What manufacturer makes the best one for the money. I know the Baer is top drawer but is it worth the big premium? I have had Armalite and Rock River suggested. Any opinions?

I have one of the 24 inch Bull barrel AR15's with a stainless barrel from Rock River Arms that is called the 24" Varmint.
It shoots the 40 gr. Vmax bullets into 3/8 th of an inch all the time needless to say I'm quite happy with it, the only thing I would do different now is get the 20 inch model if I had it to do over again.

Steve E........

Why's that? 24 just too heavy for you or not seeing any extra performance or what?

I've been pleased with my DPMSs, and have one with the 24" heavy barrel that's almost as fast in .223 as my .22-250.

I have a DPMS 24" stainless with free-floated handguard on top of a bushmaster lower, I put in the RRA 2-stage trigger and I am able to get 3 touching at 100 yards (60 Sierra HP, 55 Nosler BT or 50 Blitzking) it opens up a lttle bit when I have to seat for the magazine length so I am hoping try some of the Length tolerant Berger's........


It seems to work though......

IV

I built a cheap "pieces parts" upper with a stainless 20" DPMS 1 in 9" full floated, a 6-18x Simmons with a Harris bipod that shoots quarter sized groups at 200 yds until the barrel heats up then it goes to about MOA. I have about $300 in the upper not counting the scope, rings and bipod. You don't need to spend a lot to get good performance. BTW, the A-4 was from Del-Ton, Inc. and the rest from Midway...on sale.

The 'Bushmaster Varminter's' that I've sighted in shoot the Fed AE 50gr flat-base hollow points to one inch groups or better.

I have had great results with my RRA Varmiter.
It is the 24" Wilson Bull Barrel. With Horn. 60VMax, 75 Hor. OTM, or 69GR. Sierra MK, it will place 5 shot groups at or near 1/2", but
with 77SIE.MK it will go 1/4-1/2"! I think that this is the best Varmiter that I have ever owned. RRA guar.3/4" groups @ 100 yards!

crazy_quick

It's just one of those things that bother some people for no reason, the 20 incher's that I have held and shot just seem to feel better to me, I don't think there would be any noticable difference that you could tell in performance from a 24" to a 20" other than muzzle blast. I'm very happy with my RRA with it's 24" bull barrel, won't get rid of it but if I bought another I would get the 20". I ordered a RRA Ntl. Match 2 stage trigger and had RRA send it to White Oak Precision for Mr. Hollinger there to work his majic on it and boy did he ever, it is still 2 stage and breaks at 2 1/2 lbs and it does it like breaking the proverbial glass rod.

Steve E........

My brother will be getting a RRA like mine but
with a 20" barrel. I am looking forward to checking the difference in velocity between the
2. I don't expect a big difference other than the 75 & 77 GR. loads with the slower powders, at least from what I have heard from others. I will post the results when they occur.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
What manufacturer makes the best one for the money. I know the Baer is top drawer but is it worth the big premium? I have had Armalite and Rock River suggested. Any opinions?

Like a lot of other stuff, the last 10% of performance usually costs 100% more than the first 90%. A field varminter is ordinarily shot in conditions where that last 10% isn't usable so I would get one one of the less costly options and spend the rest on ammo. Even the factory Colt H-Bars are good shooters; my 24" Elite holds 1/2 MOA with unsorted military brass. Just hold back enough dough to get a good trigger.

LJS,
I have RRA 24" Varmint and could not be more pleased. I, like a couple of others, can print 1/2 to 3/4 in. @ 100 yds. all day long using Sierra 69 gr. HPBT
I(meaning the rifle) likes Varget or BL-C2 equally well.
The last batch used 24.0 gr BL-C2 and I could not tell a discernable difference- I become more of a variable than the powder.
For the cost, considering you are getting a match trigger, SS barrel and 1:9 twist to stabilize heavier bullets, RRA was my choice.
I will put in a plug for RB Precison arms, great prices, responsive service and they are shooters and can help if you have ?