NEW: Ruger Announces Harrier 5.56 NATO AR Series

Ruger’s new Harrier AR rifles open a fresh chapter for this storied firearms manufacturer

by Rob Reaser

Last summer, Ruger came out with a big announcement that created quite a stir in the AR world; the company had purchased the entirety of Anderson Manufacturing. Anderson was a major — if not the major — manufacturer in the AR segment as the company was an OE supplier of many of the components used by other AR manufacturers to produce their own products.

The Ruger announcement further reverberated when it was revealed that the company would not simply continue to manufacture the Anderson products. In short, the acquisition spelled the end of a brand built largely on supplying other manufacturers and DIY AR enthusiasts with build-your-own kits and components.

This left open the question everyone was asking through the last half of 2025: what would Ruger do with the former Anderson manufacturing facility and its employees based in Hebron, Kentucky?

The answer has been partially revealed in Ruger’s recent release of its all-new Harrier-series AR-platform rifles built — you guessed it — at their newly acquired manufacturing plant in Hebron.

The Harrier ARs are, we’re guessing, the first step toward Ruger firmly inserting itself into the AR marketplace. Sure, Ruger has dabbled around the edges of the AR world in the form of their popular LC Carbine (not an AR-platform firearm) and their 2022 release of the SFAR-series rifles — a middle ground offering chambered in 7.62 NATO and 6.5 Creedmoor yet sized closer to that of an AR-15.

In the new Harrier series, we see Ruger taking a bold and sure step into the core of the AR segment. Doing so in a time when product saturation, reduced demand, and the appeal of the “next new thing” haunts the AR world may leave some scratching their heads as to why Ruger has made such a big move. Yet we have seen over the last couple of years that Ruger is in no way shy about taking big steps. Witness the company’s recent launch of the RXM 9mm pistol, the reintroduction of the old Glenfield rifle brand this past October, and the announcement of the return of the Red Label over/under shotgun brand to the Ruger lineup a mere two weeks ago.

What it boils down to is that Ruger has set a course to become a (or maybe the) big tent firearms manufacturer — a point well-made by company President and CEO Todd Seyfert in the Red Label announcement: “Its return also marks an important milestone for Ruger as we reestablish ourselves as a full-line manufacturer of firearms, reaffirming our commitment to providing a complete lineup of firearms to our customers.”

In that vein, the new Harrier AR rifles represent the next step in Ruger’s rapidly expanding, full-line product portfolio.

Commonalities

That next step is embodied not with anything earth-shattering, but with the introduction of two bread-and-butter ARs. Both rifles are chambered in 5.56 NATO and feature a 16.10-inch government-contour barrel with the expected 1:8 twist rate.

Also common to both models are a nitrided bolt and bolt carrier group, as well as an A2 flash hider mated to the barrel via 1/2-28 threading. The receivers are made of the expected 7075 machined aluminum with a Type III hard anodized coat. A welcome inclusion common to both is a tension screw, which helps eliminate any looseness between the upper and lower receivers.

Finally, common MILSPEC components include a single-stage GI trigger, selector lever, charging handle, and carbine buffer/spring assembly.

The Harrier #28601

Boasting an MSRP of $699, the Harrier #28601 is a barebones variant with the standard A2 grip and A2-style adjustable stock. Only the handguard comes ready for accessorizing in the Modern Sporting Rifle tradition. It is a free-float design with partial Picatinny railing — a forward rail to accept a backup front sight and short section in the rear to extend the receiver railing for those who need flexibility in optic mounting.

The Harrier #28600

The Harrier #28600 ratchets up the features a few notches. This handguard comes with a full-length Picatinny rail for even greater optic and accessory diversity. Other furniture changes include Magpul’s MOE-K2 grip and a Magpul DT Carbine adjustable stock.

In short, Ruger is getting into the conventional AR lane with basic platform models delivered at entry-level pricing. Smart move. Our guess…expect more AR variants from Ruger in the coming months.

Ruger Harrier General Specifications