Rock River Arms LAR-9 - Retro and Cool

Estimated studying time: 9 minutes

As a fan of pistol caliber carbines and retro weapons, my nickers had been completely in a twist when a Rock River Arms LAR-9 with a hard and fast carry deal with popped up at my native public sale. I needed it so dangerous, and for some motive, I used to be one of many few within the crowd who cared. I fended off a complete of two different bids to grab up the LAR-9.

The LAR-9 has that old-school cool feel and appear we don’t typically see from PCCs. When it got here up for a loopy low value at public sale, I needed to have it.

After I paid so little for the gun, I felt the necessity to exit the public sale earlier than somebody realized their mistake. I had the right mixture of my two pursuits for little or no cash. The Rock River Arms LAR-9 seemed and felt slick and delivered that retro 9mm SMG look. It vibes like an outdated Colt SMG, and it’s clear the place Rock River Arms got here from after they produced the gun.

Rock River Arms Historical past

Rock River Arms has a fairly lengthy AR-15 historical past. It was one of many few AR firms to pop up earlier than the tip of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. Rock River Arms started producing AR-type rifles in 1997 and continues to make trendy rifles. It’s robust to seek out a lot historical past on this early LAR-9.

Rock River Arms has fairly a repute. In 2003, they outperformed ten different firms to realize a 5,000 rifle contract with the DEA. Shortly after, the FBI and US Marshals bought ARs, particularly the 5.56 LAR-15. Rock River Arms was chosen to arm the Iraqi Particular Forces in post-Saddam Iraq. I realized all this, however I couldn’t discover a lot on the carry deal with variant of the LAR-9. The LAR-9 remains to be produced as each a pistol and rifle with the trendy flat high higher design.

Obtainable on GunsAmerica Now

$1,899.00

$1,699.00

$1,680.00

$629.99

$1,999.99

$1,725.00

$1,299.99

$2,099.99

$1,299.00

What Are We Wanting At With The LAR-9

The Colt SMG was the primary broadly produced 9mm AR design. The LAR-9 takes cues from the Colt SMG and later Colt 9mm rifles. It’s not an SMG, and it doesn’t have a ten.5-inch barrel however a 16-inch barrel. The gun includes a six-position inventory and old-school plastic M4-style handguards.

A2 iron sights on PCC LAR-9 — A2 sights are a bit a lot on a PCC, however they’re useful. They’re sophisticated, and I doubt you’d ever use them to their full capability.

Now we have the twin aperture peep sight in an A2-like configuration. The A2-style sights with the drum beneath the rear sight appear pointless for a 9mm rifle. That is doubtless as a result of they used the identical carry deal with higher for the LAR-9 as they did for the LAR-15. Mass-producing one higher reasonably than a brand new one for a 9mm carbine is simpler.

One profit the LAR-9 had over older Colt SMGs was the devoted decrease. Previous Colt SMGs used {a magazine} block pinned into the receiver. Rock River Arms machines the decrease with an adequately sized magwell. As you’d think about, this factor doesn’t use a Glock journal.

Colt SMG magazines in LAR-9 — The Colt SMG magazines are straight, simple to insert, and dependable.

As an alternative, it makes use of the basic Colt SMG journal, which is only a modified Uzi journal. In contrast to a Glock journal, it’s a double-stack and double-feed journal. Folks extra clever than I say these magazines are extra dependable than a submachine gun. I doubt it makes a distinction in a rifle.

They’re simpler to load and shorter than Glock magazines. Plus, they’re all steel and reasonably hefty. They all the time fall out once you press the journal launch button. Today, most Glock carbines have some type of last-round bolt hold-open system, however it’s not assured. Colt SMG mags and weapons have an LRBHO system.

Capturing the LAR-9

Within the AR world, the commonest methodology of operation is direct blowback. In 1997, direct blowback was all we had. No fancy radial delayed stuff. Predictably, the LAR-9 offers us that direct blowback expertise. Direct blowback weapons are inclined to have recoil that’s roughly on par with a 5.56 rifle, which regularly makes 9mm ARs a tricky promote.

front sight — The LAR-9 entrance sight is simple to see, and a little bit of white paint would make it stand out. The gun is sort of correct

The LAR-9 isn’t fairly that dangerous. You’ll be able to enhance the recoil impulse with a direct blowback AR by adequately balancing the buffer, buffer spring, and bolt weight. Rock River Arms did a unbelievable job of smoothing out the LAR-9’s recoil impulse. It’s not as clean as a CMMG Banshee, however it’s not as violent as different blowback 9mms.

Colt Magazines — Colt magazines won’t be en vogue like Glock magazines, however they’re dependable, strong, and simple to load. Simply don’t drop one, they spew ammo all over the place.

