I would love to hear from some of the people at Rock River Arms.I am going to purchase an AR-15 rifle by the end of this weekend.I have narrowed my choices to Colt,Armalite, and Rock River ARMS.What do you guys feel is the better buy?

I have a Rock River Arms Elite Commando 5" .45 acp that is the most accurate and reliable .45 I have ever shot.  I've been using it in IPSC Limited 10 for about a year.  It is a fanastic, well-made pistol that is still mil-spec for replacement parts if needed.
I just ordered a CAR A2 from them simply because of the quality of their .45 and the personal service I've received every time I've called.
Their web site is also very informative.

Quoted:   I would love to hear from some of the people at Rock River Arms.I am going to purchase an AR-15 rifle by the end of this weekend.I have narrowed my choices to Colt,Armalite, and Rock River ARMS.What do you guys feel is the better buy?

223,
I bought a sripped lower for Ed at GSE for
$110 buck this past fall,for a winter project.  
He had them on sale along with PWA lowers,
the PWA's are not the same quality as the RRA.

The RRA ha a better finish,very few tool marked on the inside of the lower,no sharp edges to cut you fingers on.
all Mil spec parts fit well on it,nice snug fitting to my upper!the best way I can discribe
it is CRAFTSMANSHIP! I would buy from them again.

American Rifleman had a good report on thier DCM model back in January of this year.

You did not state what type of weapon you where
looking for,however if you are looking for a
accurate target model I would suggest Their DCM
model  you can save $250 $$$ off the price and buy the upper and lower seperate.:D
DCM match upper cost is $600.00 match lower $350.00
The complete DCM is $1200.00 bucks.Not Colt,Armalite.DPMS or Bushmaster can give you that.
And I'm not knock any of those company's they are great infact I wish that I had bought a RRA insted of my BM DCM,I paid 1200.00 for it back in 98 and the trigger suck!I had to install A jewel trigger and now she shots great how ever
acorrding to the American Rifleman and what I have herd from poeple at my club the RRA has a
pretty good trigger from the factory. Anyway
Just my 2 cents. Rich  

I've just bought and received from them their standard A2 upper and lower.  Bought them separate to save money.  Didn't get the match trigger this way, but saved mucho bucks just the same. I haven't had a chance to get to the range with it yet, but if it shoots anything like it looks, I want be disappointed.  The fit and finish is just about perfect.  Very tight fit between upper and lower.  Much better than my standard A2 Bushie.  Customer service is great as well.  I'll post a range report when I get a chance to get out that way.  Ron

PWA receivers are some of the best out there IMO, I bought a Colt lower the same time as a PWA.  The PWA beats the Colt on finish, machine and seam marks, and in the mil-spec department.  They are top notch, I have 3 and would'nt trade them for any other mfg out there.  Ed has them on sale for $100 delivered, can't beat that price or quality.
PROTEUS, what sharp edges are you talking about?  I have never had a PWA lower that had any sharp edges, or any other cosmetic flaw for that matter.

Before I bought an AR-15, I checked out all the major brands: Colt, Bushmaster, DPMS, Olympic Arms, etc... and without a doubt I was most impressed with Rock River's uppers and lowers.  The fit is so tight that in fact you don't even need those acuwedges... aka... chevy's patented shimmy fix for they're loose fit problems.  Colt came up with the acuwedges to "tighten" up the loose fitting lower and uppers.  With Rock River, there are no loose fits.. everything is very solid and tight... I even returned my JP tensioning pins since they were not needed.  I was also very pleasently suprised that their standard trigger, although a heavy... aprx. 7lbs, was very crisp and had no play unlike any of the other brands standard triggers.  The customer service was very good.. the people were friendly and patient unlike many of ther other gun manufacturers (ex: Beretta).  Needless to say, I will only buy RRA AR-15's.

PROTEUS, what sharp edges are you talking about?  I have never had a PWA lower that had any sharp edges, or any other cosmetic flaw for that matter.

CIB I'm sorry if I gave the impression that PWA's have sharp edges they don't. all I said is in my opion the RRA's recieves are a little nicer.Infact the PWA and RRA lowers in my opion are better than Colt,OLY and BM.I have looked at
both of the PWA'S and RRA's and I personnely will pay a little more for the RRA's that's all I'm saying. Rich

I have'nt bought any RRA receivers, but if the finish is better than the PWA, it must be something!  How much is a stripped RRA lower going for?  How does the color match up w/ the PWA?
I may have to make a purchase!

How much is a stripped RRA lower going for?  How does the color match up w/ the PWA?
I may have to make a purchase!

CIB,the only difference that I saw in the PWA
and RRA is the very slight color and texture difference IE: the PWA  example  had a very slight greyest/black tinge, when the RRA's finish had  a slightly textures satan black finish it just looked more durable too me.
I don't know if the PWA  had the original finish
or if this was a repaint,but the finish was very
nice and uniform.The RRA finish was the same as the one I have mention above. Ed at GSE sold both examples  at the time for $110.00 bucks.So when I purchased mine I pick the RRA over the PWA.The two example that I looked at where on a table at the Port Jarvous,NY  gunshow last year.
Ed is still has the RRA's for $110.00 and infact I buying one today from him Later
man..Rich

Thanks, I bought another PWA from Ed a month or so ago.

