Issue 03 Preview – Larue Tactical’s Costa Ludus PredatOBR Hybrid Jerry Tsai 1 Comments, Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. The Beard's Rifle Of Choice When LaRue Tactical announced that it was producing a 5.56mm AR-15-based carbine in conjunction with famed tactical trainer Chris Costa, our interest was piqued. Was this simply a clever marketing ploy to merge two respected names in order to sell more rifles, or was there something more to this collaboration? We needed to investigate further. We spoke to Costa about his role in the rifle's creation. He pointed out that LaRue's line of OBR (Optimized Battle Rifle) carbines have been long known for their impressive accuracy and high standard of build quality. Available in 7.62 as well as 5.56 calibers, the OBR line quickly became the favorite of users of precision semiautomatic platforms. With the long-range segment covered, tactical shooters looking for the lightest build came calling. Always listening to its customers' feedback, LaRue introduced a line of ultra lightweight carbines a few years ago under the PredatAR name. They are arguably the lightest full-featured complete guns of their kind produced by any manufacturer in the industry. Shortly after Costa opened up his own training company, Costa Ludus, earlier this year, he approached LaRue about making a rifle specific to his preferences that he can run hard in his classes. We asked why he went to LaRue Tactical to collaborate on this project. Costa responded that he was impressed with LaRue's build quality and liked that hte manufacturer doesn't play favorites. Every rifle that comes out of production is no different, whether it was made for him or one of his students. LaRue even had a great base gun to start with. When training is your everyday job, you learn really quickly what you like and don't like in your equipment. For Costa, it was important to keep weight to a minimum. LaRue's ultralight PredatAR weighs in at a paltry 6 pounds, 4 ounces; it seemed to fit his needs to a “T.” For the rest of this article, subscribe digitally here: RECOIL ISSUE 3 Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
La Rue makes the greatest firearms and quality gear, that's it !! Own plenty of their equipment and an OBR Rifle, can't say enough about the quality and service.....
