Cbrgator
Some of the differences with rifles such as the XCR that show the difference in the whole platform is that it has been torn down, reviewed and rebuilt from the ground up to address the legacy issues with the current Mxx platform.
Examples from the XCR for example, (I'll forgo the whole DI versus piston charge as it just leads to knee jerk reaction flame wars......
)
Take the cock, charge, chamber, lock, fire, extract, eject cycle. We will assume the user is right handed throughout
Cock
The Mxx platform uses a cocking handle/latch that runs in a straight line back along the top of the butt, in a direct line with your head, when you have a sight picture.
Scenario is you are standing and firing or prone and firing
To cock the weapon you cannot maintain a sight picture, you have to either take your right hand off the grip, move your head slightly to the side and use your right hand or move/rotate the weapon to clear your body to use your left hand.
It is physically impossible for a rightie to cock the weapon with the left hand without moving the rifle away from the shoulder.
The XCR uses a non reciprocating cocking handle mounted on the left hand side of the rifle in the same location as a FAL. To cock the weapon, you maintain sight picture, maintain pistol grip and move your left hand down the barrel, grasp pull, let fly.
Ergonomically a far better option
Charging
The Mxx bolt carrier and bolt move forward, strips a round off the magazine and feed the round up and into the chamber.
XCR was re-engineered with the magazine at a higher point in the rifle so that the feed is almost in a direct line with the chamber. This means less "lift" and reduces potential feed ramp issues.
Chamber and Lock
The Mxx platform uses a daisy head bolt with 7 small lugs, the XCR uses a 3 large lug AK style design.
From basic mechanics, it's easier to clean 6 lug surfaces as opposed to 14, 3 big lugs are individually stronger than 7 small lugs, fewer mating and moving surfaces are better then more.
The chamber/lock element also ties into the XCR's calibre change system. By design the mechanism in the XCR means that no headspacing is require when the barrel and calibre is changed, with the Mxx you have to change the entire upper, just changing the barrel is an armourer level job at least.
Extract/Eject
In the Mxx platform, the ejection of the spent cartridge requires the use of a plunger ejector, yet more moving parts with concomitant maintenance, cleaning etc.
The XCR ejector is a simple blade of steel, no moving parts, no springs, no cleaning or specific maintenance.
The working parts of the Mxx platform, to return to battery, uses a buffer tube, yet more parts which lead to another potential single point of failure, broken butt can lead to the weapon failing completely.
The XCR return mechanism is all within the upper and an integral part of the piston mechanism
The changes are not on the same level as say a bullpup form caseless ammunition firing rifle............. They do address core concerns.
Some of the differences with rifles such as the XCR that show the difference in the whole platform is that it has been torn down, reviewed and rebuilt from the ground up to address the legacy issues with the current Mxx platform.
Examples from the XCR for example, (I'll forgo the whole DI versus piston charge as it just leads to knee jerk reaction flame wars......
)Take the cock, charge, chamber, lock, fire, extract, eject cycle. We will assume the user is right handed throughout
Cock
The Mxx platform uses a cocking handle/latch that runs in a straight line back along the top of the butt, in a direct line with your head, when you have a sight picture.
Scenario is you are standing and firing or prone and firing
To cock the weapon you cannot maintain a sight picture, you have to either take your right hand off the grip, move your head slightly to the side and use your right hand or move/rotate the weapon to clear your body to use your left hand.
It is physically impossible for a rightie to cock the weapon with the left hand without moving the rifle away from the shoulder.
The XCR uses a non reciprocating cocking handle mounted on the left hand side of the rifle in the same location as a FAL. To cock the weapon, you maintain sight picture, maintain pistol grip and move your left hand down the barrel, grasp pull, let fly.
Ergonomically a far better option
Charging
The Mxx bolt carrier and bolt move forward, strips a round off the magazine and feed the round up and into the chamber.
XCR was re-engineered with the magazine at a higher point in the rifle so that the feed is almost in a direct line with the chamber. This means less "lift" and reduces potential feed ramp issues.
Chamber and Lock
The Mxx platform uses a daisy head bolt with 7 small lugs, the XCR uses a 3 large lug AK style design.
From basic mechanics, it's easier to clean 6 lug surfaces as opposed to 14, 3 big lugs are individually stronger than 7 small lugs, fewer mating and moving surfaces are better then more.
The chamber/lock element also ties into the XCR's calibre change system. By design the mechanism in the XCR means that no headspacing is require when the barrel and calibre is changed, with the Mxx you have to change the entire upper, just changing the barrel is an armourer level job at least.
Extract/Eject
In the Mxx platform, the ejection of the spent cartridge requires the use of a plunger ejector, yet more moving parts with concomitant maintenance, cleaning etc.
The XCR ejector is a simple blade of steel, no moving parts, no springs, no cleaning or specific maintenance.
The working parts of the Mxx platform, to return to battery, uses a buffer tube, yet more parts which lead to another potential single point of failure, broken butt can lead to the weapon failing completely.
The XCR return mechanism is all within the upper and an integral part of the piston mechanism
The changes are not on the same level as say a bullpup form caseless ammunition firing rifle.......
...... They do address core concerns.
