RRA LAR8

AR/M4 Beyond 5.56/.223
1

I have an opportunity to purchase a NIB RRA LAR8 Standard Operator at MSRP…$1790.00

Looking to get into the AR10 for some long range shooting fun and wanted others opinion on this rifle. Good buy at $1790 or should I look for something else and hope to get it at pre-panic prices?

Thanks!

2

I wouldn’t pay that for it. Looks like the parts are proprietary to rock river and it takes either fal or rock river mags.

3

All rifles use proprietary parts. Nothing wrong with FAL mags. However, for $1790 I’d much rather have an M&P10 or an AR10

4

I’m aware that the mag requirements are specific to this rifle and I think there is something about the barrel/nut that is different.

But those things aside how is the rifle itself? Not sure I could get any wiggle on the price as the dealer is fully aware that these go for $2500+ on GB.

He would prefer to sell locally to build reputation as an honest shop. He has 7 AR15’s in stock though they are either RRA or DPMS and they are at $1000.00

All that aside I’m not that knowledgable on the AR10’s so if you would, help a noob out as far as alternative brands that would/might be a better choice.

Thanks!

5

I sold an LAR-8 that was set up like the Operator recently. Mine had a 16" barrel with Smith muzzle brake. I picked up some Thermold polymer FAL magazines for the rifle and it ran fine with them. I had a 1-4X scope on it with MI back up sights. It would shoot sub MOA out to 300 yards with Malaysian ball ammunition.

I picked the rifle up to both shoot out to 400 yards and for CQB. I thought the rifle was too heavy for CQB shooting, so I sold it. If I were using the LAR-8 as a field rifle, I would buy one with a 20" barrel.

6

Thanks for the input. Based on what I see here and some more research I think I’ll try to get an Armalite AR10.

7

I have a friend who owns an AR-10 match rifle. It shoots 168g match ammunition well, but will not function with 145g-150g ball ammunition. I fired two AR-10 rifles, one with 16" barrel and one with 20" barrel, at an Armalite demonstration. They ran fair on ball ammunition with the occasional malfunction. We did not shoot any match ammunition at the demonstration.

I was told by a knowledgable gunsmith in my area that he could make an AR-10 run well on 168g match or 150g ball, but he could not make it run well on both. What he told me makes sense after what I observed myself.

The AR-10 match rifle is a tack driver with 168g match. It would be a good choice for shooting out to 800 yards.

8

Not the best of deals. Before the “craziness” IIRC the prices for entry level stuff is/was 1200-1400 for feature like the RRA LAR.

DPMS and Bushmaster had models at about 1000
Armalite started at about 1200
Decent DPMS models run about 1200 (yes I said it)
Colt was in the 1700-2000 range
LMT was 2500 to 2700
KAC was 3500+ Depending on model.

Prices are coming down. An Armalite or DPMS can serve as an excellent starter rifle at 308. I would suggest a PMAG compatible version (Armalite now makes one) as that is the one thing the industry has settled on. Long range shooting 308 is not CQB shooting, get a heavy barrel, expect to find loads that work and to customize your gun out the wazoo. It just happens. DPMS and Armalite do make decent entry guns for 308 for long range shooting. Others will disagree strongly with that opinion, but if you look at the long range shooting community at 308, both of those brands do not carry the stigma they do in the 5.56 community.

What I did was bought a DPMS recon (came with flip up sights, Heavy SS barrel), dropped in a Gieselle match trigger and then got some decent glass on a Larue Offset mount. For long range shooting it does its job (which I don’t get to do often enough). Total cost for rifle + Vortex PST + trigger + mount was under 3 grand. Remember–half your budget for an entry long-range rifle should be for glass as well as rifle. Not to dismiss this site, but the precision community at snipershide.com will be a good resource for long range shooting.