Rock River Arms has a passion for precision and has proven itself to be a forward-thinking company with attention to detail like few others. From pistols to precision rifles, to retro versions of the AR, Rock River offers up a wide variety of guns to tactical and sporting enthusiasts alike. The company’s Tactical Carbine in .22 LR is another example of Rock River’s craftsmanship, and it’s one gun everyone can get behind and enjoy. Watch our video above to see the LAR-22 Tactical Carbine in use on the range.
The LAR-22 Tactical Carbine is one of those guns you’ll want to spend an entire day at the range with, and it’s built to do so affordably, thanks to its rimfire chambering and 25-round magazine; 10-rounders are available, too. The gun comes built on the same LAR-15M receiver used by Rock River in its semi-automatic AR-15-type guns. It is a forged-aluminum unit, anodized black and is built with Rock River’s two-stage trigger, which is a boon to those looking to press this gun’s accuracy potential to the extreme.
Rock River includes a 16” chrome-moly steel barrel rifled enough to give bullets one full spin before exiting the threaded 1/2x28 TPI muzzle. A birdcage-style flash hider is included, which is reminiscent of those found on 5.56-chambered guns. The barrel is a free-floating assembly and shrouded by an extruded handguard made of aluminum, which is rendered with a matte-black finish. A Picatinny rail adorns the top, fore and aft, and M-Lok slots carve the way for accessorizing. Furthermore, several QD sockets are provided for slings.
At the rear of the gun, in the stock, there are more slots and two flush-mount sockets for use with slings, too. These features of the NSP-2 CAR stock also include an unlocking lever to adjust the unit to fit the myriad body types and situations of users out there. The stock is capped with a strip of rubber for non-slip functionality. Rock River also includes an A2-pattern pistol grip with its furniture package along with standard AR-15 controls, except the extruded-aluminum upper receiver does not have the forward-assist feature. Also, it’s important to note the upgraded trigger guard included on this example is designed for quick access to the trigger, even with a gloved hand.
On the range, the Rock River Arms Tactical Carbine in .22 LR gave us a great time. The gun fed, fired and ejected all ammunition without fail. Our testers noted appreciation for the choice of furniture Rock River provides, giving necessary upgrades to the AR platform while leaving room for further upgrades to better suit the end user. Between generous and well-made magazines, to top-level engineering and execution, there’s a lot to like about the LAR-22 Tactical Carbine.
Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine
Manufacturer: Rock River Arms
Action Type: blowback-operated, semi-automatic, rimfire rifle
Chambering: .22 Long Rifle
Barrel: 16" chrome-moly steel
Lower Receiver: forged aluminum
Upper Receiver: extruded aluminum
Finish: black
Magazine: 25-round detachable box
Sights: none; Picatinny rail
Stock: RRA NSP-2 CAR; six-position adjustable
Trigger: two-stage; 4-lb., 3-oz. pull
Overall Length: 37.25"
MSRP: $805
