Building Rifles At Rock River Arms
BY Herschel Smith
1 year, 5 months ago
I can vouch for what they’re saying. Rock River Arms produces exquisitely built rifles, capable of very good accuracy and precision (repeatability). They make fine machinery.
There are two things that I think have held them back. First, being in Illinois, and second, their slightly longer lag time at adopting new things (e.g., light forends). For a long time, their forends were extremely heavy and a bit clunky. No more. They’re up with the rest of the industry on that.
I also dislike the fact that they haven’t yet made a rifle in 6mm ARC (but that goes back to what I’m saying about being slow to adopt new things).
I’ll make one final comment. At one time they only made a polymer 1911 (which in my book is no 1911 at all). I see that their catalog now includes some very nice 1911s, but the prices are extremely high, even exceeding the Dan Wesson price range. They’re into the Wilson Combat price range, and it makes me wonder how many of them they sell.
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On July 28, 2023 at 3:47 am, WiscoDave said:
Don’t recall how this played out but I remembered this “kerfuffle” involving RRA and Springfield Armory.
“Springfield Armory and Rock River’s decision to cut a deal on licensing in Illinois — enabling the antis’ desire to control FFL dealer sales — is a dangerous gamble. As we pointed out in our Question of the Day, Smith & Wesson and Ruger paid an enormous price when they sacrificed gun rights on the altar of government “cooperation.””
[https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/springfield-armory-rock-river-arms-trade-opposition-to-illinois-ffl-licensing-scheme-for-carve-out/]
No opinion. Just remembered it and thought I’d point it out. YMMV
On July 28, 2023 at 9:32 am, Herschel Smith said:
Yes, I think they were thinking locally and not nationally. In other words, what will it take for us to remain here where our workers are (rather than moving the business) as opposed to what will this do to our national reputation within the gun owning community.
On July 28, 2023 at 1:08 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ Wasco Dave
You scooped me, sir, beat me to it… regarding your comments on RRA playing ball with the anti-2A crowd. They make good products of high quality, but that one cost them some credibility and hurt their reputation in the community.
FYI: There is another firm somewhat along the lines of RRA, about the same size, which also makes products which ‘punch above their weight’ in terms of quality and value. I’m referring to Windham Weaponry, of Windham, Maine.
WW was formed by former Bushmaster executive Richard Dyke, and a core group of former BM employees, who remained behind in Maine when BM was sold and moved to NY State in 2006. With Dyke as its head, the new company has made high-quality FA for nearly twenty years right back where it all started – Windham, Maine. Dyke passed away not long ago, but the company continues to make great products.
How good are their products? A friend of mine, a former U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sergeant and master gunsmith, was favorably impressed by the quality and performance of WW rifles and carbines, saying that they compared well to products costing a lot more.
Anyway, that’s the blurb….
On July 28, 2023 at 10:51 pm, george 1 said:
Agree about the Windham Weaponry AR rifles. Their mill spec stuff seems to be good quality. Someone I know has one and the thing is well built. The specs compare very favorably to rifles like Daniel Defense and they cost considerably less. The barrels are chrome lined and their bolts are 158 carpenter steel.
Their 308 rifles look pretty good as well.
On July 29, 2023 at 7:16 am, Latigo Morgan said:
I have a RR AR I inherited from my little brother. I used the lower when I first bought a 350 Legend upper from Bear Creek. It’s a nice, well built rifle. I’ve since moved the original upper back and built a lower for the 350 Legend.
I’m not sure what’s original and what isn’t – my brother did a bunch of mods to it before he died. I’m just holding on to it until his boy turns 18, then, if his mind is right, and I do mean RIGHT, I’ll pass it on to him along with some lessons.