"Babe in the woods" Part II: Olympic Arms AR or Rock River?

[Rick the Librarian]

I've seen a (relatively) "local" manufacturer of ARs at the WAC shows in Puyallup, Olympic Arms. They seem to have ARs at pretty attractive prices. Do the "attractive prices" reflect their quality, or are they a good deal for the money?

I've gotten several private comments positive about Rock River - I admit I'm leaning towards one of them.

TIA (again!)

RtL

[bd1]

I'd urge you to google AR lower receiver FAQ and review the info at calguns about the (actual) very few manufacturers. Yes, RR is good, Bushmaster is good - mil-spec.

[C5M1]

leaning to the rr sounds like a good lean.

regards, dennis

[Dan Shapiro]

I don't think you could go wrong with a RR.

[styer]

Rick, for all the help you have given me on the 03 forum, I have to put my 2 cents worth in. As you can see from all of these posts the AR is in a catagory by itself. Not only do people have to have more than one but I know of no other gun that can be tricked out more. BUY yourself a decent one like RR or along those lines as long as it is MilSpec. Buy it plain and simple. The TRICKED OUT PART will come soon enough on it's own so be prepared because the bug WILL bite. After you have enjoyed shooting it consider building a lower. It is simple and quite rewarding even if you are all thumbs!

[Rick the Librarian]

I have been remarkably immune to the other "itises" I was exposed to -- "Garanditis", "Carbinitis" "Kragitis" and even "Swissriflitis". I came close with M1911itis", but I find that the price tags of todays original M1911s are a wonderful(?) antidote! :D

[John Kepler]

Friends don't let friends buy Olympic Arms AR's! Not in the same class as RR, though I admit to being partial to Bushmasters.

[Rick the Librarian]

That's good to know, John. It seems I heard that from another source, but wanted some "backup". RR it is - now, the small matter of raising the money!! :D

[CharlieEcho]

I'm new to the AR's too, as I'd mentioned earlier. I've been trying various loads in it recently. From the 55gr up to 77gr bullets of various makers. Mine has a 1 in 9 bbl twist and favors the
55gr and 62gr. These bullets produce the best groups from my rifle. Mine has not failed to digest anything I've shot through it yet. I'm using military contracted magazines both old and new. I prefer the twenty rounders. Mine is a Rock River Arms LAR-15 with a Wylde Chamber, twenty inch heavy bbl, target sights, and nothing else fancy. The heavy bbl will have to be counter weighted in the future, I'm shooting from the bench at present.

I feel more comfortable shooting this than my SP-1. Surplus ammo performs well, and is the
least expensive, as well as easy to find. 5.56 or 223 have no noticeable difference. The rifle
was purchased used with box and all accoutrements for 750.00. Good lucj and have fun.
:icon_salut:


That's good to know, John. It seems I heard that from another source, but wanted some "backup". RR it is - now, the small matter of raising the money!! :D

[Rick the Librarian]

$750-850 is my budget limit. Hope I can find one as nice. As I said, have to sell some things, first, including my soon-to-be replaced Mini-14.

[Liam]

Rick - It is a fact that I am lazy. I never go out of my way to forge a new trail. Not when someone, usually better-qualified, has done this ahead of me. This is true in my reloading, shooting and even my purchasing practices. In the case of the Rock River AR, the guv'ment has done its dirtiest deeds to this rifle and deemed the RR AR the best for issue to the DEA (1993 contract). I trust the folks that tested this rifle and made their selection. It's the same feeling I got when I received my CMP Special M1. I know it was put together by a competent CMP armorer. My O.G.E.K. marked stock indicated to me that competent folks had rebuilt my M1903 some 60 years ago. I simply feel they have done the legwork and, by virtue of their superior knowledge/expertise, have fielded a superior weapon than those others submitted for review.

[Rick the Librarian]

Good point - sounds like MY kind of research! Do you have another in your bag of tricks on "How to raise money to pay for an AR without really doing any work or selling anything valuable"???? :D

[Liam]

I'd suggest an M1903 t-shirt scheme, but we've been down that fiscally unsound road before!

[Rick the Librarian]

I still remember when a buddy and I came across a guy getting rid of a large number of U.S. bayonets and we thought we'd struck it rich! Sunk $3000 into the venture and after weeks of work, we figured we made about $100 apiece - could have earned more being greeters at Walmart and probably about 1/10 the time and labor!! :eusa_wall:

[da gimp]

Rick, I urge you to go check out the wife's china cabinet, ask her, does she REALLY need all those fancy dishes & wouldn't the wonderful food she fixes taste just as great on plastic plates?

Fine china in good condition could be sold for some vg money.

Let me know how this works out for you. I've broached the idea with the wife several times, but my Lugers, Nambus , Walthers etc went down the road & the china, crystal & art glass is still here.

By the bye, have 3 Colt CAR 15's, 1 Colt custom shop Flattop (3 digit #), and a Whiteoak Precision assembled RR AR 15 service rifle. You will probably be in the same money if you pick up a good RR lower & have John @ WhiteOak build the upper for you.You will not be disappointed in his work either, he is regarded as the best AR smith in the USA.

be safe, enjoy life, journey well

da gimp

OFC, Mo. Chapter

[Rick the Librarian]

My wife is accomodating, but not THAT accomodating!! Have you ever had rifle barrel wrapped around your neck? Never happened to me, but don't want to take the chance!! :D

[bd1]

Take the Mini-14 to a well-attended gun show or put it on one of the auction web sites and it'll go quickly at whatever the top dollar would be these days for the condition & extras (e.g., scope rings, sling, extra magazines) yours shows. I dunno if ADCO (a site sponsor) sells whole rifles, but Steve there can point you in the right direction to a good RR AR 15A2 or A3 within your budget range. It'd likely be the GI clone, very accurate even without a float tube, same good 2-stage trigger. Heck, with a little time he might be able to put you together something extra.