New For 2023: Rock River Arms Ascendant Series AR-15s

by
posted on January 22, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Rock River Arms Ascendant Series F

Rock River Arms launched an entirely new lineup of AR-15 rifles in 2023, and the new Ascendant series is intended to provide shooters and hunters with a number of upgraded options straight from the box. On each model in the RRA Ascendant series, consumers will find all the upgrades usually done by end users on base-model guns, but all of these upgrades come standard on RRA's factory guns, saving users the hassle of having to determine which components work best for them.

At the heart of each RRA Ascendant series gun is a 416R stainless-steel barrel, which has been media-blasted to reduce glare and cryogenically treated to improve accuracy. The guns are available in three chamberings at launch: .223 Wylde, 350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster. Surrounding the barrel is the company's lightweight handguard, which provides a full Picatinny rail in the 12-o'clock position to accommodate infrared illuminators and thermal optics.

Inside the gun, RRA included TriggerTech's Diamond Single-Stage AR-15 trigger, which provides an "extremely short" overtravel and is also adjustable from 1.5 to 4 lbs. of pull weight. Other upgrades include a Magpul PRS Lite stock, which is adjustable for length of pull and comb height while also saving on weight, Hogue's overmolded rubber grip and an ambidextrous Radian Raptor charging handle.

To make each rifle in the RRA Ascendant series truly ready straight from the box, the company is also including one of two Vortex optics. The .223 Wylde-chambered model includes a Vortex Viper HS 4-16X 44 mm riflescope, while the 350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster models ship with a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6X 24 mm optic. Suggested retail pricing on the guns start at $3,020. For more information, visit rockriverarms.com.

Latest

Kimber 1911 Ds Warrior Gotw 1
Kimber 1911 Ds Warrior Gotw 1

Gun of the Week: Kimber 1911 DS Warrior LW

In 2026, Kimber developed its 1911 DS Warrior, an American-made, double-stack design that is intended to be an affordable entry point into Kimber's double-stack handgun line.

The Armed Citizen® April 24, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Spin Difference: The Impact of Barrel Twist Rates on Terminal Performance

When most shooters think of rifling-twist rates, they mostly think of rifles with their high BC projectiles, but the rpm of a bullet also plays a part in terminal performance.

Beretta's 1301 Tactical vs. A300 Ultima Patrol Shotguns: Which Should You Choose?

Ever since Beretta launched the A300 Ultima Patrol shotgun in 2024 as a less-pricey alternative to the 1301 Tactical, shotgunners have debated whether the 1301 is worth the extra cost. Let's examine them both.

ZEV Technologies Escaping Washington State’s Hostile Political Climate

ZEV Technologies announced it is moving its headquarters and manufacturing operations out of Washington state to Utah’s Second Amendment-friendly business climate.

U.S. v. Hemani Arguments

On March 2, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in U.S. v. Hemani. The case involves a defendant who is fighting a federal indictment for possessing a firearm while being a marijuana user.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.