UWone77
25 October 2012, 17:55
I posted this originally in the review section:
http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum/showthread.php?4012-Rainier-Arms-Hammer-Forged-Barrel
I thought I'd post it in the discussion area as I hear on some of the boards on occassion, how good is Rainier Arms stuff? To be honest, I didn't know, and I haven't really seen anyone doing an long term test or put significant rounds down range with RA components. I went ahead and obtained some components from Rainier and did some testing for myself.
This gun's upper was built by Rainier Arms with mainly RA components, consisting of:
Rainier Arms CHF 16" barrel (same ones used in the RUC)
Rainier Arms X11 Rails
Rainier Arms Billet Upper
Rainier Arms Thunder Bolt M16 Carrier
Rainier Arms XTC
I built the lower:
Rainier Arms Forged Lower
Daniel Defense LPK
Mil Spec Receiver Extension kit from Rainier
A total of 8 different shooters took it out on basically 8 separate days. The total round count as of 8-30-12 was 5,005 rounds which is a pretty heavy firing schedule. The only thing I wanted was to have the gun shot, lubed generously, but not cleaned.
The total number of malfunctions were 10, and here's how it broke down:
Magazine related: 7
Ammo related: 1
Gun related: 1
Other: 1
It took 7 malfunctions to make the various shooters realize it was a crappy old aluminum mag with bent feed lips causing the problems. 1 malfunction was the ammo's case broke in half during the extraction which brought the action to a halt. Another malfunction occurred when I forgot to stake the castle nut, and the receiver extension backed out. Re-torqued and staked, problem solved. The last one I didn't know what was the cause. It could have been the ammo or the extractor. A steel cased round failed to eject, and the case has to be mortared out of the chamber.
Overall, I am impressed with the gun. If you take the magazine problem out of the equation, that leaves us with 3 malfunctions in 5k+ rounds, not too shabby when you fail to clean the gun. Also between rounds 1255 and 3651, no lube was used with the gun as there was a miscommunication with the shooters. He thought I wanted the gun run dry, which wasn't the case. The AR still functioned even though it shot 2,396 rounds un-lubed.
For anyone looking to buy a RUC or a custom upper from Rainier, I would not hesitate. These guys put out a great product at a great price. The shooter with the rifle now, probably has another 500 rounds through it. Although, he did finally clean it. It took him several days, an entire can of CLP and 500ct box of q-tips to get it back pre-5k round condition.
For a more detailed review, check out the original review linked above.
http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af282/richdkim77/DSCF0372.jpg
http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af282/richdkim77/DSCN0457.jpg
http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af282/richdkim77/rainier72212.jpg
http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum/showthread.php?4012-Rainier-Arms-Hammer-Forged-Barrel
I thought I'd post it in the discussion area as I hear on some of the boards on occassion, how good is Rainier Arms stuff? To be honest, I didn't know, and I haven't really seen anyone doing an long term test or put significant rounds down range with RA components. I went ahead and obtained some components from Rainier and did some testing for myself.
This gun's upper was built by Rainier Arms with mainly RA components, consisting of:
Rainier Arms CHF 16" barrel (same ones used in the RUC)
Rainier Arms X11 Rails
Rainier Arms Billet Upper
Rainier Arms Thunder Bolt M16 Carrier
Rainier Arms XTC
I built the lower:
Rainier Arms Forged Lower
Daniel Defense LPK
Mil Spec Receiver Extension kit from Rainier
A total of 8 different shooters took it out on basically 8 separate days. The total round count as of 8-30-12 was 5,005 rounds which is a pretty heavy firing schedule. The only thing I wanted was to have the gun shot, lubed generously, but not cleaned.
The total number of malfunctions were 10, and here's how it broke down:
Magazine related: 7
Ammo related: 1
Gun related: 1
Other: 1
It took 7 malfunctions to make the various shooters realize it was a crappy old aluminum mag with bent feed lips causing the problems. 1 malfunction was the ammo's case broke in half during the extraction which brought the action to a halt. Another malfunction occurred when I forgot to stake the castle nut, and the receiver extension backed out. Re-torqued and staked, problem solved. The last one I didn't know what was the cause. It could have been the ammo or the extractor. A steel cased round failed to eject, and the case has to be mortared out of the chamber.
Overall, I am impressed with the gun. If you take the magazine problem out of the equation, that leaves us with 3 malfunctions in 5k+ rounds, not too shabby when you fail to clean the gun. Also between rounds 1255 and 3651, no lube was used with the gun as there was a miscommunication with the shooters. He thought I wanted the gun run dry, which wasn't the case. The AR still functioned even though it shot 2,396 rounds un-lubed.
For anyone looking to buy a RUC or a custom upper from Rainier, I would not hesitate. These guys put out a great product at a great price. The shooter with the rifle now, probably has another 500 rounds through it. Although, he did finally clean it. It took him several days, an entire can of CLP and 500ct box of q-tips to get it back pre-5k round condition.
For a more detailed review, check out the original review linked above.
http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af282/richdkim77/DSCF0372.jpg
http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af282/richdkim77/DSCN0457.jpg
http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af282/richdkim77/rainier72212.jpg