Why Rock River Arms should be your weapon of choice for your AR15 purchase.

For a rifle you will enjoy shooting for years to come, a few weeks of extra time to custom build your rifle right is well worth it. Unlike other major AR-15 manufacturers, RockRiver Arms does not build rifles in a assembly line process. Instead a skilled armorer is dedicated to building strictly the lower assembly and another armorer the upper assembly. After the upper and lower assemblies are completed they are fitted together by yet another armorer. Once the rifle is fitted the barrel is lapped and additional touches made. The rifle is then sent to the range and test fired for fit and mechanical function. After the rifle has passed the test firing it is returned to the factory where is is cleaned, oiled and packed for shipment to the dealer.

Everyone has their own measure of what quality is. In my observations Rock River Arms exhibits superior workmanship in fit and finish. While fit and finish is not the end all to any weapon, it does illustrate an attention to workmanship detail by Rock River Arms. An attention to detail that sets Rock River Arms apart from other AR15 manufactures.

Recently I took the time to compare a 16" Rock River Arms Varmint to a like 16" Varmint made by another name brand AR-15 manufacturer. I decided to take a couple of measurements and illustrate what I consider a superb metal to metal fit on the Rock River Arms Varmint as compared to the competition.

Measuring a popular name brand AR15 for upper and lower fit. The competitors receiver to lower fit was measured by inserting a machinist Leaf Gage which revealed a .002" of an inch space between the upper and lower assemblies. This level of gap or space between the upper and lower will effectively allow you to see light between the upper and lower components. Further, the gap will allow enough space for the upper and lower to rock between each other and not give a snug fit. In measuring the Rock River Arms 16" Varmint there was no space or gap between the upper and lower. In measuring a wide assortment of various other Rock River Arms rifles the tight fit consistency was apparent throughout.

Side view of popular name brand AR15 and .002" gap

Rock River Arms, a perfect metal to metal fit between the upper and lower assemblies.

Try the fit test. Grab the stock with your left hand and the forearm with your right or if a tactical stock, hold to the lower receiver grip. While holding the stock or grip firmly with your left hand, twist the upper with your right hand to determine if you have any loose fit between the upper and lower. Does the gap between the upper and lower open and close as you rock the upper back and forth? If the upper moves independently of the lower, there is not a tight metal to metal fit between the upper and lower receiver.