Rock River Arms LAR-15M Review – Everything You Want in a Varmint Rifle

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The Rock River Arms LAR-15M is a fully loaded 18” Rifle Chambered in 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire. Designed to fit every small game need, the amount of features packed into this rifle is enough to get everyone’s attention.

Now that I am 500 rounds in on this one, I have seen the accuracy, versatility, and lack of recoil that comes with the LAR-15M.

I tested the LAR-15M out to 75 yards on multiple range days. I used a variety of ammo, including CCI, Hornady, and Federal Premium. I focused on the rifle’s functionality and accuracy during testing.

With an Ultralight Match Grade trigger and some comfy Magpul furniture, the LAR-15M is ready to outfit the beginner all the way to the expert out in the field.

Other than one 10-round magazine in the box and the price of this one, I had a very hard time finding any complaints.

Through it all, the Rock River Arms LAR-15M proved itself a lights-out accurate rifle with the ability to customize it into anything you could imagine. For the price, there are several other directions you could go.

Does this one cover all the needs a varmint blaster of today has?

Hands-On Impressions

While shooting the Rock River Arms LAR-15M, I had a lot of different emotions going on. First, I was excited to try the 17 HMR round for the first time. I have only seen the round on shelves, online, and in conversations. Never have I shot a 17 HMR pistol or rifle.

My excitement was also heightened by the fact that I hadn’t really had any experience with Rock River Arms, aside from shooting a buddy’s 1911 a while ago.

I was always under the impression that Rock River Arms was mainly a 1911 company. In reality, they’re known for their custom 1911 builds that start around the three-thousand-dollar mark, and there’s a lot more to them than just handguns.

This rifle is a looker, ya’ll! The Billet Upper receiver, forged lower receiver, and handguard all match perfectly together. Combined with the Magpul stock and pistol grip, the comfort level of this one out of the box is top-notch.

The LAR-15M is an absolute tac driver on the range, stacking round after round with very minimal point-of-aim, point-of-impact shift, even after switching between different brands of ammo.

I noticed the extreme reliability and no feeding issues with the proprietary mag design. Something that, while I am a little bummed about its ten-round capacity, I understand the reasoning for that.

Another thing that stood out to me was the severe lack of recoil in this setup. While standing or, especially, mounted on a tripod, this rifle does not move. It stays flat as a plateau, making follow-up shots almost immediate.

I was also shocked at how quiet a 17 HMR moving at over 2250 feet per second could be and still be hearing-safe. I used a variety of 22LR-caliber suppressors, and they all did a great job of reducing the snap that usually comes with rounds moving that fast.

Overall, the Rock River Arms LAR-15M impressed me again and again. I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into this review.

Is 17 HMR a reliable round to run in a semi-auto rifle? Is that round going to be difficult to quiet down? Is this ammo hard to find? Are there any other 17 HMR rifles with higher magazine capacities?

Over and over, this rifle not only gave me an answer but ultimately convinced me of its potential and abilities.

Rock River Arms LAR-15M Review (Video)

Flaws or Limitations

First off, the capacity was my biggest concern.

Because of how comfortable and awesome the plinking setup potential was, the capacity was lacking. Needing five magazines for 50 rounds is a bit silly to me. I understand hunting laws are the reason for this.  But a 20-, 25-, or even 30-round option for customers would be amazing. And if not, at least have more than one included in the box.

The next concern is more of a reveal of my cheapness: I think a rifle priced over $1300 should come with a fully ambidextrous setup. This LAR-15M has a standard milspec safety, take-down pins, bolt catch/release, charging handle, and mag release, which is fine, but not for $1300.

The ultralight match-grade trigger is a super nice addition. It’s a clean break and nice reset trigger, no doubt. But do you need a match-grade trigger in a varmint rifle? This setup would not be used for competition, classes, or anything of tactical nature.

This is aimed at a small group of people; this one in particular. The 17 HMR round seems to be mainly used in varmint hunting. So I have a few “why” questions about the decisions behind the features chosen, not the rifle’s quality itself.  

Who It’s For

This best fits the newer / younger hunter on the farm. For example, this would be a great rifle for a son or daughter on the homestead, not only for target plinking practice but also for protection.

The 17 HMR is a great round at handling small game, and while it’s an easy round to control, it’s also easy to find in stock. Not cheaper than 22LR, but it has some benefits over its caliber cousin.

It shoots flatter, hits harder, and performs better in wind than .22 LR, making it a more capable choice for small game at longer ranges. Most factory loads come with polymer-tipped bullets for better expansion and accuracy. It’s also a great stepping stone for new shooters, offering centerfire-style controls with rimfire recoil.

It would be easy to keep available on person or in a vehicle, and a good platform for customization. A significant benefit to me would be the ability to prepare the user to operate a more standard-size rifle/caliber, since the controls and operations are the same.

Range Results

While at the range, we used three different kinds of ammo. CCI 20 Grain FMJ moving at 2375 fps, Federal Premium 17 Grain JHP moving at 2530 fps, and Hornady 20 Grain XTP moving at 2375 fps.

We shot groups at 50 yards off a tripod, sitting. In 10-round tests of each ammo, the Rock River Arms LAR-15M showed minimal Point of Aim/Point of Impact shift between brands.

The 10-round shot group resulted in all 10 rounds touching each other in a half-dollar-sized grouping at 50 yards.

The rifle was accurate enough to hip-fire with a laser using night vision on targets of various sizes at 50-75 yards.

In 500 rounds, the LAR-15M had only one failure to feed, and it seemed the mag was not seated properly. It could have been user error. No other issues or failures with this rifle.

The rifle had one of the lowest felt recoil impulses in all my shooting experience. Super soft shooter, especially suppressed, and it was almost like having a cheat code enabled, keeping the gun on target.

We were sent this LAR-15M from Rock River Arms for testing, review, and content.

Where To Buy

17 HMR Version

LAR-15M [All calibers]

Specs

Pros & Cons

Scorecard

Alternatives

Alexander Arms 17 HMR Tactical Rifle

Priced a little cheaper than the Rocker River Arms LAR-15M at $1275, and using B5 systems furniture. Also available in a pistol configuration and multiple color options

Ruger American Rimfire 17 HMR

Though a bolt-action rifle, the capacity, while mag-fed, is also 10: threaded barrel, top rail for optic, and a nice, clean trigger. The $550 tag on this one alone is enough to look at it.

Savage A17

At a $600 price point, the simplistic, yet capable Savage Arms setup is another nice budget option to the Rock River Arms LAR-15M.

Conclusion

I truly enjoyed my experience with this Rock River Arms LAR-15M in 17 HMR. While I may be picky about the price and magazine capacity, they do not detract from the rifle’s quality, durability, or design.

The performance was top-notch, and it was a big first impression for me on a new caliber. I liked the 17 HMR caliber more than I expected, and it is now a contender for my homestead upkeep choices going forward.

Rock River Arms has done a good job of bringing a reliable, semi-auto, magazine-fed rifle with unlimited customization options to the market. A rifle I never knew I needed, but now happy to have, and something I can use as intended, and keep the property and all its tenants safe.

Let us know what you think of the LAR-15M from Rock River Arms below!