First Look: Rock River Arms Predator HP LAR-BT3

What It Is: A fully outfitted AR hunting rifle for varmints, predators, hogs and deer.

Why We Love It: Chambered in the venerable .243 Winchester, this AR is field ready and capable of MOA accuracy.

Rock River Arms consistently produces AR-platform rifles for hunters that are well built and loaded with features and the new Predator HP LAR-BT3 is no exception. RRA BT3 billet uppers and lowers come standard on these guns, as does a low-profile gas block and rifle-length gas system. The fluted, cryogenically treated 20-inch barrel is made from stainless steel and features a 1:10” twist rate. The barrel is threaded ⅝x24 and comes with a Rock River Predator muzzle brake. The two-stage trigger is smooth, clean and easy to control, and the oversized trigger guard makes it easy to use even when wearing winter gloves.

The 17-inch Rock River free-floated extended rail offers M-Lok compatibility, so you can easily mount sling studs or bipods. Speaking of mounting space, the full-length top rail offers plenty of real estate for mounting scopes, thermal optics or anything else you like. The six-position adjustable Rock River Arms CAR stock allows you to customize length of pull quickly in the field, which is a major benefit on a hunting rifle like this. In the summer or early season while you’re hunting hogs and varmints, you can extend the stock, and when winter arrives and you’re chasing whitetails and coyotes in bulky clothing, you can shorten it to accommodate bulky garments. The stock also offers QD attachment points, and a Hogue rugger pistol grip is also standard.

This AR-platform rifle comes with a metal magazine and weighs in at 9.2 pounds. Overall length is 39 inches. Rock River Arms promises sub-MOA accuracy for all their Predator HP LAR-BT3 rifles. The Rock River’s accuracy and long list of hunter-friendly features make it an ideal all-around hunting rifle.

The new Pradator HP LAR-BT3 has an MSRP of $1,675. For more information, visit rockriverarms.com.