[rcohen]

The XCR has pretty much all the features I've been looking for in a rifle, but, having read through the forums, there are a few things that concern me.

The first is working reliability. The features it has (piston action,etc) indicate that it should be, at least theoritically, more reliable than an AR, but is there any real evidence that it actually is? Obviously, having the gun shoot, invariably, inexorably when you pull the trigger is the most important thing of all. Broken in, how does this rate against the AR? I guess I would like to see something more than anecdote.

The second is reliability related to part failure, ie parts that seem to have a penchant for falling off/loosening: the extractor, the gas block, the barrel. Does RA have any plans to upgrade the design of these parts to make these failures a practical impossiblity?

Thanks,
Ross

 

[admin]

If you're not looking for anecdotal evidence, what would you like to see? Be specific and I'm sure someone will compile the info or help you find it.

 

[Bravo]

Reliability - I tested mine seriously and wrote that up on another forum, almost 2 years ago. Take it from me - reliability is good. I rate the XCR better than the AR, but understand I've only got about 6000 rounds through my first XCR at this point. If I can get it to fail later, I'll write that up - don't hold your breath.

Parts failure, for me to date, has not been a problem. Had a grip screw back out inconveniently, but I blame that more on getting penetrating oil where it shouldn't have been. Or the grip. Haven't figured that one out yet.

Extractor, barrel, etc have been 100% for me. I did have the gas block loosen up a touch after the first 3000 rounds - now I check it when I clean. If this ever becomes a problem, I'll have the block drilled and pinned. QED.

 

[SigsRule]

I guess I would like to see something more than anecdote.

Then you shouldn't be browsing in talk forums. By definition, everything you read here will be anecdotal. Now if you want scientific evidence with peer-reviewed reports you'll need to look elsewhere.

On the other hand, if you read this forum you'll see honest reports of the good and the bad. The good news is it's all mostly good and the bad news is it's a mechanical device and subject to all the laws of physics and Murphy.

 

[TerraShrewsbury]

Oh Ross,
If these boys can find something to tinker with, they will.

For the most part, the XCR is still fairly new and once in a while something gets missed. I will vouch for this: We learn from our mistakes. Thanks to quick communication between our customers and myself, we can diagnose and solve the problem within a week. It never happens again.

We do what we can to eradicate any problems there might be, and I do my best to make sure our customers are always taken care of, whether they drop a spring on the floor and can't find it, or something bigger.

 

[aziator]

With close to 6K through mine I haven't had any problems at all. Granted, I conduct a proper PCI on it before I shoot but I have yet had to tighten anything, nothing has come loose. I can't really think of one thing that I would change about it, at least not something that I can offer a good solution for.

 

[Martens]

I've got probably 7 -8 K through mine and one problem so far. My firing pin broke and I discovered it last week. Terra had a new bolt and carrier out within 3 days at no cost to me. I expected a new firing pin, would've thought a new bolt maybe but not a bolt and carrier. I am shipping the old parts back to them tomorrow so we will no what the problem is.

Some will view this as a big problem, but I think the pin had been broken for some time I think and the gun kept working. When I found it broke I sent Terra an email and the new parts were in the mail same day. I don't know too many companies where any of us have a direct contact like Terra who takes great care of us.

I have a theory as to why the pin broke, but will wait to comment until RA has a chance to look things over.

As for the ejector loosening, check the bolts every time you clean the gun as it is cheap insurance. The new gas block doesn't have nut to loosen and I can't see either block itself loosening.

The trigger really smoothes out with some rounds or simple at home fixes. I wish I had the same trigger on my precision rig as it has gotten that good.

I just got done handling the gun for 8 hours on a training day and love the feel of it in my hands. I can have an AR or a micro galil and the XCR is my choice. From my experiences it has been more reliable than any AR it has gone head to head with.

 

[TerraShrewsbury]

Ah, Jeremy. :inlove:

 

[badman400]

That ought to push you off the fence. 8)

I have only around 1000 rounds through mine. No failures, nothing loose.

