy beside me with a Noveske.

I guess I'm nuts.

 

[smak_daddy]

^^^My rifle shoots well too. No failures of any kind.....yet. But this doesn't mean it can be compared to LMT or DD or Noveske, or any of the other well respected brands. In high school I had an 88 Pontiac firefly that wouldn't quit. It just ran and ran and ran, but it wasn't a "good" car, nor would it ever be.

If you want to use the car argument, lets be honest about it. The RRA would be a mustang with cast pistons, steel heads and 28 spline rear axle.

The LMT would be the same mustang with forged pistons, the same heads except in aluminum and 31 spline rear axle.

The both run the quarter mile about the same, the LMT may have a slight edge because it's heads are slightly lighter. The forged pistons and 31 spline axle are slightly stronger and can take more punishment.

They are still the same car for almost all intensive purposes. Will your average hot rodder lose sleep over these differences? Not really.

Will your average AR owner be at any real disadvantage shooting semi auto at the range once a week with an RRA vs an LMT? No. I'm living walking proof of that. Like I said I've owned them all and feel I'm giving up nothing shooting my RRA.

Throw full auto into the mix and thats where your teir 1 platforms will pull away.

 

[Clobbersauras]

I'm glad you like you're RRA. Really, I am. I'm happy with my bushy hybrid too. But that is not what the OP asked in his original post.

 

[Alfonso]

Thanks

Ok, Let's end this thread. I didn't want it to be an argument and go this deep. Many of you simply stated yes this is a good rifle and is equal in many ways it's
brethren: Bushy, etc. No more insults please. We are all adults (I hope) and Canadian's and should all play nicely in the sandbox. My only objective with this this rifle is to shoot Service Rifle and have some fun. I'm not planning on joining Delta, or the Seals or any special ops for that matter.

Thank you! Merci!

 

[Amazingkg3]

THIS THREAD EQUALS

There are some real experts on here, with the use I've had with AR's, you run them, they break from time to time, you repair them, and get back to work. I think more people equate reliability with "How much do I have to invest after I buy this gun to make still work,"

 

[TDC]

This thread is getting a little ridiculous.

Top end rifles like LMT and Daniel Defense and many others will generally run longer and with less malfunctions than others because they take the time to build them to the proper specs. They use the right methods and materials and have systems in place to check their work for problems.

Other bands take their QC or use of components less seriously. Generally this is where the price difference lies.

I'm sure your RRA is good to go. I'm sure it will give you lots of years of trouble free shooting. But you started a thread asking if it is good as other brands, and I'm sorry to say that the general consensus is "no" it's not as good as some other brands. You might want to have some spare parts on hand in case of failure, but this is true for any rifle system.

Shoot it, break it, repair it, repeat.

Take my rifle for instance. It's has a Bushmaster lower and a Model 1 Sales upper. I've gone through it thoroughly and know to watch for some potential problems. Here's a pic of the staking of the carrier key:

^^^This is a common problem area for AR's. If not properly staked it may come lose and cause the rifle to malfunction. This one isn't properly staked. It's probably adequately staked for most uses, but It's not a "proper" stake job. This is what it should look like....

I posted these pics to illustrate my point. Lower end brands tend to do things adequately (sometimes poorly), like my carrier key. Upper end brands do things properly, like Colt, but it takes more time....and usually costs more money.

You make a good point regarding the staking of gas keys. However, such inadequacies are trivial. Regardless of brand you should always thoroughly inspect any new firearm for defects and proper assembly. A poorly staked gas key(or castle nut) can be corrected by the owner. That being said, it is nice to purchase a product where such issues have already been taken care of.

TDC

 

[swbw2000]

Can't let this pissing match die yet. It's to much fun. Dug up some old coments from KevinB(hope you don't mind Kev)

BM is generally a 2nd or 3rd Tier AR, due to the way they batch test parts and some of their materials.

I have had BM's -- some ran great, some where lemons.

Don't buy a piston AR -- just trust me on this... IF you want a piston gun, buy a G36, Sig55X series (but not a 552), an Ak, FN FAL, FN SCAR, or even a fricken M14

IF I was going to buy a AR I would buy one of the following.
In no particular Order
KAC (I get pretty good pricing )
LMT
Bravo Co.
Colt
Noveske
Larue
Daniel Defense
Stag

I've got no experience with Cdn made AR's other than Dlask (which since my mother told me not to say unpleasant things I won't comment on that).

 

[Leibermuster]

If you have an older AR that is not up to the standard, just replace the parts as you go and it will be there. OST has DD BCG's for sale, right to spec, buy that, keep the extra BCG as a backup if it's not pooched already..

I swapped out every part on my shrubmaster that was not up to spec, I also did this for ####s and giggles, she's on the level now, I can use her as a backup or my first choice. If you already have the rifle may as well just swap out a few parts and bring her into spec, get at the key parts first though, that will depend on what was done to the TDP and what wasn't. You don't have to rush to do this either..

 

[swbw2000]

Leib. stop using common sense. It has no place in a pissing contest.

 

[nza]

I'm glad I don't lose sleep over any of this. Between the various makes of AR's I shoot, I've neer had a parts-related malfunction. Ever. Only magazine-related, or user-error after a detailed complete strip.

Seriously, dude, don't bother with the comparison about what is better. If you need to compare, I'd think you'd probably should look into who has the better access to warranty and bits and pieces.

Reusing that car analogy again...
A Honda Accord will never be a BMW 5 series, but if you keep to the maintenance, and do little performance tweaks here and there, you can probably get some pretty good performance at a fraction of what a Bimmer 5 series will cost you...and for you civvies...Considering you're only limited to driving up and down your drive way anyway.