The Best Combat Rifle Nobody Wants

[RN47]

I did a search, but there doesn't seem to be many recent posts about this rifle, so I thought I'd share my experiences. That’s right; the Robinson Armament XCR-L is quite possibly (in my opinion, lol) the best rifle you’ve never heard of, or perhaps given much consideration. After three range visits (two more after this video was made) and 1,060 rounds I’m strongly leaning towards this being an overall better platform than the AR15, and at the top of the piston driven rifle platforms.

If you’re not familiar, here’s my clunky review after purchasing one a few weeks ago.

*NOTE: I’m clearly not a professional video producer, and I’m only a marginal shooter, lol. But I’d 100% appreciate your comments on YouTube if you’d like to leave some. Thanks in advance!

The BEST Combat Rifle Nobody Wants: Robinson Armament XCR-L

The XCR-L is a very interesting and entirely unique rifle that was disqualified nearly 20 years ago from competing in the Special Operations Forces Combat As...

youtu.be

 

[tark]

Never heard of it.... But it looks very interesting!

Welcome to the forum.

 

[RN47]

I hadn’t heard of them either until maybe four or five months ago. I had a SIG SPEAR LT, then the CZ BREN 2, which led me to this XCR-L. Have to say that I like this the best.

 

[lysanderxiii]

The best Combat Rifle Nobody [wanted] . . .

Robinson tried to resurrect a version of this as well.

 

[RN47]

Robinson tried to resurrect a version of this as well.

If I had a few thousand extra $$$$ laying around, I’d buy one for sure. I’ve seen them on Gunbroker from time to time.

 

[TonyAngel]

I remember those. Didn't Bushmaster/Remington do sort of a ripoff called the ACR.

 

[RN47]

I remember those. Didn't Bushmaster/Remington do sort of a ripoff called the ACR.

Yes, but I think it may have also been their submission for the SOCOM SCAR program, if I’m not mistaken. I’ve only read that the ACR was actually a pretty good rifle.

 

[gotboostvr]

I remember those. Didn't Bushmaster/Remington do sort of a ripoff called the ACR.

Remington bought the rights to the Magpul MASADA, then screwed the pooch in typical big green fashion.

 

[mm93]

Not a cheap rifle at around $2000 on the low end, on up to around $2700 on the high end.

 

[drobs]

Since I share a last name with that company, I'm aware of that rifle.
However, I thought they went out of business a long time ago.

 

[Gordon]

I bought a Lietner Wise LWRSix-8 carbine a few years back in 6.8. I paid for a slightly used one $1200 on GB with accessories including Special Magpul mags and An Aimpoint M2 in GG&G rings. It is piston driven , the best back up sights of any of my ARs and flawless build quality.

I consider ity " best " assault " rifle even over my Noveske Infidel. Too bad not many others agree.

It's now a go to general hunting rifle for deer and smaller black Bear.

 

[drobs]

I did a search, but there doesn't seem to be many recent posts about this rifle, so I thought I'd share my experiences. That’s right; the Robinson Armament XCR-L is quite possibly (in my opinion, lol) the best rifle you’ve never heard of, or perhaps given much consideration. After three range visits (two more after this video was made) and 1,060 rounds I’m strongly leaning towards this being an overall better platform than the AR15, and at the top of the piston driven rifle platforms.

If you’re not familiar, here’s my clunky review after purchasing one a few weeks ago.

*NOTE: I’m clearly not a professional video producer, and I’m only a marginal shooter, lol. But I’d 100% appreciate your comments on YouTube if you’d like to leave some. Thanks in advance!

The BEST Combat Rifle Nobody Wants: Robinson Armament XCR-L

The XCR-L is a very interesting and entirely unique rifle that was disqualified nearly 20 years ago from competing in the Special Operations Forces Combat As...

youtu.be

I'm gonna be blunt, if you're here just to post videos and get subscribers. I aint gonna watch em.
This is an old school gun forum where we take picture of our guns, write review, and then maybe include a short video.

 

[RN47]

I'm gonna be blunt, if you're here just to post videos and get subscribers. I aint gonna watch em.
This is an old school gun forum where we take picture of our guns, write review, and then maybe include a short video.

