XCR initial review

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The barrel is too thin for mounting a suppressor on. The Ops Inc can uses a sleeve at the back of the can to block and gasses and keep the suppressor from moving as it heats up. This allows the hole for the bullet to be smaller in diameter. The current barrel makes it impossible to use one on it because it steps down behind the flash hider to the pencil thin diameter. Maybe mounting a Tactical Innovations can on it will work, but I am skeptical that the results will be good adding that much weight on a barrel that thin.
There are many suppressors which do not use 2-point mounting systems like the OPS INC cans do. In fact, the majority of centerfire rifle suppresors are single-point, and use one of the following mounting systems:

1. screw directly onto the 1/2-28 threads
2. connect over any NATO 22mm flash hider (e.g. A1, A2)
3. replace the flash-hider with a proprietary flash-hider, which the suppressor then connects to

Any of these would work fine on the XCR. A Gemtech HALO (mount type #2 above) would connect directly without even needing to take the flash-hider off.




As for general comments, I handled the XCR and the FN SCAR-L/H at the SHOT Show and I was a lot more impressed by the FN than the R.A. (or the 556 for that matter)-- ergonomics, controls, weight. 'Course, the FN isn't yet available to serfs....
 
It allows you to change barrel length and twist in a matter of seconds for various missions, WITHOUT having to change out your optics or your accessories.
Yes, but will POI/POA still coincide?

Mike
 
The direct gas system versus piston system has been debated to death on the internet. While everyone on the net debates ad nauseum, the AR continues to serve as the number one choice among special forces units that could opt for a wide array of weapons, including weapons with piston driven gas systems. I'm not even a big AR guy. The M14 is more my speed, but I do recognize the AR for being an effective piece that has served well for 40 years now.

Quick change barrels to me sound like one more thing that could loosen up or otherwise go FUBAR. As I recall the previous Robinson experiment with a quick change barrel didn't work so well. Most LE or federal agencies are going to pick one barrel length and that will have to suffice for a wide variety of missions.
 
Zak, it isn't the single point attachment method, as much as it is that I'm scared to hang a can on the end of something that thin. I'll probably try it with an AAC or a TacInv can and see what happens, but it seems awfully thin, and I don't know if it was ever tested. I think Pyle wanted to use the OpsInc, because since it was a reflex, the weight would go back over the muzzle and be distributed, as opposed to all hanging off the end.

I used the XCR in the UDPL carbine match yesterday. Have much feedback, but ya'll will have to wait for my article in SWAT. :p
 
Correia,

I wouldn't worry too much about the weight vs. thin barrel. POI will shift when you put the can on, but that happens almost always anyway. Of course, my preference is for lighter (yet effective) suppressors.

-z
 
The twist rate for LEO’s that use 55gr 5.56 ammo is wrong. For heavier rounds it is going to be fine, but many agencies are required to use the 55gr round. If RA made one for the LEO customer base in a quicker twist rate, it would make it more attractive to the LEO community.
Doesn't this thing have a 1/9 twist? If so, it should shoot 55gr. just fine. 99% of the ARs on the market today have 1/9 twist and LEOs have no trouble with shooting their ammo through them.

IMO, you don't want to go with a slower twist as it will limit your ammo choices considerably.

I don't think a heavy barrel is a good idea either. It's a carbine. Keep it light. How many owners will suppress it? Maybe offer a different barrel for them.
 
With the improvements in ballistics and terminal effects from Mk262 and other 75-77gr loadings in the last 5 years, I don't understand why anyone would want a 223/556 carbine with a twist slower than 1:8.
 
Had some mag related malfunctions, pulled that mag, and no further problem. All together between me and everybody else, put another 400 through it.
 
You know? The last thing I need is another gun that shoots 5.56 NATO. I mean, I already own an AR. I have no use for this. I'm trying to build a house.

Will you shut up already about this gun? :cool: ;)

Mike

PS Since I know you'll ignore me and talk about it anyway, does POI/POA coincide if you remove the barrel and remount it? If it rezeros properly, I could envision scheme where you keep track of clicks up/down/right/left to maintain zero with various barrels and calibers, thus making the one-optic option that much more useful...
 
Just FYI, regarding availability, I'm looking at a post on Sturmgewehr that reads:

"XCR Robinson Armament .223 New In Case $1299 I have recvd 3 rifles,more are shipping today 17 more coming in next 3-4 weeks(8 of these are presold)....I do have front and rear YHM flip up sights in inventory for $69.95 and $84.95 respectively,MAD rear also available for $89.95, Caliber conversions will not be available for a couple of months (I must confess the first rifle was mine and after 3 times on the range it is a KEEPER)"

I am not affiliated with this guy in any way ...
 
