I am brand new to Ar-15's and have just a couple of questions for those with knowledge and opinions.
I obtained a china joe and the ho proof Rock River LAR-15 with heavy stainless barrel from an acquaintance of mine who lives on the west coast some weeks ago.
My uses will be for home protection from foreign and domestic sources.
The Rifle came with 2 metal 20 round magazines - my first question is which magazines (and which material) do you prefer? And which do you prefer 20 or 30 round sizes?
Next, I, like everyone else have been completely limited in options for ammunition - last week I luckily picked up 400 rounds ($104.00 per box of 200!) of the Winchester 62 grain "green tip" ammunition. This morning I was in the right place at the right time and got 800 rounds of this same ammunition at $114.00 per 200 round box.
My question here is should I seek out different ammunition for my non-Hunting use?
It has been VERY cold hereabouts (15 degrees BELOW zero this morning!) and I have not got to shoot any of this Winchester ammunition in my new to me Rifle.
And in the same vein is my Rock River factory stock barrel going to stabilize this ammunition in other words I do not know what the twist of my Rifle is.
Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated - thanks in advance.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Go talk to Randy. He can tell you everything you need to know about it.
Twist likely marked on the barrel somewhere maybe not though. That ammo is fine just no it's non expanding. PMAGS are a favorite among many I like metal GI mags [ersonally.
Enjoy!
Mike
The twist is no doubt somewhere between 1/9 and 1/7 my best guess would be 1/9 either will easily stabilize 62 grain ammo. 1/9 will stabilize up to 69 grains at least and sometimes 77 grain pretty well.
I can’t see any reason to buy 20 rounds mags unless someone wants them for some specific reason or wants them just because they want them. I have aluminum Colt mags, polymer Lancer and Gen two and Gen 3 PMAGS they all work fine but I like the polymer ones best. The Gen 3 PMAGS have a few updates but on sale for $10 each the gen 2’s are the best bargain going in the gun mag world.
Ready on the right & TheLastLemming76: Thank you both for your help and the link!
I found my Rifle and it is the LAR-15 Varmint with the 1 in 8" twist.
And if I understand you correctly TheLastLemming76 I might as well go with the 30 rounders and the polymer magazines?
I appreciate all the help very much and will be trying out my ammo as soon as the weather turns "human" around here.
In full disclosure back in the early 1970's I did buy and own two of the "original" Colt AR-15's back when they were in the $400.00+ range - I sold them both for a pittance of profit without ever firing them.
I kind of wish I had them back now.
Thanks again - I better look up some you-tube videos on care and cleaning/maintenance while I have some free (to cold to go outside!) time.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Kenlguy: I did not know Randy was up on AR's as well.
Good to know.
Appreciate that.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
VG you'll find out in a hurry 30 rd mags are worthless off the bench and a pain in the ass in prone when you are trying to get as low as possible. GI 20's and some 10rd'ers for these uses. Mb
VG you'll find out in a hurry 30 rd mags are worthless off the bench and a pain in the ass in prone when you are trying to get as low as possible. GI 20's and some 10rd'ers for these uses. Mb
Plus 1
The only reason I can think of to buy anything other than 30 rounds mags is monopoding off of a bench or prone and for those circumstances I like 10 rounders.
Agreed on 20s being nice for bench and prone. I like p mag 20s (G3) but also have pmag 30s (G2 and G3) and aluminum GI (D&H and some miscellaneous) 20s and 30s.
G3 pmag 20s are my first choice.
Best deal around for pmags:
https://www.provenoutfitters.com/pmag-20-ar-gen-m3-5-56x45-bkMy understanding and experience is that any modern twist (1-9" or faster) will easily stabilize 62g green tips. A 1-12" might have trouble, but I don't know of any 1-12" AR barrels except some "retro" reproduction barrels and old surplus
You guys might laugh at me but damned if Big Stick wasn't right on the nailhead about mags, those ASC mags are the tits. The stainless and the aluminum ones , well built and they flat work fine. Mb
I like 20 round Lancer and P-mags better than 30 rounders for most things.
@ 20's are short so makes it nice to shoot off the bench, in or from a SXS, truck hood, truck bed, car roof & back window, ATV, deer blind, big boulders etc.
Easy to stuff in back pocket. I have some but I don't like metal mags, & Have fun.
Since I'm pretty close to Brownell's I get their 20 round aluminum magazines. I have been picking up 10 round P-Mags just in case. I'll bet your RR rifle is a 1/9 twist. It will stablize 62 grain bullets. Oooppss. It looks like you found it on the barrel. It's a 1/8 twist. That is a great twist. Blast away.
kwg
First off the green tip ammo is not target ammo and don’t be surprised if 2-3” groups are all you can get out of it. But don’t blame the rifle, RR has a great track record of producing ver accurate guns.
As to mags, I actually hate 30 round mags and greatly prefer 20’s. I like the USGI 20’s but my favorites are 20 round Gen 3 Pmags.
When you get ready to scope it, get a one piece cantilever mount that puts the scope 1.4” above the flat top or higher. Tall rings will crowd you on where you can mount the scope.
It should have a 2 stage trigger in it and you should be pretty happy with it. But feed it good ammo and I bet it’ll become a hunting rig in short order.
