This is kind of a twist on the I bought a RRA, Bushmaster, etc. what do I do now thread.
I have a RRA 1255X which is the slightly upgraded Entry Tactical model with the chrome lined barrel. At the time I bought it I a)apparently did not know better, b)bought it because it was the only thing available at the time, and c)even if I knew better the Tier 1 models were so far out of stock and far too expensive on GB to consider.
Fortunately I read Rob’s thread and fixed some of the most glaring issues with staking, added a mil-spec buffer tube with H buffer, etc.
Now that some of the nicer ARs are becoming available I am trying to decide what to do with my RRA. I have been happy with it, it is a decent shooter and has been a great learning platform so filling it with concrete and using it as a lawn ornament is not on the list of choices. A couple of ideas: use it as a platform for an aftermarket piston conversion and shoot it until something breaks, add a quality 18" or 20" heavy barrel and make it a precision shooter, or just keep it as a paper puncher.
Any practical suggestions would be most welcome.
I think the answer hangs on what you originally purchased your RRA for. If it was for HD, carbine courses or duty, I’d upgrade the BCG, stake the castle nut and shoot the hell out of it.
You seem to like the gun, so get it as reliable as possible and keep shooting it. In the mean time you could start saving for or buildin a “tier 1”. You could build a TDP gun in the same configuration and then relegate your RRA to a practice/back up once you have it completed. Or you could sell it and probably pay for what you would then have into an LMT or BCM build.
Use it as a training gun and set it up exactly as you would set up your go-to gun. If you do plan on buying one of the “Tier 1” carbines.
I was in a similar situation. I ended up selling my RRA and buying a Daniel Defense M4. I wish I could have kept the RRA but funds didn’t permit.
Bingo! Sell it and trade up to a DD M4.
I got everything staked when I changed the commercial buffer to a mil-spec and changed to the H buffer. I have not changed the BCG, I just staked the current one.
Selling just to fund the new AR is not a necessity but certainly an option. Using it as a training gun certainly makes sense, I was just trying to decide if that or changing the role of my RRA made more sense.
My use is primarily shooting on the training range with some of the guys that use them for a living. It has been quite a while since I was in a position where I would need to deploy a long gun. I suppose it is always a possibility, just not likely. The guys I work with are really the reason I bought it in the first place, I was always a pistol and hunting rifle kind of guy.
Sounds like the economical choice would be to continue to tweak your current rifle so it is reliable and dependable. When funds permit, add ammo, mags and a basic carbine course. An alternative to pay for training would be to join one of the regional training groups and learn from some of the M4C members who have taken numerous carbine and pistol courses. https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=18554 If a group isn’t available in your area, you can start one yourself. An excellent DVD for carbines would be the one from Magpul Dynamics, Art of the Tactical Carbine. http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=126_127&products_id=298
Shoot it and save your pennies for the next toy. Nothing wrong with a Rock River that a little TLC can’t address.
I agree… besides two are better than one anyway.
My RRAs have never failed me.