I know how poeple feel about RRA on this site so I won’t dwell on this. Other than replacing the BCG (or getting the key staked properly), getting the castle nut staked properly, changing out the buffer, what else would be needed and worthwhile?? Is the barrel no good?? What about the LPK?? The reason I ask is because I am wondering if it would be cheaper to upgrade or is the rifle not worth dealing with because it really is ALL bad???
Bolt, barrel, Reciever extension.
The dremeled feed ramps into the uppers and barrel extensions are a deal breaker for me. Proprietary Bubba-Gun crap.:fie:
I would sell the upper and get a BCM.
I would also replace their loc-tite’ed receiver extension/buffer tube for a LMT Milspec diameter tube and a properly staked castle nut.
I would suggest getting a BCM but keep the RRA as a loaner/beater/plinker rifle that you not cry about getting the crap beat out of it. If you need the money to upgrade then unload it. I have a few RRA’s but they are not a go to gun. They are a give to gun.
Thank you for the replies. One of you suggested a fairly involved overhaul, which due to me not trusting my mechanical abilities, will not happen. However, the “ditch the RRA upper and get a BCM” route sounds good, especially if it is a midlength. This is why I come on this site, plenty to learn about! Thanks again.
Hmmmm, who would buy my upper?? Is there a market for unwanted lower tier stuff? Just asking is all.
People buy crap all the time. It won’t move well here but TOS will gobble it up.
You could try posting it on the EE here.
I’d take it to a gun show, those things are full of idiots who don’t know any better. Last year I sold a Maverick 88 within minutes of walking in the door, then a BM upper within an hour or so.
Ok, I will try to sell it as is and see what happens. Anyone feel gulity of selling knowing what you “know”???:D;) Just kidding. About the RRA lower, anything to watch out for?? A different LPK maybe?? Thank you for the replies.
I think there is a sticky for the
“Oh no I bought an x…”
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=7376
There it is.
Long and short of it: Buy a good upper. You can find various on sale and BCM is a good start. There are always deals around, and while BCM isn’t the end-all be all (About to get hit by lightening–just saying there are other decent uppers out there) it is a greatsuggestion. If you hit the search button you’ll find the preferred vendors of good uppers (of which BCM is one).
RRA lower should be fine. There is a bit of equipment snobbery, but those I trust around here well tell you it’ll get the job done. More important is to know what about the RRA was a problem (all suggestions involve upper receiver parts from the sticky except a new buffer, and that most of the time comes with a new upper!)
If you don’t want to change to stock, the receiver extension is a moot point, but it is really easy if you want. Get a pliers, screw driver, and hammer.
Sell your upper. or keep it as a reminder to research before you purchase. I keep mine around to remind me what a post ban feels like everytime i get frustrated with politicans and ready to give up.
Buy a BCM.
Keep the RRA as a training beater.
The following, as you said:
- properly stake the carrier key and castle nut
- swap out the carbine buffer for an H buffer
- install a BCM bolt upgrade kit
From reading various posts on this site, using anti-tilt followers in your magazines will probably adequately compensate for it having rifle feed ramps instead of M-4 ramps.
There are also various posts about how lousy of LPKs made by RRA. A much better, mil-spec, LPK can be obtained from G&R Tactical.
If you truly want to bring it up to speak, swap out the LPK, install a full-auto BCG from BCM, LMT, DD, or Colt, swap out the buffer tube for a mil-spec, 7075 tube, install an H buffer, and swap out the upper receiver for one from BCM, LMT, DD, Noveske, or Colt. Basically, swap out everything except for the stripped lower receiver.
Honestly, the best option is to do those first three basic upgrades and then just shoot it. You can swap out parts as they fail or as your requirements change.
Here you go. If it’s reliable just shoot the damn thing and stop worrying about it. Like Justin said replace parts when they break or near their replacement interval.
Paint it and buy a BCM
Well for what it’s worth I have a little different view than some about RRA. They are ok rifles in stock form. They do cut corners, but that does not equal a non functioning weapon. If the chart bothers you, then upgrade to a BCM BCG, stake the castle nut, install a H buffer and then fire the hell out of it. Most of RRA flaws revolve around a not up to spec BCG, so you can do alot of good for the rifle, and for your piece of mind to change that out immediately. Again, this is my opinion and while I’m at it here is another. For what 97% of civilian RRA owners use their rifles for you will most likely never expierience a problem relating to thier out of spec parts. If you plan on running the rifle really hard then you may want to upgrade to quality parts, or a higher quality rifle. Untill then keep it clean, keep it wet, and shoot the helll out of it.
To me a RRA is worse than a Bushmaster:
- Incorrect barrel steel
- Chrome lining not standard
- No HP
- No MP
- Incorrect Receiver Extension
- Lock-tighted castle nut (so it’s a PITA to even change to a correct receiver extension)
- Non-staked Carrier Key
- SA Carrier
- 1:9 twist Barrel
- Fake, dremeled “M4” extensions.
on, and on…
At least you can mostly fix a Bushie with a hammer and a punch.
If it were me, I’d sell it and start over. Way less hassle and cost. What kills me is a guy came up to the counter Tuesday night with a huge grin on his face, hands me a RRA Middie, and says, “I’d like to buy this please.” In my mind I’m thinking, “If you only knew”, but he wasn’t interested in anything else. He had “done his research” and wanted a RRA 'cause “that’s what the DEA uses!”:suicide:
All,
Ok, I hear all of your ideas and they are all good. Some of them will work for me, others not. I think I am going to pursue selling the upper, and maybe a new LPK. BCM or DD upper, BCM or DD BCG, maybe a new reciever extention. However, I will admit this is sounding more and more like “this rifle is ALL bad and is not worth it.”
I will do some shopping around and look at some hard numbers. All in all, I won’t get what I paid for the rifle if I sell…famous last words. There will always be a price to pay for lack of knowledge. Thankfully, the price will be money and not my life. Thank you for all of the ideas.
Have you established a shortcoming with the gun?
Stake
Extractor
*Ream
*Buffer
R&B are optional depending on use, failure rate, etc. You need to stake the carrier key (you can probably skip the castle nut as they like to glue it on), and you may need to ream the chamber and/or go to an H buffer.
The barrel steel won’t matter for a long time, neither will the receiver extension. Go shoot the hell out of it and see what breaks.
I’m with Rob S on this, fix the known problems and shoot it till it breaks. You could get thousands of more rounds through that rifle, with proper maintainance of course. I completley agree BCM and DD are great rifles, and if you want to buy one then you can buy with confidence. How many rounds have you fired through the RRA? Have you had any problems yet?
The RRA has maybe 3-400 through it right now. To upgrade to what I want and to “spec” after looking at BCM for parts, I would probably spend close to $900 to complete the rifle. I can get an entire BCM midlength with eveything I want for $1500 from G&R tactical (in my home state) and move on from there. Maybe a sell for cash toward a BCM complete rifle would be best. I am going to ponder this a bit. I have time, SHTF or training classes/competition are years away!
Thanks to all for your replies.