Quoted: Thanks, I bought another PWA from Ed a month or so ago.

CIB I just bought a PWA from Ed
only because the RRA lowers are out of stock and I can't wait for the RRA's to come in.So I got the PWA instead,Hey if you want any more PWA's you better order them realy quick,because he only has a few left and after that there will be no more[>Q] I will email with a link for
fantastic prices on RRA uppers and parts.


         ~Rich~

I finally made it out to the range to try out my new RRA Standard A2.  The only ammo I had available was some of that Russian Wolf stuff.  Even with that I was able to put the first 20 rounds into a three inch circle at 100 yds. off of the bench.  This was right out of the box, and done with absolutely no adjustment to the sights.  It's as if someone sighted it in at 100 yds. before they shipped it to me.  The trigger, although a little heavy (about 7 lbs) was very crisp.  Not bad at all for a standard trigger.  There were no malfunctions of any sort.  As has already been mentioned, the fit between the upper and lower receivers is very tight.  No accu wedges needed here.  The only other rifle I have to compare this one with is my Standard A2 Bushmaster and, although, I like my Bushie, this RRA is, in my opinion, a better rifle in every respect.  Overall, I couldn't be happier with this purchase.  In fact, I'm going to order their matched set of stripped upper and lowers real soon and begin building another one for competition.  Ron

I have a RRA AR15 and I have to agree with almost everyone here that they are probably some of the best AR-15's out there... regardless of price.  The fit and finish were excellent... not acuwedges needed.  The people at Rock River were also very friendly and helpful.  They make first class products at great prices with excellent customer service.  I would not hesitate to buy from them again.. in fact I have 3 more uppers on order from them right now.  I have also reccomended them to many friends of mine and they have been very happy with RRA's products.

John,I see this is your first post,welcome.

Well guys I decided that my first AR is going to be a RRA Limited Edition. I can't wait for it to come in and from reading your posts I am really excited now. Hey I the Junior is close to being gone, lol. Bought the rifle today and will become a member, oh yeah gonna get a beer, lol.

I'm going with the Rock River Arms Limited Edition as well for my very first AR. If these guys are as good as you say hey are, then $660 is an absolute steal!!! Hell...I'll even arrest myself for theft of services (just kiddin')!!!

I own a PWA COMMANDO and I love it.  It is the first and best rifle I have ever used.  The first time I shot it I was surprised in how accurate it was.  I also plan to mount a trijicon scope pretty soon, then it will be super accurate.    Congatulations on whoever owns a commando.

Coleman, welcome, iam very new to this site also.
i have been at other sites that just plainly sucked due to the comets recieved back when being honest with a question, welcome to AR15.com.


.

Spectre pilot....what's the story on your name? My old military days tell me that's a U2/TR-1.

Spectre pilot....what's the story on your name? My old military days tell me that's a U2/TR-1.

Another newbie here...

I had heard from a sales guy at Oly that Rock River lowers were made by Oly Arms. He says that ship them boxes nd boxes of receivers that they work on all the time.

Any truth to this? Anyone know for sure?

RR Comment?

Quoted: Hey if you want any more PWA's you better order them realy quick,because he only has a few left and after that there will be no more[>Q]          ~Rich~

hmm, thats what I heard 3 months ago so I ordered a couple real fast. he must have "gotten a few more in" heh, sell out already!!

The Spectre is the name of the AC-130 series of aircraft (Gunships).
www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/shwv/articles/afgs-faq.htm

ahhh..I remember that one too. yes..the spookies. The project names I was remember  for the U2/Tr1 was Creek Specter, like the RJ-135 was Rivet Joint, EC-130 Compass Call,  etc.

Quoted: Quoted: Hey if you want any more PWA's you better order them realy quick,because he only has a few left and after that there will be no more[>Q]          ~Rich~ hmm, thats what I heard 3 months ago so I ordered a couple real fast. he must have "gotten a few more in" heh, sell out already!!

Take a look at the date on the post you quoted. The PWA's are history, unless more are produced, which is not likely.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Hey if you want any more PWA's you better order them realy quick,because he only has a few left and after that there will be no more[>Q]          ~Rich~ hmm, thats what I heard 3 months ago so I ordered a couple real fast. he must have "gotten a few more in" heh, sell out already!! Take a look at the date on the post you quoted. The PWA's are history, unless more are produced, which is not likely.

Ed, I see your point. I am positive I didnt make that post that a week or two ago, actually I thought that my post was the next one after PROTEUS_X3s'. Maybe somethings screwed up  with the dating software. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

With such glowing endorsements of RRA, I went ahead and ordered a stripped lower.  But I also ordered a pair of buttstock kits.  Being in the same state as RRA probably helps, but the buttstocks that I ordered on Friday 6/08 arrived this morning, 6/11.  They must've thought I really needed them!

============================================================

RRA lower arrived, had an Armalite lower parts kit installed w/o problems, and was then testfired with a Tromix upper.  A good price for a good buy.