I've been watching this platform with interest since news of it first broke... if it proves to be reliable, solid, etc, the only thing putting me off about it is price. I used their "build your rifle" page to put one together... turns out that (any) sights, stock, ambi-controls, etc cost extra. So, the list price of $1200 or whatever it is is quite decieving. By the time I added mine up, it was pushing $2k. The Sig 556 has flip up front and rear sights included in its base price of $12XX. I suppose that once you add a full length rail system to the 556 (SWAT model, like comes standard on the XCR) the prices pretty much even out, and I would want to put a better stock on the 556 as well. Just a matter of priority I guess. Either one will be pretty pricey once everything is tallied up.

One more thing about the weight... it is rumored that all the 556's that people have handled so far have been equipped with heavy barrels. Hopefully, Sig would release their own lightweight barrel, or, worst case scenario, someone in the aftermarket would hopefully be able to profile a Sig barrel to drop some of that front end weight that everyone is complaining about.

The 1:9 twist doesn't bother me so much, as 99.9+% of my shooting is with 55 or 62gr bullets, and if I need to shoot something heavier, my AR carbine is 1:7 anyway. As long as the barrel is chrome lined and 5.56 chambered, I'll be OK with it.

Looking forward to more personal experience with all of the above, as it becomes available.
 
I still don't see what the big deal is about the XCR, Sig 556, or whatever the newest wonder rifle is. None of them do anything an AR-15 won't do.

Infact they do do something the AR15 wont do. They'll keep their actions clean.
 
Untrue. Even if you believe that direct gas impingement is a bad idea (I'm a fence sitter on it, personally), there are plenty of AR uppers with pistons now. So, ARs can also keep their actions clean.

Mike
 
Well, at least some of it disappears. I agree. Remember, one can build an AR from scratch with a piston upper, which should bring you in under, or at the very least at, the price of a fully-equipped XCR.

However, once again, it's not doing anything substantially different than what an AR can do, or really doing it any better. There are ARs with quick-change barrels, too, though I dunno how they're priced. It is just a more elegant solution to the problem.

Believe me, I want to like this rifle, too. I do like this rifle. I just cannot see me paying $1300-1600 for one when I can buy a different upper for my AR, which runs like a top, for $400-500. The only way I will is if the rifle becomes established, has a good track record, and is generally not fielded/supported like the M-96 Expeditionary Rifle. Do a search on here and TFL for discussion of that rifle, including comments by the head of the company himself. :uhoh:

2-3 years down the road, if Robarm is making them, fixing problems, being receptive to customer input and companies have started to make accessories for them (different stocks, different grips, triggers, safety selectors, barrels/caliber kits, etc), I'm totally in. This is a seemingly ingenious design, elegantly executed. But right now? I just dunno. It has to not be another non-starter.

Mike
 
There are other things I consider to be advantage as as well.

1) Side folding stock. AR's can't have this because of the buffer tube.

2) The XCR was designed from the begining to use a gas piston. All of the AR gas piston upper I've seen are using a standard AR bolt carrier and a simple gas piston and modified gas block to get the job done. The XCR gas system is more like that of an AK.

3) Side cocking handle instead of that silly over-the-stock junk the AR uses.
 
Most gas piston ARs use the short-stroke gas piston design, like that of the SKS, SVD, and FAL. A well proven, reliable design that gets the job done, albeit with a couple more parts than the long-stroke style used in the AK (and PKM, M249, and M240).
 
Most gas piston ARs use the short-stroke gas piston design, like that of the SKS, SVD, and FAL. A well proven, reliable design that gets the job done, albeit with a couple more parts than the long-stroke style used in the AK (and PKM, M249, and M240).
Is there a visual compare/contrast on what you just said available somewhere?
 
In a short stroke, the piston and the bolt carrier are separate parts, as opposed to the long stroke, where the piston is attached to the carrier.

In a short stroke, a short, sharp rearward motion by the piston imparts rearward momentum to the bolt carrier sufficient to cycle the action. The piston does not travel through the full range of motion.

In a long stroke, the gas pressure is pushing the piston and attached bolt carrier rearward through the entire range of motion.

Tony Williams and Max Popenker's book Assault Rifle has good illustrations, but I don't know of any online off the top of my head.
 
I apologize for resurrectiong an old thread...

but I figured it was better than starting up a new one.

Do any of THR XCR owners have any updates on their rifles after a little more mileage?

Does anyone know if RA has ramped up production at all?

This rifle has some features I admire (side-cocking and piston-driven) I'm looking for, but I've never seen one in person.


Thanks,
B.
 
With the improvements in ballistics and terminal effects from Mk262 and other 75-77gr loadings in the last 5 years, I don't understand why anyone would want a 223/556 carbine with a twist slower than 1:8.

I am with you there. Never understood it myself.
 
The article that spawned from this gun is in SWAT on newstands now. That's PvtPyle on the cover.
 
Recently I have realised that the $1,300 XCR Robarm advertises does NOT come with iron sights.:what: :scrutiny:

That's messed up.

But...it's so cool. What other rifle has AR15 ergonomics, a piston, and a FAL style charging handle?:D
 
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