Posted: 12/11/2001 4:50:04 PM EDT
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I have the first 9mm upper that they've assembled and let out of the shop commercially. DON'T read this and start calling demanding one..they're still working on getting some aspects of the production guns and uppers finalized. Wait a couple months..please. I'll try to keep everyone here informed as to the state of progress on them. Details: Production appears to be all 16", both pre- and post-ban, with CAR or mid-length handguard, either standard or float tube. A2 or A4 (flat-top) receiver with no forward assist and a nylon case deflector behind the short (approx. 3/4 length) ejection port door. Uses slightly modified Uzi mags, which do not hold the bolt open afer final round. Mag well insert secures via four tensioning pieces which are put into place by tightening a screw from the bottom side of the insert. Has to use a heavy CAR/9mm buffer and spring (in my case, using an A2 stock, we also had to use an insert behind the spring in the receiver extension/buffer tube) to get the proper inertia behind the carrier to reliably cycle). It also requires a new hammer. Particulars of mine (sorry, no digital camera or scanning capability at my end): A4 upper with mid-length free-float tube and flat-top gas block (or non-gas block in this instance), 16" post-ban with crowned muzzle, no brake. Only got a chance to shoot a few rounds today, but will try to get to the range Wednesday or Thursday, and will post results here. Fit and finish are excellent..snug on my post-ban PWA (was what RRA sold before they got lowers with their own name on them) and a LEO lower that they had. Finish was the same on both lowers and the upper...that matte blackish "oil me" look. PS...I also asked about the short tactical stock. They want it as badly as we do, but are at the mercy of whomever is molding them for them. No ETA was provided. I'm a real cheerleader for RRA..they're a great bunch of people who are doing their best to make some really good products for us. I'll try to answer any questions you might have about the upper, as I'm sure I probably forgot something. Sluggo |
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Took it to the range Wednesday over my lunch break. Not a lot of time, and only fifty foot indoor range, but primarily a function test rather than an all balls out effort. Fired a hundred rounds...one box each of Winchester 115gr. ball and one of some crappy Portugese 124gr. stuff that I had laying around. All went "bang" without a problem. No failures to feed, failures to fire, squibs, short cycles, or anything else but consistent firing. Recoil is minimal, and accuracy was good. I had literally slapped a Tasco ProPoint (I know...shame on me, but all my Aimpoint Comps are on other uppers) on the flat-top just to have a reference for aiming. While not at point of aim (because of me and the red dot, not the rifle) my worst group was about 2 inches, and my best (with the Winchester ammo)was a ragged hole that you could distinguish individual hits, but they were all touching. While the modified Uzi mag won't hold the bolt open, I think that the Colt mags would based on the design of the magwell adaptor (but then you have to balance out the cost of the mags versus the convenience of the hold open). I also concluded that because of the shape and location of the gas/brass deflector behind the shortened ejection port door, I can't mount an ARMS 38 on it. The RRA A2 tactical should mount fine because of its design, and I'll try a few others that I have laying around as well to see what will and won't mount up correctly. All in all, I'm very happy with the upper. Sluggo |
| I saw one listed on Gunsamerica the other day, thought I was seeing things! Too bad they did'nt build it around a design that would allow you to use unmodified, cheap hi-cap mags. That probably would have pushed me toward the RRA, but an Oly with the SOCOM block for the unmodified Sten mags makes for alot of cheap hi-caps. |
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Jason, I did try it "weak-shouldered" without any noticable splatter or gas. I had an Oly, and if I remember correctly, it uses a standard receiver with forward assist and the lefty hump, but nothing else. The RRA is a smoothsided, dedicated upper with a 3/4 length ejection port, the rest of the space where the rest of the door would have been and where the lefty hup is on the regular upper is occupied by a synthetic gas/brass deflector which seemed to do its job really well. I fired another couple hundred rounds this weekend, all ball ammo, without any problems. |