By way of the 16-inch barrel, there isn’t a concussion. It’s tremendous cozy to shoot, together with at indoor ranges. Indoor vary use is among the most important advantages of a PCC. The LAR-9 has delicate recoil and minimal muzzle rise, so it’s a straightforward shooter. It’s controllable, and placing six rounds into an A zone takes lower than two seconds from the low prepared.

All The Accuracy

The A2 sights are famed for his or her over-the-top nature. They’re form of insane for an infantry rifle. They’re goal sights greater than fight sights. Nonetheless, I flipped up the broader aperture, did a fast zero, and embraced the carry deal with iron sights. It’s been some time since I did the carry deal with dance, however when you’ve realized the steps, it’s simple to slip again in.

Shooting LAR-9 rifle — The LAR-9 has mild recoil, glorious accuracy, and is a whole lot of enjoyable to shoot.

I trotted 100 yards downrange and did what I name the “minute of bad-guy” take a look at. I do that with shotgun slugs and PCCs. It’s easy. I arrange a Sage Dynamics printed goal on customary letter-sized paper and fired 5 rounds. If the 5 rounds hit the goal at 100 yards, it’s a “minute of bad-guy” correct.

The LAR-9 landed all 5 rounds onto the paper, three of the 5 hitting within the heart of the paper and two hitting slightly decrease on the paper. For a PCC, that’s fairly good. The 9mm spherical isn’t made for 100-yard utilization, so you’ll be able to’t anticipate a real 1 MOA PCC. With the LAR-9, I swapped to the precision aperture and aimed on the high of the paper. The rounds lobbed themselves proper into the goal.

gas and brass deflector — The LAR-9 options the Colt SMG-style gasoline and brass deflector. It retains issues comfy throughout.

I can create one ragged gap in a goal at 25 yards from the off-hand place. That is actually correct sufficient for the close-range shooter. The iron sights aren’t optimum in 2024, however they nonetheless get the job finished.

Slapping Metal

Reliability wasn’t an issue. I had some Colt SMG mags from ASC, they usually work properly. They’re hefty, black, and rattling dependable. The magazines sustain with all my rapid-fire capturing. Colt magazines insert straight inward and drop as quickly because the journal launch is pressed.

retro rifle LAR-9 with carry handle — The gun’s retro nature makes it a complete blast to shoot. It’s distinctive when there isn’t a lot distinction within the AR world.

All my capturing was finished with 115-grain FMJs. It’s probably the most primary of 9mm ammo and works properly by way of the gun. The LAR-9 eats it up and spits it out. The outdated beast nonetheless delivers excessive ranges of reliability. Blowback weapons won’t be optimum, however they’re dang certain dependable.

READ MORE HERE: The Greatest PCC Optics Out There

The Little LAR-9 That Might

Admittedly, this isn’t a elaborate little factor. The plastic M4-style handguards and plain Jane six-position inventory wouldn’t ever be thought-about fancy. It’s only a easy gun from the late 90s, and it reveals. I don’t intend to try to tacticalize it, however I’m contemplating some period-appropriate upgrades.

The LAR-9 is awesomely retro. It’s enjoyable to shoot, and simple to shoot. I gained’t modernize it, however period-appropriate upgrades could happen.

If I can discover one, I’ll seize a Surefire M500 handguard with built-in mild. A gooseneck mount with one thing like a COMP 3 Aimpoint would even be good. I’d give it that early 2000s attraction with out protecting it in M-LOK.

I snagged this rifle for affordable, and it’s a stable platform. I’ve seemed on the trendy Rock River Arms 9mm rifles and pistols, and I discover it difficult to justify the worth RRA desires. In a world the place these items are all over the place, asking over a grand for a blowback 9mm appears nuts. Numerous firms are producing high-quality, trendy 9mm ARs for lots lower than that.

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Travis Pike is a devoted firearms author, a Second Modification Advocate, and an issue fanatic for all issues firearms. He’s an newbie competitor with desires of sooner or later not coming in 4th place at a neighborhood defensive match. If he’s not placing textual content to phrase processor, he’s doubtless spending time with household, having fun with Florida’s Nature Coast, or consuming hipster beer. Because the resident Florida man he has a choice for obscure weapons and calibers.

Expertise

Hunter – Very long time deer and hog hunter within the swamps of Florida Teacher – Volunteers to show primary firearm security lessons to children, adults, and cats Wannabe Competitor – Has not too long ago dipped his toes into aggressive capturing and has fortunately found an costly passion. Marine – Served 5 years with the infantry earlier than transferring to the First Civ Div.

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