Rifleman Review: Rock River Arms BT 9 R9 Competition

by
posted on January 12, 2022

Over the past few years, the pistol-caliber carbine market has grown and experienced a renaissance of sorts, especially in the realm of competitive shooting. Rock River Arms has joined the fray with its own line of pistol caliber carbines based off of the AR-15 platform. In 2020, American Rifleman staff tested and reviewed on these carbines set up specifically for competitive shooting, the Rock River Arms BT 9 R9 Competition in 9 mm Luger.

The Rock River Arms BT 9 R9 Competition.

As a platform based off the ubiquitous AR-15, the BT 9 R9 Competition has many control and aesthetic features that will be readily familiar to anyone who is also familiar with the former. The BT 9 R9 uses an AR style of upper and lower receiver group, with the controls located in their classic locations. This includes the charging handle, bolt release, safety lever and magazine release, all of which are non ambidextrous. The magazine release lever is different in design from a standard AR-15, but the button is located in the same spot ahead of the trigger on the right side of the lower receiver. 

A closer look at the right side of the Rock River Arms BT 9 R9 Competition.

Both the upper and lower receiver are made from aluminum, with the upper being extruded while the lower is machined from billet. Being a pistol caliber carbine in 9 mm Luger, the BT 9 R9 Competition uses a blowback-operated, semi-automatic action. The lower receivers magazine well is shaped differently with and added bevel, specifically to take Glock-style double-stack magazines, of which the example tested came with a single 17-round magazine from ETS Group. The BT 9 R9 Competition comes with a 16" chrome-molly barrel threaded at the muzzle for 1/2x36" TPI, topped off with a Rock River Armory mini break.

A closer look at the mini break that comes on the Rock River Arms BT 9 R9 Competition.

The barrel is surrounded by a 15" free-floating hand guard, with M-LOK slots machined into the 3-, 6- and 9-o'clock positions. A short segment of Picatinny rail is at the front and rear of the hand guard, with more rail segment on the flat top receiver for mounting optics. QD sling attachment points can also be found on the sides of the hand guard.

Firing the Rock River Arms BT 9 R9 Competition on the range.

As for furniture, the BT 9 R9 Competition comes with a Hogue overmolded pistol grip and a four-position adjustable Rock River Arms buttstock. It also comes with an AR-15 two-stage trigger group, with a measured pull weight of 4 lbs., 14 ozs. Overall, the BT 9 R9 Competition has an unloaded weight of 6 lbs., 13 ozs. For more information on the Rock River Arms BT 9 R9 Competition and the company's other pistol-caliber carbines, visit rockriverarms.com.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

Fn 509 Cc Edge Xl Review On Rocks
Fn 509 Cc Edge Xl Review On Rocks

Review: FN 509 CC Edge XL

With increasingly more and more micro-compacts coming to the market in the last 10 years, consumers are beginning to go the other way, searching for more shootable options to carry for protection, and FN has answered with its 509 CC Edge XL.

New For 2025: Watchtower Firearms Bridger

Watchtower Firearms' latest introduction pays homage to famed explorer Jim Bridger, and this bolt-action has a few innovative features designed to make it the "ultimate backcountry hunting rifle."

Preview: Caldwell Lead Sled 3

Whether you’re zeroing your new scope or trying to find the best load for your rifle, recoil-reducing rests like the Lead Sled 3 from Caldwell offer a solid testing foundation.

Gun Of The Week: Taurus 692 Executive Grade

Welcome to American Rifleman’s “Gun Of The Week,” where our staff editors examine the firearm industry’s latest offerings. And for this episode, we have a multi-caliber, switch-cylinder revolver from Taurus on the range. Meet the 692 Executive Grade.

The Armed Citizen® Feb. 14, 2025

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

Elmer Keith & The Evolution Of The .38 Special

Elmer Keith considered the .38 Special to be "too small for a man-stopper or service cartridge," but his work improved the capabilities of the round, and today's offerings are even more capable.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.