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Handguns

Rock River Arms LAR-40 Pistol

rra_lar-40aI have to admit the Rock River Arms LAR-40 pistol is a head-scratcher for me.  This is one of those guns that I just don’t get.  Let me explain…

The RRA LAR-40 is a AR-15 style firearm chambered in the .40 S&W pistol round and configured as a pistol.  You can get them with a seven inch or 10.5 inch barrel with an A2 or A4 upper.  Overall length on the seven inch model is 23 inches with an unloaded weight of 4.8 pounds.  The 10.5 incher weighs 5.2 pounds in the A2 configuration and measures 26.5 inches overall.

The pistols use an UZI-style stick magazine (only one is included).  Retail prices run from $1120 to $1180 depending on configuration.  But…what’s the point?

These guns are chambered in .40 S&W, which is a common pistol cartridge, and popular for law enforcement and self defense.  But this pistol isn’t really easy to carry around.  At about five pounds and two feet long, it isn’t concealable, nor is it well suited for open carry.

While adequate for self defense, the .40 is underpowered for most hunting.  A longer barrel probably isn’t going to add enough velocity to make it great for hunting.

Am I missing something?

I imagine someone would like one of these to add to their collection, and you certainly don’t have to justify any “need” to me.  You want one, go get one.  RAA builds good guns.  But, I just can’t figure out what anyone would do with one of these.

Can someone set me straight on this one?  Sound off below to give me your thoughts and input on the subject.  I’m not trying to be a douche, I’m just really trying to figure this out.  There is probably a simple and obvious answer, but I guess I am just missing it.  Please sound off and get me straight.

rra_lar-40

By Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson is an American author, editor and entrepreneur. He's done a lot of silly things in his life, but quitting police work to follow his passion of writing about guns was one of the smartest things he ever did. He founded this site and continues to manage its operation.

12 replies on “Rock River Arms LAR-40 Pistol”

The FBI purchased some LAR-40 rifles as reported over at the Firearm Blog (see Tbyrd67’s link above…) These are pistols. I don’t think it is a way of just getting uppers into the market, either. RRA lists 7″ and 10.5″ .40 uppers as a purchase item in their catalog separate from the pistols.

By Post Author

…because, and this also goes for the full-size carbine version, pistol-caliber AR carbines are fun to shoot, perhaps?

Well, you don’t have to justify getting or shooting one. You like them, knock yourself out. I guess I just don’t see the business case that makes this work. Will RRA sell enough to make the builds worthwhile?

By Post Author

I got one, then chambered it for .357 Sig and sbr’d it. Now, I have a smokin fast round coming out of the barrel and it is one hell of a defense weapon!

Mike,

Sounds like an awesome build. I’ve always thought the .357 SIG would be a fantastic subgun round and in an SBR like you’ve built, I imagine it would be amazing. Any chance you’ve chronographed any of the ammo?

Richard

By Post Author

I am LEO and I purchased the pistol. I then SBR’d it. I bought the weapon do to the reason that it is cheaper then an MP5 40 and it is a weapon system that everyone in my department to my wife are familiar with. 40 S&W is a great cartridge for cqb and since that is what calibre I use in my service weapon it made sense to go that calibre. My wife likes the weapon do to no recoil and I placed a eotech and silencer on it. It makes for a great home defense gun. Just my two cents any way.

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