I appreciate your honesty, and I suppose I understand why you feel that way.

While I am new here, I'm not new to firearms forums and have been a member on six different boards for upwards of 6-7 years (1911 Addicts, Carolina Firearms Forum, The Outdoors Trader, AR15.com, to name a few). While my post count on some is lower than others, I am still active and enjoy reading and learning more than posting. Truth be told, and since we're being honest with each other, I thought this might be a good way to break the ice on here; I was simply excited to share a review I put together last week of a unique rifle. That's it.

 

[AlexanderA]

That Robinson XCR-L may be an improvement over the standard AR, but is it enough of an improvement to justify the much higher price?

What would give me pause is Robinson's history with the M96 Expeditionary Rifle, which was supposed to be a loose copy of the Stoner 63. The idea was to have a gun that could be reconfigured into everything from a carbine, to a rifle, to a top-fed Bren-like LMG (semi), to a belt fed. A few were produced, and then the whole project fell flat on its face. It turned out to have been essentially vaporware. Too bad, because I probably would have bought one.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

AK 47/AR hybrid?

 

[Chuck R.]

That Robinson XCR-L may be an improvement over the standard AR, but is it enough of an improvement to justify the much higher price?

What would give me pause is Robinson's history with the M96 Expeditionary Rifle, which was supposed to be a loose copy of the Stoner 63. The idea was to have a gun that could be reconfigured into everything from a carbine, to a rifle, to a top-fed Bren-like LMG (semi), to a belt fed. A few were produced, and then the whole project fell flat on its face. It turned out to have been essentially vaporware. Too bad, because I probably would have bought one.

Add to that the "personality" of the owner and it's no wonder it really went no where...

 

[RN47]

I suppose the company only has itself to blame for its lack of commercial success regarding the XCR platform, because the rifle performs. They seem to invest very little in marketing, their owner is at times caustic and argumentative, and they don't embrace the growth mindset (take that however you want).

From my keyhole perspective, in a very limited sample size, I am impressed with the XCR-L and have no problem paying what I did for it. Good for me, I suppose. As mentioned in the video, I owned the SIG SPEAR LT in 5.56, (handled and shot the SCAR-H in the Army and owned a Bren 2) and while I thought the SPEAR LT was a fine rifle that looked cooler than it performed, I didn't fall in love with it. I only liked it, and for $2,500 it was not worth the cost, so I moved on. Yet in the past few years SIG has miraculously won both the military's pistol contract (M17 and M18) and the M7 will be the Army's new issued rifle. This despite known and recorded issues and outright failures with these platforms, SIG is a monolith in the firearms industry.

I took a shot on a piston driven rifle manufactured by a small U.S. company, despite the owner's bad reputation and other products not living up to expectations. I am not disappointed. I still love my DI guns and I'm more comfortable with them to be honest, but I would still recommend the XCR-L to anyone.

 

[amd6547]

I’d rather have a nice AR180…
Otherwise, I’ll stick with the AR15 for my 5.56 fun.

 

[Charlie98]

AR15.com

Well... we won't hold that against you.

 

[MrBorland]

I'm not a tactical kind of guy, but the trappings of tactical gear seem to get the bandwidth, so what I do appreciate is that you actually get off the bench and practice actual practical and tactical shooting drills. Kudos to you

 

[RN47]

I'm not a tactical kind of guy, but the trappings of tactical gear seem to get the bandwidth, so what I do appreciate is that you actually get off the bench and practice actual practical and tactical shooting drills. Kudos to you

Hey, thank you. I compete in The Tactical Games and the Patriot Games which involves quite a bit of moving and shooting, so I try to incorporate that into my range days whenever possible.

 

[d2wing]

Has this rifle actually been used in combat? Is it used in any armed forces? What makes it a combat rifle?

 

[RN47]

Has this rifle actually been used in combat? Is it used in any armed forces? What makes it a combat rifle?

Yes. Ukraine.

 

[RN47]

Has this rifle actually been used in combat? Is it used in any armed forces? What makes it a combat rifle?

Here's another with an XCR-M in Ukraine in addition to the photo above.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1593205434395267072

 

[d2wing]

Here's another with an XCR-M in Ukraine in addition to the photo above.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1593205434395267072

That answers my question.