New XCR owner vs ammo

The XCR, once broken in, will eat pretty much any ammo out there. I suggest Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) in either 55 or 62 grain. You will only need softpoint for hunting or self defense. :2cents: As far as accessories pretty much any AR goodie of choice will work on the XCR. While you are waiting for your rifle you can read old posts to help with your "wish list." Save the brass you shoot as later on you may choose to reload your own to save money (i.e. the more you save the more $$$ you have for goodies and ammo ;D). Welcome to the forum Bigpops. Suggest you send your XCR to Bill Springfield for his EXCELLENT trigger job. Read the post on triggers for his address and phone number, it will be the best $49.00 you ever spent. :2cents: :toast:

I broke mine in with Winchester Q3131 55gr M193 spec FMJ. The key thing to look for in break in ammo, per the instructions, is that it be up to 5.56 pressure levels. That means no steel cased stuff, no UMC, etc, for break in. Get any good milspec FMJ, and you should be good to go.

The key thing to look for in break in ammo, per the instructions, is that it be up to 5.56 pressure levels. That means no steel cased stuff, no UMC, etc, for break in. Get any good milspec FMJ, and you should be good to go.

By this do you mean that .223 PMC and Magtech ammo will not work ?

I would not even stress the break in ammo. Just shoot anything. If it does not cycle, then move on to something hotter.

gunner69 said:

The XCR, once broken in, will eat pretty much any ammo out there. I suggest Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) in either 55 or 62 grain. You will only need softpoint for hunting or self defense. :2cents: As far as accessories pretty much any AR goodie of choice will work on the XCR. While you are waiting for your rifle you can read old posts to help with your "wish list." Save the brass you shoot as later on you may choose to reload your own to save money (i.e. the more you save the more $$$ you have for goodies and ammo ;D). Welcome to the forum Bigpops. Suggest you send your XCR to Bill Springfield for his EXCELLENT trigger job. Read the post on triggers for his address and phone number, it will be the best .00 you ever spent. :2cents: :toast:

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Not too much to add to this...welcome and enjoy your XCR when you get it.

Welcome BP, American Eagle will be fine in any grain bullet.

During break in of my XCRL, I started with some Wolf that was already loaded in magazines. I think 4-5 magazines. This was causing the system to short stroke due to the low pressure Wolf ammo. I think 2-3 rounds in each magazine would not feed. Once I shot up all that I went to 63 Grain American Eagle and that did the trick. I had one or two more FTF in the next 300 rounds or so. Now I shoot anything and everything and have not had any issues at all in well over 3,000 rounds.

I also leave my gas setting on 4. I just don’t care to mess with it and it is .556 after all and the recoil is minimal. I have no idea how it works on sett S-3.

The purpose of the gas adjustment valve is not only to let the rifle cycle with dirty or weak ammo,and/or to use a suppressor(for those lucky bastards that have em') ,but also to keep the bolt carrier/piston/rod assembly from beating the gun to death.I know there is a recoil buffer,but why beat hell out of either when it is unnecessary.In the unlikely event you have to go into a "combat situation",and if it makes you feel better.you turn it up to 4 in about about five seconds and your good to go.I have fired all kinds of "junk" ammo in mine and never had it puke yet.In my own experience setting three should function with about anything once broken in.

dont_tread_on_me said:

The purpose of the gas adjustment valve is not only to let the rifle cycle with dirty or weak ammo,and/or to use a suppressor(for those lucky bastards that have em') ,but also to keep the bolt carrier/piston/rod assembly from beating the gun to death.I know there is a recoil buffer,but why beat hell out of either when it is unnecessary.In the unlikely event you have to go into a "combat situation",and if it makes you feel better.you turn it up to 4 in about about five seconds and your good to go.I have fired all kinds of "junk" ammo in mine and never had it puke yet.In my own experience setting three should function with about anything once broken in.

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Are are several valid reasons for having an adjustable gas system. You've touched upon a couple

The lower gas setting reduces weapon wear, fouling, and recoil

A higher gas setting cycles crap ammo, offsets high levels of dirt and fouling, and freezing temps

The downside of adjustable gas is obviously how easy it is to make your gun less reliable by mixing the wrong setting and ammo.

Because the USA military issues ammo loaded hot, they typically insist a gun not have adjustable gas to give soldiers nothing to fiddle with

Good points all,and another reason the U.S. issues hot ammo,is the fact that the gas impingement system used by the m16/ar15/ and especially m4's are more finicky about the ammo pressure.In other words for it to function more reliably,it need hotter ammo.I think possibly the best alternative for regular troops is a self regulating system like that of the ar18/180 or maybe the AK.The drawback of those types is that they will tend to beat themselves up a little more than a properly adjusted gas system will.