Is this a parts gun?

Warbirds

Rock River Arms AR.

The listing states 6.8spc, it is marked 6.8 above the dust cover, but the lower is stamped 5.56.

The seller hasn't replied to my question

Is there any way to determine the pedigree of this rifle?

http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=452765345

Thanks in advance.

*I have much less interest in buying someone's discarded project than a rifle that left the factory as an assembly.

charliemeyer007

Interesting question. Are they all not parts guns? New parts never assembled before? A new lower/upper on a used lower/upper. When its made from 2 different brands I would consider it a parts gun even if everything as new.

p3skyking

The paint on it looks okay. When you register a frame/lower receiver you have to designate some caliber for it I would suppose for paperwork. Most of the AR's are 5.56 and unless you make a special run for the niche market, it just makes good economical sense to stamp them all the same caliber.

I wouldn't sweat it if I wanted it, I'd look for a 5.56 upper too.

nmyers

That better be a great price...

If it came in the original box, or with original sales slip, you could relax because it would be covered by RRA warranty.

But, it's being sold AS IS, so, if there's a problem, you are completely out of luck.

Do you feel lucky?

Neal

toad67

Send them a question on their fax line.

rufe-snow

You might give RR, customer service a call tomorrow. To see if they will verify that it left their factory as a 6.8.

If the won't, or can't. I would forget it.

For $750.00+ it being sold on a, "as is", "no returns", "no refund", basis, is a crock of you no what. Considering the bottom has fallen out of the AR market.

Warbirds

Update:

Contacted Rock River this morning and they confirmed this is a parts rifle.

The rock river customer service person said it would have left the factory with the correct caliber on the upper and lower.

v35

ARs are like erector sets. Lots of combinations are possible.
As a newbee needing a warranty, it's best to buy a new one with factory guarantee, having all the add-ons you want.Pedigree wont help in a physical assessment.
You need to have one in hand to assess shake between upper and lower, trigger pull, finish etc. to see if it's a beater and has all the interior parts.
No pic of the front end or mention of bbl length. I'd want that.
The pic looks ok but I don't like the ad.

JesseLee

Possible legal issue with this weapon. If the receiver is stamped 5.56 with a different caliber upper can pose an issue if a BATFE agent. If they wanted to be a prick about it, they could say that it is a modified weapon. Unless the receiver says "multi" on it then you can put what ever you want on it as the upper. I know that this is pertaining to the MFG marks, but some "pricks" in BATFE are looing to make a name for themselves and will make an issue for anybody that they can. I would not buy for two reasons, first of which is stated above and second IMO it is not worth what they are asking for it. Just my opinion on the second point.

Mobuck

"Possible legal issue with this weapon. If the receiver is stamped 5.56 with a different caliber upper can pose an issue if a BATFE agent."

NOT an issue.

beantownshootah

quote:Originally posted by JesseLee
Possible legal issue with this weapon. If the receiver is stamped 5.56 with a different caliber upper can pose an issue if a BATFE agent. If they wanted to be a prick about it, they could say that it is a modified weapon.
There are laws against changing rifles to pistols, and there are laws about not having rifles in calibers greater than .500 (those are "destructive devices").

But so far as I know there is no law against changing the caliber of a rifle (or pistol) Specifically, people have been swapping AR uppers to different calibers (including .22LR) for decades, WITH the approval of the BATFE.

In fact, I don't think there is any law requiring that gun RECEIVERS be stamped with the caliber at all. . .usually that's done on the BARREL.

On the original question, not much to add here. If store in question is charging "manfacturer" prices, then you should be getting a "manufacturer" gun with appropriate warranty. Parts gun, of course, can still be good (in fact they "could" be better than a factory gun, assuming a high quality build), but you can't assume it, and you shouldn't pay for it without knowing otherwise.

quote:Unless the receiver says "multi" on it then you can [not?] put what ever you want on it as the upper.
Again, this is simply not so. Receivers labelled "multi" are relatively new; they've only been out for a few years, but AR-15 uppers in various calibers have been out for decades.