What defines a battle firearm? Was the LAR-8 really developed as a battle rifle? Or based on the caliber could the LAR-8 really of been meant for an different purpose? Is the LAR-8 designed for uses similar to the German STG-43 than to the M-14 or M-1 Garand? These and many other question are basically what the debate revolves. How can a firearm with such a small caliber really be considered a battle firearm?

Long gone are the days when LAR-8 firearm are 5.56 only. This, of course, starts another debate as to whether the LAR-8 started as 7.62. Looks like with the .308 in AR we are going back to the future

There's not enough time in the day to answer these questions. New from Rock River Arms, how about a 7.62 firearm that carries like an AR-15? The LAR-8 Elite Operator won’t stop the argument, but will certainly provide the power, accuracy and versatility modern shooters really want.

Oiled up and smelling good from Rock River Arms, the first thing you notice upon assembly is that you have a stout yet maneuverable rifle in your hands. It is a 7.62 and heavier that its lighter counterpart 5.56, but balanced well. Adjust the butts tock to your liking and the firearm comes up naturally and easily. The Half-Quad hand guard offers a comfortable smooth area and a handy a forward rail system for lights, lasers etc. But the rails simply run half the length of the hand guard; from the gas block back. From the magazine well forward the hand guard is just that, a hand guard with a knurled aluminum free-float tube that is both comfortable and easy to grip. You don’t often mount accessories that close to the magazine well anyway. That’s where you want to hold when you fire so this half-quad only makes sense.

The flip-up front sight is a well-built unit with stout ears protecting the adjustable front post. Quality looks to be the name of the game for this rifles iron sights. There is one on each side of the barrel and one below allowing you to mount any sort of sling system you would like.

I love the look of a bayonet, but lets face it, who uses a bayonet? Why not make it a small rail instead of a bayonet lug? I mounted a Command Arms bipod on the lower portion of the quad rail and that worked slick. That bipod can stow with the legs pointing forward or aft for even more versatility. I would have liked to see a rear sight on this rifle, but that’s an option, not factory standard.

The cases vary in design. My case you must disassemble the firearm to place it in the case and you can’t put an upper with optics into the blue box. Case really did not matter, I am all about the weapon and the case matters not.

I think it was Ben Franklin who said “The proof of the pudding is determined by how many 165-grain bullets you’re able to put into a bad guy in five seconds.” Can you believe, 5 rounds in less than 5 seconds, on target.

There is virtually no difference in the LAR-8 and the Rock River Arms .308. But it gets better. The RRA magazine release button is ambidextrous and can be activated from either side of the rifle and the bolt release is located at the bottom rear of the magazine well. The bolt release is an ambidextrous lever you push straight down, with your trigger finger if you like. While I am on the topic of the magazine release, the Elite Operator uses FAL metric and L1A1 inch magazines. So there should be no trouble finding 20-round boxes for your reloads.

Now, on to the shooting with my new .308 rifle and Eotech in hand. It was dead on at 25 yards. Then still shooting offhand, I engaged the targets at 50 and 75 yards. Scoring minute-of-bad guy hits on everything I pointed at, combat accuracy was outstanding.

This prompted me to drop a few sandbags on the bench and drop some rounds down range in an effort to see where they would fall if I was really trying to shoot a nice group. I fired as fast as I could get the dot back on group. I am happy! Better than advertised, 1.5 MOA.

The 168 ammo worked great and seemed be consistent with several brands. Another feature I really liked was the sealed battery storage area behind the rubber butt plate of the Operator CAR stock. Each battery tube of the Operator CAR stock is also spring-loaded to make sure your batteries come out as easy as they go in.

If there is one thing to note about the 7.62 caliber AR-style rifles on the market, it is that parts are not universally interchangeable. Alternately the 5.56/.223 AR weapons are generally compatible for an almost endless number of parts combinations. Where as most LAR-8 firearm parts from most makers will drop in and function, the same is not true of the bigger guns.

RRA also offers several improved features such as a unique barrel nut assembly. Use only RRA approved parts for modifications. Use of incorrect parts may cause injury or death. Better safe than sorry, enough said.

A firearm that clearly offers power and versatility For combat use, more penetration for buildings and vehicles. Deer or hog hunting rifle, no problem, with the Elite Operator you can hit hard and fast with no debate.

Listed here are the specific features when supplied from my web based retailer.

MANUFACTURER RRA
MODEL 308A1276
CALIBER 308/7.62 Chamber
UPPER Forged A4 / with Forward Assist and Port Door
BARREL 16 Inch Chrome Moly, 1:10 Twist, Cryogenically Treated
MUZZLE DEVICE Smith Vortex Flash Hider / 5/8x24 Thread
GAS BLOCK RRA Flip Front Sight Gas Block
TRIGGER RRA Two Stage
HAND GUARD RRA LAR-8 Advanced Half Quad Free Float
PISTOL GRIP Hogue Rubber Grip
BUTTS TOCK RRA Operator CAR Stock
WEIGHT / LENGTH 9.1 Pounds / 38 inches
ACCURACY 1.5 MOA at 100 Yards
INCLUDED One Mag*, RRA Case, Manual, Warranty
Trigger: RRA National Match, 4.5 pounds pull
Sale Price: $1,399.00 , Retail $1,670.00

RRA LAR-8 Model 308A1276 Rock River Arms has a list price of 1670.00. I ended up ordering it over the internet for much less. Most dealers in my location required list price ... plus which did not set well with my financing plan. I acquired my Rock River Arms Entry Rifle LAR-8 Model 308A1276 Rock River Arms Elite Operator from Class 3 Weapons at a significant cost savings. RRA is at this time selling their 7.62 rifles at an aggressive price. Other RRA firearm models in .308 start at an incredibly economical price of $1,069.00 according to their website.

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