Nothing new to add but..
The rock river will stabilize that bullet fine and they do shoot quite well
Don’t expect very good accuracy from that ammo however
It’s def a bit heavy for “home defense” role but whatever works for you
Yes it should have their 2-stage trigger which is a fine trigger, to me anyway
If you want self defense ammo the Black Hills 77gr OTM is superb. If you can find the 77gr Tipped Match Kings they are impressive and should stabilize in a 1:8 fine. Hard to find anything good right now though.
As for mags, I have the plastic ones but actually think I like the ASC or D&H (mil contract) the best. The plastic ones are fine, AFTER they've seen some use. I often keep a 20 round in it if it's inside the truck just to make it more easily brought to bear. Twenties off the bench also.
VG, a lot of good advice here. I would further suggest you get on ASC's mailing list. Very easy to do. They run sales all the time. I was deep into supplying myself with 5.56/.223 mags when I discovered them. But, that's all I've bought for my 6.8. They are extremely well made.
If you find some Colt USGI mags with the green followers at a good price, pick them up.
You guys might laugh at me but damned if Big Stick wasn't right on the nailhead about mags, those ASC mags are the tits. The stainless and the aluminum ones , well built and they flat work fine. Mb
Stick is right about a lot of schidt, if you can understand what he's saying..
As I mentioned above about the 30's hanging out to far for bench work , well comfortably for me anyway I'll put in inches. A gen 2 30 rd pmag is 7 3/4" below the ctr of the rec. While a metal 30 rd circle k is 7 1/2" below the ctr of the rec and for reference the frt edge of the pistol grip is 6" below the ctr of the rec. And ASC 20 rd is at 5 1/4" below the ctr of the rec. The 10 rd pmag sits 3 3/4" below the ctr of the rec. You don't think about it much until you are jacking an AR way up on your rest for 30 rd mag clearance. The 20's and 10's do have legitimate use. The house gun allways has a 30 in it but for groups and casual practice the 20 and 10 rd er's work well. Mb
As I mentioned above about the 30's hanging out to far for bench work , well comfortably for me anyway I'll put in inches. A gen 2 30 rd pmag is 7 3/4" below the ctr of the rec. While a metal 30 rd circle k is 7 1/2" below the ctr of the rec and for reference the frt edge of the pistol grip is 6" below the ctr of the rec. And ASC 20 rd is at 5 1/4" below the ctr of the rec. The 10 rd pmag sits 3 3/4" below the ctr of the rec. You don't think about it much until you are jacking an AR way up on your rest for 30 rd mag clearance. The 20's and 10's do have legitimate use. The house gun allways has a 30 in it but for groups and casual practice the 20 and 10 rd er's work well. Mb
Yep.
My 10's and 20's get the most range use.
MagnumBob: Thanks for that tip/info.
I had not thought of (visualized!) that.
I imagine only going to the bench two or three times in whats left of my lifetime (I will be 74 soon) to adjust for the ammo I have the most of and maybe a time of two with the VarmintOffspring.
I have enough of the 20's (two) and was offered two 30 round Mag-Pull (sp?) polymers late last night when a friend from the coast offered them to me.
Maybe get 2 or 4 more 30's and that should fill the utilitarian type gun case that came with my Rifle.
Antelope sniper & MagnumBob: I did not know there was such a thing as a ten (10) shot AR mag.
Thanks for that tip.
No wind here today but it was 15 below zero again this morning with a high or +2 degrees here today.
I am antsy to shoot but will wait for somewhat better conditions.
Gunshow in Idaho is even looking iffy coming up.
Thanks again all.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Suggest using a good lube like Slip2000 with it. Makes a big difference.
You guys might laugh at me but damned if Big Stick wasn't right on the nailhead about mags, those ASC mags are the tits. The stainless and the aluminum ones , well built and they flat work fine. Mb
Stick is right about a lot of schidt, if you can understand what he's saying..
Yep. True that. A lot of what he's preached and been 100% right on about skids right across some of the flatter heads here .
Antelope sniper & MagnumBob: I did not know there was such a thing as a ten (10) shot AR mag.
ACS even makes a nice 5 round. soooooo much nicer on the bench
The 5's are got to have item here in SD if you want to use your AR on big game. The rules and yeah they work great for group shooting also . Mb
10 or 20 rd Pmags are all I use from the bench. The 10 rd are great for big game hunting.
Midway currently has some of the IMI Razorcore ammo that uses the Sierra 77 gr. Match King bullets.
They ain't cheap.
Only wanted 30's when I first started with the AR.
Bigger is better, right?
But soon learned that for my uses, I didn't need
1 1/2 boxes of ammo on board. And they stick out.
Bought one 20, just to try it.
30's have their place, and we have acquired a few more.
20's are much preferred.
Only wanted 30's when I first started with the AR.
Bigger is better, right?
But soon learned that for my uses, I didn't need
1 1/2 boxes of ammo on board. And they stick out.
Bought one 20, just to try it.
30's have their place, and we have acquired a few more.
20's are much preferred.
Same here, I would trade 30's for 20's & 10's.
I wonder if lancer makes a 10 rounder? They make great 20 rounders, nice to see yer ammo in da mag.