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Robar rifle ships in a hard case with two Tango Down 30-round magazines.

Magpul six-position stock.

Magazine catch / release.

MBUS folding sights.

VLTOR charging handle.

Accuracy testing was done using a Leupold Mark 4 8.5 to 25 power target/tactical scope and Target Shooting, Inc. Model 500 Rifle Rest.

Best and worst groups fired with the Robar PolymAR-15 carbine.

The Robar Companies of Phoenix, Arizona have been in the firearm finishing business for many years, and their proprietary NP3 and Roguard finishes are among the most-durable and beautiful metal finishes available anywhere. I have a Colt Lightweight Commander that was finished with NP3 and Roguard several years ago, and it looks as good today as it did the day it was delivered. Both Roguard and NP3 offer superior lubricity and protection for the metal beneath, and I highly recommend both as the best available for a firearm.

What many people do not know is that firearm finishing is only a relatively small percentage of the metal finishing work done by Robar. Robbie Barrkman and his team do the majority of their work providing superior metal finishing to parts used in the medical and aerospace industries, in which tolerances are many times tighter than those used on firearms. Robar has the capability to hold tolerances of the dimensional thickness to within .0001 inch (one ten-thousands of an inch), and as a result, those of us who desire to have Robar finish our firearms benefit from those same exacting tolerances held to the finish of both exterior and interior parts of our weapons.

In addition to providing superior metal finishing, Robar also highly modifies weapons, as well as building custom firearms from the ground up. They will do shaping a texturing of metal surfaces, grip reduction surgery on polymer pistols, and pretty much any work that one would reasonably want done to a firearm.

Robbie Barrkman was born in South Africa, and came to the U.S. in 1977. His work as a firearms instructor at Gunsite in Arizona had him working on his students' guns to keep them running, and that led to his work on modifying and manufacturing weapons and to the development of his NP3 and Roguard finishes, which contribute lubricity and durability to firearms. Visiting with Robbie a few months back in Arizona, I was privileged to see his facilities, and also to learn that he is an excellent photographer. Robbie did not just come to America to make his living, but he is also a believer in the U.S. Constitution and the American way of life, and earned his U.S. citizenship the hard way. I like to refer to Robbie as my favorite "African-American".

In addition to custom finishing and other gunsmith services, Robar sells a dandy little tool for anyone that uses an ACOG, Aimpoint, or other combat optic, called "The Combat Optic Tool-Optimized". This little jewel is very useful in the field for mounting, adjusting, and otherwise keeping your combat optic secure and in sync with your rifle. It is also handy for opening a bottle of RC Cola or other preferred beverage.

Robar also builds an excellent version of the AR-15 carbine, and that brings us to the subject of this review. Theirs is not just a "me too" rifle resembling dozens of other AR-15 rifles on the market, but really is a custom-grade, premium rifle. Most AR-15 rifles on the market today are heading in the wrong direction; becoming heavier and heavier, and have strayed far from the original concept of the AR-15 rifle. Thankfully, Robar has built a superior rifle while holding the weight down to just a bit over six pounds. The rifle now wears an aluminum handguard, but in January 2015, the KSP polymer handguard will be standard, dropping the weight to below six pounds. Robar has treated the bolt carrier group, bolt, magazine catch, selector switch, and other small parts with their NP3 finish for durability and lubricity. Parts treated with the NP3 are much easier to clean, and they stay cleaner during use. Specifications for the PolymAR-15 are listed below. The first fifty rifles will be available with the tan upper and lower receivers. After that, the receiver halves will be black. MSRP is correct as of the date of this review.

For accuracy testing, I mounted my mule: the Leupold Mark 4 8.5 to 25 power target/tactical scope. This scope allows me to get all the accuracy that I possibly can out of a rifle/ammo combo. From a solid rest, it eliminates most of my human error, and allows me to see just how well a rifle will shoot. Velocity testing was done with the chronograph set out twelve feet from the muzzle at an elevation of 541 feet above sea level, approximately. Temperatures hovered around the thirty-five degree Fahrenheit mark during all velocity testing. Relative humidity was forty-eight percent. Velocity readings are the average of several shots fired, and the results are listed in the chart below. Velocity readings are listed in feet-per-second (fps). Bullet weights are listed in grains. FMJ is a full metal jacket bullet. HP is hollowpoint. V-Max is a polymer-tipped varmint bullet. TSX is a Barnes Triple Shock homogenous copper hollowpoint bullet. The handload listed uses the TSX bullet with 24.5 grains of Ramshot TAC powder, a Remington small rifle primer, and Winchester commercial .223 Remington cases. Accuracy testing was done with the rifle resting in a Target Shooting, Inc. Model 500 rifle rest, to eliminate as much shooter error as possible. The rifle was allowed to cool between each brand of ammo tested.

Accuracy was, as expected, superb. I bore-sighted the weapon at twenty-five yards,  proceeded to fire on paper at fifty, and then at one hundred yards for accuracy testing. The Leupold scope allowed me to hold precisely on target, and the PolymAR-15 proved to group well within its one-minute-of-angle (MOA) accuracy guarantee.

As expected, reliability was one hundred percent. Every cartridge fed, fired, and ejected flawlessly. I tested the weapon using the supplied Tango Down magazines, as well as a twenty-round Vietnam War era Colt magazine. I prefer these shorter mags when shooting from the bench, and they functioned perfectly in the PolymAR-15.

There are plenty of AR-15 rifles on the market that cost less than does this Robar, but I was surprised at the relatively low price of this rifle, considering the quality of the parts, and the fit and function of this weapon. The NP3 on the small parts and bolt carrier group, along with the quality of the other components used, results in a rifle that is as good as any custom AR that I have ever handled, and superior to most. There are very few ARs on the market, either production or custom, that fit together as tightly yet run so smoothly as does this Robar. You can pay a lot more money for an AR, but it is doubtful that you will get a better rifle. The PolymAR-15 from Robar is one of the finest AR rifles on the market, and an excellent value.

Check out the extensive line of products and services offered by Robbie Barrkman and his crew at www.robarguns.com.

For details on the Mark 4 and other quality Leupold optics, go to www.leupold.com.

To order quality 223 and 5.56mm ammunition, go to www.midsouthshooterssupply.com, www.buffalobore.com, www.doubletapammo.com, www.lehighdefense.com, and www.luckygunner.com.

Jeff Quinn

NOTE: All load data posted on this web site are for educational purposes only. Neither the author nor GunBlast.com assume any responsibility for the use or misuse of this data. The data indicated were arrived at using specialized equipment under conditions not necessarily comparable to those encountered by the potential user of this data.  Always use data from respected loading manuals and begin working up loads at least 10% below the loads indicated in the source manual.

Click pictures for a larger version.

Author's favorite African-American, Robbie Barrkmann.

Robar facility in Arizona.

Rich Grassi of The Tactical Wire and Robbie Barrkmann.

AR-15 bolts.

KSP polymer receiver.

Diamondhead handguard with three Picatinny rails.