A review of the Rock River Arms National Match A2 AR-15 (RRA NM A2, NMA2)

General Firearms Precision Rifle - Semi-Auto
1

since it doesn’t fit in the precision rifle section … :slight_smile:

Range Report: Rock River Arms NM A2 rifle

A review of the Rock River Arms National Match A2 AR-15 (RRA NM A2, NMA2) rifle that’s longer than three sentences.

Summary:

I earned my Rifleman badge in mid January with this rifle, brand new, out of the box. Centered, the windage was right on. A few twists down on the front sight and she was zeroed for 25m (Appleseed standard range distance).

Fantastic rifle. No play in the receivers. Included with the package is one NHMTG 20-rnd Al magazine (made 3-09), owner’s manual, empty chamber indicator (pretty short chamber nub though) and a really nice plastic carry case (see pics) though it requires you to separate the upper and lower (and its blue lol. I might actually paint it or perhaps better yet, RitDye it).

Ordered Dec 1, 2009, delivered to my FFL Jan 6, 2010. According to RRA the ship date (“born-on-date”) was 12-21-09. Ordered from Mudcat on USRifleteams.com.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Rock River Arms
Barrel: Wilson air gauged stainless steel, 20in, Wylde chamber (.223/5.56), 1/8 twist rate, A2 flash hider, A2 integral front post sight/gas block.
Handguard: RRA free float handguard
Trigger: RRA NM 2-stage trigger.
Front Post: 0.050
Rear sight: NM 1/4x1/4, .030 hooded aperture in fixed upper handle receiver.
Standard A2 pistol grip and A2 buttstock, utilizing GI canvas sling

I used Federal 223 bulk pack (BP223BL) for the Appleseed event, fairly clean burning ammo and sufficiently accurate (at 25m anyway lol )

Closest data http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/rifle.aspx?id=5


My Best standing group:

Best overall group:

600yd results

2

OK, I see where RRA is having a sale om a couple of their guns. I lik ethe idea od a two stage trigger, is it working OK for you?

Thanks and be safe.

3

2-stage working out great :smiley:

4

Very cool. I’ve been interested in trying to make it to an Appleseed shoot. Congrats on the Rifleman badge. Your pics are wreaking havoc on my checkbook.

5

Congrats on you purchase. You should get rid of that Bulk Pack ammo and get some match stuff. Now that you have your rifleman patch start workng for your badge and shoot some E.i.C. matches. Mudcat will set you straight.

Dan

6

It looks like the handguard retainer just in back of the front sight is cracked.

What are my tired old eyes not seeing correctly?

Mark H

7

Ahh, I see that they are still machining in feedramp cuts AFTER anodizing and staking their gas key poorly (also looks like the gas key screws are either under sized or the holes in the gas key are too big).

Enjoy your RRA!

C4

8

Thanks for posting this. Always handy to have these references for others.

9

Agree.

C4

10

Just earned my first 4 points this past M16 EIC match at Camp Perry

11

An odd statement, since that is in no way, shape, or form a free-floating handguard.

12

Actually it is. The handguards attach to this barrel sleeve:

If you look at the 5th pic in the OP, you can see the handguard cap is not attached to the FSB.

13

are you the fun one at parties? :stuck_out_tongue:

14

I’ll be damned. How many oz does it weigh?

15

A quick google search came up with 16oz from Brownells but I’m guessing thats for the complete package they’re selling: barrel sleeve, handguard, sling swivel and gas tube.

16

I’m guessing the 1lb estimate is close, the tube is rather beefy. The handguards themselves weigh nothing in comparison.

If you’re thinking of retrofitting the setup to another rifle the only thing I’ve ever found online about it is the extreme difficulty in doing the retrofit, though I forget the details, something about the whole barrel/receiver/nut mating.

17

It’s as if it got cut into. It was a sliver that I subsequently pulled off and it didn’t affect the function.

18

The ones I have seen were a bit heavy. But on this kind of rifle shaving weight isn’t always a top priority.

19

You can lighten the free-float tubes. You can also modify the issue KAC M5 rail to go over them. These are on an issue GI barrel and a Rock River.


20

Good job. Sure wish that I could have made it this year to shoot with the team (Navy Reserves).

Dan