Rainier Arms has released a new complete AR15 carbine: the RUC DI. The direct impingement rifle is built around the newly evolved Rainier Arms Select barrel. It utilizes the Rainier Urban Combat Rail (UCR) and boasts numerous other features.
Take a look at the RUC rifle setup:
Rainier Arms Urban Combat Rail (UCR)
The RUC DI Rifle utilizes the RA Urban Combat Rail to provide shooters with a rock-solid handguard that can take any abuse thrown at it.
The UCR MLOK slots are positioned at the 3, 6 & 9 o’clock positions for adding user-defined rail sections. There are also anti-rotation QD sockets at the 3 o’clock & 9 o’clock positions. Other features include:
- CNC machined 6000 Aluminum
- Hard Coat Anodized Milspec Type III/Class 2
- 7075 Aluminum Barrel Nut
- Patent Pending 17-4PH Cored Stainless Steel Rail Mounting Hardware
- Anti-rotation tabs to easily align the rail to upper receiver
- *No Barrel nut shims are required for installation if you decide to switch things out
- 1.315″ Interior Diameter
Avalanche ANC Charging Handle
A patented ambidextrous design, the Avalanche’s interchangeable handles offer an individualized look and feel. Made for fast and fluid operation, the Avalanche is built in Rainier’s own facility in Wichita, Kansas.
Avalanche features:
- 15% increase in wall thickness
- Reduced vent holes to minimize flex and improve rigidity
- Latch angles redesigned for improved locking and charging
- 7075 T6 Aluminum
- Weight 1.34 oz
Rainier Arms Select Barrel
RA designed these as an affordable alternative to their match-grade barrels. They’re so confident about the quality they offer a 100% money-back guarantee within 90 days of purchase.
Barrel Specs
- Stainless Steel Match Grade Blank
- Twist: 1:7 | Thread Pitch: 1/2 x 28
- .750 Gas Block Seat
- Polyganol 5-groove rifling
- M4 Feed Ramps
- Proprietary Contour
- Nitride Finish
FHAV2 Flash Hider
Rated 5 stars out of 5 stars by Rainier Arms customers, this is definitely, as one reviewer put it, a “bad azz flash hider.” The only downside to this muzzle device is how hard it is to keep them in stock.
FHAV2 Specs
- 303 Stainless with Black Nitride finish
- 1/2-28 thread & 1/2-36 thread pitches
- 2.26 length, .89 Diameter, 1.76 oz.
RUC Rifle DI: Full Specs
Upper Receiver:
- RA Select 5.56 Barrel – 16 in.
- RA Forged Upper Receiver
- RA Urban Combat Rail – 15 in.
- RA Precision Bolt Carrier Group
- RA “Avalanche” Charging Handle
- RA Low Profile .750 Gas Block
- RA FHV2 Flash Hider
Lower Receiver:
- RA Forged Lower Receiver
- RA Modified Trigger Guard
- B5 Systems QD End Plate
- H1 Buffer – 3.9 oz
- Carbine Buffer Spring
- ALG Defense Quality Trigger
- B5 Systems Bravo Stock
- B5 Systems Type 23 Pistol Grip
Price unlisted. That’s a warning.
Their website lists $1,200.
Rainier Arms is a few miles from me, I’ve been in the shop a few times. My impression is that they like to build premium ARs to the customer’s specifications, whatever those might be. Haven’t shot one of their rifles myself, but their reputation is good.
don’t they realize how unfortunate the name “urban combat” is? the first guy who lights up a city crowd will have done so due to that nomenclature.
they should have named it the “rural hammock.”
Urban combat.
But but we want a rural combat riflle…………….
Combat Wombat?
That’s a Hodaka of a different color…
road toad.
Ooohh. Really super scary flash hider. 😉
If I didn’t prefer building my own, this would be a definite possibility.
I’m still waiting for the branded BLM rifle. Black, Lightweight, Modular.
Or maybe Built Like a Mofo.
Then follow it up with the Tactical Rapid Aggression Negation System rifle.
Let’s see the antis cry to ban those.
the antis will respond with the General Asymmetric Yelling system.
Ok, this is a standard AR with some nice ‘touch points’ added to give it the feel of a more expensive rifle. you can take any Palmetto budget AR and beef it up the same way for less than this rifle costs.
it’s a standard automotive industry tactic, add a few nice ‘touch points’ to a lower cost car and increase the price.
Except it’s not a few nice touch points. It’s upgrading core parts of the gun that make it a better gun.
Compared to the el cheapo PSA gun, You go from carbine length gas to mid length. This is fundamentally nicer to shoot and easier to shoot fast more accurately. There’s also less of a lottery in if a RA barrel will be a shooter than a PSA barrel. You get a free float forearm. This is a massive upgrade for shooting braced, from a rest, etc. No more barrel deflection when doing such. You can also mount accessories on it. You get an improved trigger, which is a bit better than a good mil spec trigger, but a LOT better than a bad mil spec trigger. You get a grip that will be much more ergonomically correct for most people vs the standard A2 grip.
PSA will narrow the gap on some of that for $100 more. But if I had to put down money betting which one will shoot better out of the box, I’d put it on the RA gun every time and I’d probably win. Fit and finish? RA is sure money vs PSA.
Fundamentally your argument would have to boil down to all rifles built on an ar pattern upper and lower are the same, and that’s not the case.
As for “jsut upgrade a PSA”, lets do the math.
Start with the PSA $499 rifle. To reconfigure it similar to this, you need a new barrel ($150-200), new gas block ($30), and new gas tube ($20). Then you need the forearm ($150). A better grip ($25-35), ambi charging handle ($50-70), improved trigger ($70), and a new stock ($50-60?)
Going with the lower end of those prices, you are at an additional $545, so $1044, and then you need the tools. You’ll hit basically the same price, or close enough it doesn’t matter.
Alternatively you could go with the $599 PSA gun that is set up more similar to this. While PA guns are functional and value for the price is solid, based on y experience you will be getting a better forearm, better BCG, better barrel, better charging handle, and just better overall QC on the rainier gun. It’s up to the buyer to decide it is worth it.
I’m not a big AR snob, and if a PSA is your budget, it’s a ton of gun for the money. But I like building mine, and I think the $1200 price point for the RA gun is reasonable if you don’t or don’t have the tools, especially if you like their part choices. For the price point, I’d probably just wind up with different but similar parts, and a better trigger if I DIY and shop sales.
Bang for your buck, PSA is awesome! Their $599 gun (which I built a pre COVID for $399 plus stripped lower) has the following upgrades.
1. Mid Length gas system
2. Free floated barrel
3. Nice hand guard with M-lock
4. EPT (enhanced polished trigger)
5. Magpul furniture
6. Magpul flip up backup sights
It’s nothing fancy, but still pretty impressive for the price. Throw on a Primary Arms 1-6X or 1-8X LPVO with the ACSS illuminated reticle (around $300), and a sling. Spray paint it camo if you want. You’ve got a very capable general purpose rifle. I’ve taken mine out to 500 yards.
If you need a better barrel, PSA does offer the FN cold hammer forged barrel.
I was referring to their build kits, so my use of the word “built” should be taken loosely. You assemble the lower, and then pop on the complete upper. No specialized tools are really necessary. I’ve done three of the AR15s, and one AR10. I’ve been very pleased with all of them.
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