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Civilian gun owners often benefit from the competition among gun makers vying for government contracts. The Rock River Arms Pro Series Government AR-15 is but one very good example.
Back in the early fall of 2002, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) began to search for a 5.56 AR-style carbine to replace the 9mm submachine guns it had been using. 11 companies submitted samples, but it was a then-fledgling company out of Colona, Illinois, that survived the pass/fail test.
Rock River Arms (RRA) was awarded a 5-year DEA contract to make 5,000 carbines, with the FBI and U.S. Marshals acquiring the same gun with follow-up contracts. The civilian version is the Pro Series Government Model.
A Look at the Gun
What really impressed me about the RRA Pro Series is that it comes as a complete package. You get a LAR-15 5.56mm-chambered carbine, with a 16-inch chrome lined, chrome moly 1:9 twist barrel (the DEA version had a 14.5-inch barrel) fitted with an A2 flash hider.
The trigger is two stage, and breaks just over 5 pounds, very nice. It comes with a flat-top Picatinny rail and pre-installed A.R.M.S. flip-up rear sight. Not only that, there’s an EOTECH 552 Holosight (though we actually tested the rifle with a Trijicon RSR Reflex, but that’s another story).
The combination of EOTECH and rear sight allow you to “cowitness” both sights at the same time — a well thought out touch.
In the case you get a Viking VTAC Single Point Sling, Cleaning Kit, and Surefire M951 Weapon Light. When you consider the included EOTECH and other goodies you get, the retail price of $2375 makes this a very good value.
The RRA Pro-Series at the Range
We didn’t do extensive off-the-bench accuracy testing of the gun (RRA says 1.5 MOA accuracy out of the box) but instead opted for real-world shooting from standing and kneeling positions. We fed it with Hornady 55-grain TAP ammo, and she shot excellent groups out to 50 yards (see photo).
We experienced no malfunctions. And the rifle, which weighs in at just over 8 pounds, produced virtually no recoil to speak of. It was downright enjoyable to shoot.
Check out the Rock River Arms Pro Series Government. It’s a proven gun that exceeded the governments very rigorous testing and comes complete with an accessory package of all the best-quality stuff. It’ll surpass your expectations, too.
I Recommended These AR-15 Resources:
New! – The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Vol. IV
The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Vol. III
The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Vol. II
The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Vol. I
Gunsmithing the AR-15, How to Maintain, Repair & Accessorize
New! The Gun Digest Buyer's Guide to Tactical Rifles
Find more gun books, DVDs and downloads at gundigeststore.com.