Hunting

Rock River Arms LAR-6.8 X-Series Rifle

In the case of the LAR-6.8 X-Series rifle, the aforementioned 18-inch, heavy-profile, fluted stainless steel barrel is rifled at a twist rate of 1:10”, the exterior surface is bead blasted and the barrel is cryogenically treated for enhanced precision. The Hunter muzzle brake—also and RRA design—features four rearward-angled ports on each side, six forward- and two rearward-angled ports on top, and six forward-facing ports circling the muzzle. We found it to be extremely effective in minimizing perceived recoil, and it virtually eliminated muzzle rise altogether. The Hunter brake screws onto the barrel, which is threaded at 5/8” x 24 t.p.i.

A top-shelf Nightforce 2.5-10x42mm NXS Compact riflescope, perched in a one-piece Nightforce mount, was used for the majority of testing. Magpul’s new low-profile MBUS Pro sights cleared the scope with room to spare.

The rifle’s TRO-XL Extended Free Float handguard offers a 38-slot top rail that aligns perfectly with the upper receiver’s top rail in both the horizontal and vertical axes. Machined from aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, it is octagonal in cross section, with the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock flats drilled and tapped for the addition of optional 2-inch ($15) or 9-inch ($24) TRO rail sections.

With its modular design and detachable rail sections, the X-Series forend offered plenty of real estate for our needs. Pictured from front to back are a Magpul MS1 sling and RSA QD mount, Harris bi-pod, Magpul MBUS Pro front sight and LaserMax Uni-IR infrared laser.

Furniture consists of a hand-filling Hogue overmolded rubber pistol grip, and an Operator CAR 6-position collapsible buttstock of RRA design. It features enhanced cheek welds, two quick-detach sling-swivel receptacles on each side, and an innovative rubber butt pad that slides off from the heel exposing two 5/8” diameter, 5.5” deep battery storage compartments. Overall length is 40.0” with the buttstock fully extended/36.5” collapsed, and empty weight without magazine is 7.8 pounds.

For reliability testing on our Salute Products steel-plate targets, we mounted a non-magnifying Aimpoint Micro T1 red-dot optic on the top rail. In firing over 100 rounds, the LAR-6.8 X-Series ran just like we’ve come to expect from Rock River ARs—like a top, with no failures of any kind.

Rock River’s own 6-position Operator CAR stock offers twin rear-access storage compartments, dual ambidextrous QD sling swivel receptacles and a sloped cheek weld surface. A color-matched Hogue overloaded rubber grip is standard.

For accuracy testing from the bench at 100 yards, we mounted a Nightforce NXS Compact 2.5-10x42mm riflescope ($1,665) in a Nightforce one-piece mount. The only 6.8 ammo we had on hand for testing was Federal’s XM68GD 90-grain Bonded Soft Point, which we’ve previosly found to be a top performer. The Federal XM68GD and the LAR-6.8 X-1 were best buddies right out of the box, and the combination turned in an extraordinarily tight, best 3-shot group of 0.215″ center to center. The largest group printed 0.83″, with the average group measuring was 0.53″.

The rifle’s 18-inch, stainless steel fluted barrel is fitted with either the RRA Hunter Muzzle Brake (shown) or the RRA Beast Muzzle Brake with added “breaching spikes” on the leading edge.

See the X-Series rifles at your firearms retailer, or for more information contact Rock River Arms, Dept. OT; Tel.: (866) 980-ROCK; Web: www.rockriverarms.com