Maybe if something would go wrong, I wouldn't feel so compelled to add the 7.62 X 39 barrel.... :

I love this weapon. >

And I'm looking forward to the .308. ;D

 

[rcohen]

In answer to Lex: I'd say some independent tests conducted with more than one rifle. Say, 10 random prodcution rifles compared against 10 ARs made by somebody like Bushmaster or somesuch. No manufacturing flaws - I'm not worried about that sort of thing as they can be identified upon purchase and fixed at leisure; I'm much more worried about break-downs in the field. Anyways, give them 500 rounds of break in, and then start the test using some milspec ammo - say 5000-1000 rounds per rifle. Allow cleaning, but no tightening or regluing. Obviously, a bigger sample - say 25 or 50 rifles - will provide a more reliable results.

Not cheap, but it would be good advertising. Obviously, I'm not asking RA to do this for little ol' me - that would be absurd. But it would be reassuring for those of us who are bit leery of newish designs and all their attendant teething pains.

I hope my post didn't sound negative, it wasn't meant to, and I do understand that the problems described on the forums are anecdotal, and not necesssarily representative at all. Also I should say that I'm very impressed by the level of RA's support, and its openness; and as I said earlier, the rifle looks to be precisely what I want -- or it will be as soon as the Grendel version arrives.

SigsRule: My post was meant to be a question to the forum-dwellers as to whether they knew of any test of the kind described above to be publicly available. My post was probably badly worded, so please, don't be offended if I continue to browse this forum.

Anyways, thanks for the swift replies,
Ross

 

[TerraShrewsbury]

Ross,

you're welcome to hang around and ask questions. It's always good to be cautious about investing in a new weapon... you are going about this the right way. Take your time, get a feel for the idea. If possible, find someone who owns one and see if they'll let you handle it for yourself. What state are you in? I might know somebody.

 

[admin]

In answer to Lex: I'd say some independent tests conducted with more than one rifle. Say, 10 random prodcution rifles compared against 10 ARs made by somebody like Bushmaster or somesuch. No manufacturing flaws - I'm not worried about that sort of thing as they can be identified upon purchase and fixed at leisure; I'm much more worried about break-downs in the field. Anyways, give them 500 rounds of break in, and then start the test using some milspec ammo - say 5000-1000 rounds per rifle. Allow cleaning, but no tightening or regluing. Obviously, a bigger sample - say 25 or 50 rifles - will provide a more reliable results.

You can probably get away with never cleaning any of the XCRs through the entire battery of tests (unless of course you are dropping the gun in dirt, then you'd want to brush it off at least ).

I haven't cleaned mine in a while, I've probably gone through 500 rounds without cleaning it, haven't had a single issue. I will clean it soon though, just because it gives me an excuse to play with the rifle ;D

 

[MickeyC]

There is only one thing bad about the rifle and that's the trigger, which Bill Springfield can fix. Everything else is spot on and close to being perfect.

Use decent magazines and you pretty much get AK reliability with AR accuracy. Add in caliber interchange and you're close to perfection.

 

[SigsRule]

rcohen
You didn't offend me and feel free to browse away. I'm an engineer and your comment about non-anecdotal evidence just struck me the right way, or maybe it was the wrong way.

I'm not putting near the total rounds through mine as others are, but it's been working fine for me. It was my first "black rifle" after a ton of research and other than my DSA FAL will continue to be the only type of "black rifle" I'm likely to have for a long time. Of course I say that having a 7.62x39 conversion kit on order, along with a silencer for it, and maybe planning for a 6.8 or 6.5.

In the words of the famous commercial, Just Do It!

 

[44blues]

I'm another one of those guys with concerns regarding reliability etc. In terms of DI AR's, although mine have been OK, I've seen more than one AR malfunction at my local range - no mechanical device will be 100% flawless 100% of the time. After hanging out here for awhile and talking to folks in person and on other forums, I have confidence in the XCR platform. The XCR will be my next long gun purchase and if by some chance it does not run 100% (which I doubt), I have faith that it will be fixed quickly/correctly.

 

[Prizm]

Uuuhhh... you're supposed to clean the XCR? Hhhmmm...
I don't know how many rounds I have total through it but what I can say is that I'm at least at 2000 or so without cleaning or checking anything. I believe I'm around 4000+ rounds total I have the old firing pin and parts and have no issues. I shoot crappy Wolf ammo now.

From what I can tell this thing will work when you need it to. But some people have had issues. The only thing I can say is get one and put 5000 rounds though it asap and see what issues develop. If nothing does, then you should feel confident about that particular one.