Scored a RRA Retro AR-15 For Better Or Worse

[Longhorn789]

I saw this AR-15 private ad and I bit.....

Here's the description:

"This is a Rock River Arms AR-15 A1. It is an older model with A1 sights and has no forward assist. 20" barrel. I have fired the gun and it functions perfectly. Dressed in Viet Nam era furniture and flash hider. One 20 round Magazine. The gun is in very good plus condition with a nice brite bore. A super nice AR!! I am FFL. Will ship to FFL only. All Federal, State and Local Laws apply. Postal Money Order Please."

I dunno...Seems like what I've been looking for... Looks like a modern Rock River Arms lower based on the grip. Plus, I don't know that Rock River has been around long enough to have built any "SP1" type A1 rifles?!?!

Looks like a Colt A1 upper pencil barrel with the three-prong flash supressor. Maybe a repro supressor?!? Looks like it's in good shape?!?!

Maybe someone's build?

For $630 shipped, it's cheaper or about the same price than what I could build from what I can tell...

I figured I would roll the dice...

What do you guys think??

[okie shooter]

Not too bad, not nearly as expensive as other options for a retro rifle.

I really think highly of the Foward Assist, just on this would make the rifle slightly later variant, as in vietnam the army found it was a needed item.

Not sure longhorn, but do you have other ars, or is this your first, the great thing about most of these is they are interchangeable, upper and lower combos. Most recomend bolt carriers and bolts for each upper, but if you want a different upper next week, you can have it.

I read some where on the barrels, that the army went to the full Heavy barrel because the troops in urban assault would use the barrels to push and pry open doors, thus bending the end of the barrel(even with the heavy barrel end, they finally went to a heaver full profile for this fact), thus other than heat build up you maybe really happy with the thinner barrel. Remember fairchild/armalite(the orginal company not the one now, had worked on a aluminum with steel lined barrel for the rifle system to further reduce weight, but that didnt work out.

P.S. I remember a friend had a plastic one from mattel in the early seventies, I am still thinking that thing is the same size and even shape without fa as that rifle there. Neat toy for kids when I was ten or so, and you still want one today eh. :)

[Longhorn789]

No, this is my second AR....Not a huge AR guy to begin with...

I got into firearm collecting by buying a Mini-30....figuring out it sucked.....then trading it for an Olympic Arms AR-15 with 16" barrel and tele-stock. I still have it and have enjoyed shooting it over the years, irregardless of all the Bushmaster and Colt owners that shoot steam from their ears when they hear someone talk about their "Oly"..

I wasn't trying to get a real authentic SP1 or retro-AR really. The MAIN thing that was driving me was the front handguard. I like the feel of the triangular handguards 1000% more than the circular ones they have now.

I was a day or two away from buying a brand new 20" AR-15 Bushmaster....then slapping triangular "retro" handguards on it and having what I want.

Then I found this deal...

RRA is a good lower.....so hopefully I did alright and saved a little moneyu over my other options...

[okie shooter]

Dont let them dog the oly, I have one as my second one, the price drove me to it, but heck the price drove me to my older colt too.

[Planning]

longhorn, that rifle looks great, you made a very good deal on it.

i have a few of the orginal colt ar-15 NIB (like yours) up there in north texas, i will look next time i am up there. (i will take pictures of them if i can find them.)

the early ar-15 without the forward assist are my favorites, i also like the triange handguards, the rifle were light weight.

i had a m-16 in vietnam like that one, but only carried it 2 times that i can remember and used it in fire fights both times. functioned well both times
and did what it was suppose to do..........:thumbup:

[SteelCore]

but that is one sweet deal.

See, dhat's my prob with buying pistolas...whenever I see a SIG or HK pistola for more than a decent battlerifle, I always get the freakin rifle.

[Longhorn789]

longhorn, that rifle looks great, you made a very good deal on it.

i have a few of the orginal colt ar-15 NIB (like yours) up there in north texas, i will look next time i am up there. (i will take pictures of them if i can find them.)

the early ar-15 without the forward assist are my favorites, i also like the triange handguards, the rifle were light weight.

i had a m-16 in vietnam like that one, but only carried it 2 times that i can remember and used it in fire fights both times. functioned well both times
and did what it was suppose to do..........:thumbup:

Thanks Ron!! I can't believe I stumbled onto it myself.

I nearly abandoned the search since I was having such a hard time. I even sold the upper I bought at cost just a day after I picked it up at the gun show. Then I found this rifle. We'll see if it's in as good a shape as it supposedly is when it gets here...

Let me know when you're up in my neck of the woods if you're wanting to shed one of those NIB ARs....I'd certainly take one off your hands..

[jmikey]

Nice rifle Longhorn! I may just have to find one like that myself! If my memory is correct, I qualified on the retro about 40 years ago in the second week of June!

[Planning]

glad you found one, the ar's are not forsale, they will go to my grandsons,

ron



Thanks Ron!! I can't believe I stumbled onto it myself.

I nearly abandoned the search since I was having such a hard time. I even sold the upper I bought at cost just a day after I picked it up at the gun show. Then I found this rifle. We'll see if it's in as good a shape as it supposedly is when it gets here...

Let me know when you're up in my neck of the woods if you're wanting to shed one of those NIB ARs....I'd certainly take one off your hands..

[Longhorn789]

glad you found one, the ar's are not forsale, they will go to my grandsons,

ron

Lucky fellas....:thumbup: