Joined
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448 Posts
I've had my XCR since early April or so. Currently I'm at approximately 750 rounds.
I've only experienced 2 stoppages in my first 2 mags, 0 since then.
I've taken my XCR on a couple of patrols, off-duty of course since I'm only authorized to carry a M4 as a duty rifle.
Here in SE AZ we are still in the old west. I'm not exsaggerating on that. This area is quite frequented my illegal alien and dope smugglers. You will find signs in National Forest areas stating that as a warning sign.
One area I patrolled w/my XCR is quite favored by dope smugglers and it is the destination point before getting it into vehicles after carrying it over 60 miles. My XCR has the heavy barrel. I chose the HB because that is the general barrel profile of an M4. I wish I had spoken to Alex Robinson before I ordered the HB, I only got to speak w/him after I got it and he pointed out some obvious things that I should have known better.
One was that the XCR barrel is free floated to an issue of a light barrel flexing upon being supported is not an issue otherwise the HB was not necessary. Alex told me that the only reason he came out w/the HB was out of community feedback/pressure. Just b/c the AR's had them people demanded the same of the XCR. I have to agree w/Alex that the HB is not necessary on the XCR as a patrol carbine and there is a 6 oz. difference between the HB and the LW barrels. The HB is as thick as a typical machine gun barrel such as a M240, M60, M249 SAW. The XCR HB is as thick as a donkey's dong which would be needed if you were to use it as a support/suppresive fire MG putting down a continous rate of fire of 200 to 400 rounds per minute for 5 to 10 minutes if not longer. The light barrel is the way to go for the XCR.
As far as weight is concerned, apparently NOW most people can't handle anything that is an ounce more than 6.5 lbs even though most people won't even carry a rifle more than 100 feet from their car. I find my 8 plus pound XCR comparable to that of a M16A2 with a full mag and to which I have more time on humps along w/the M203, M60, M249, and such. The M16 was the lightests. Given a choice to carry the lightest, and to my knowledge, that would be a CAR-15 (old style) with a 11 inch barrel and 20 rd mags that'll put it around 5.5 lbs.
I think a XCR with a light barrel at 14.5" (perm FH in place will put it at 16") will get it close to the M4's weight and within a pound if not just at a pound over it. With all the do-dads people tend to add on M4's now they all are close to 9 pounds now and 9 pounds over all isn't that bad. Bottom line, the XCR is heavier than an M4 but right at the weight of a full size g'vmt AR.
Folks that complain about how one gun is a few ounces heavier that the favored one and that would be unacceptable are the people that only carries their rifles from their vehicle to a shaded shooting bench 25 feet away and spend the next few hours shooting the rifle on a rest and drinking a 44 ounce Big Gulp.
Back to the "patrol". We occasionally check this area out usually to see what we missed but we encounter stuff from time to time and it's nice to be ready. I was showing the area to a friend on the way back from throwing some rounds down range. I typically park about 150 meters away and walk it in. The area is in some thick brush and trees next to a large wash. That particular spot has the loamy type soil that makes it about as quiet as one can to walk on. I do notice the occassional rattle of the bolt catch that has been complained by others, but even in that enviroment by the time a bad guy hears the rattling bolt catch they will be able to tell the colors of your eyes and read the time on your watch. If I were a Ninja, the rattle would concern me, right now it just annoys more than anything else. A quick fix with black electrical tape will help, but not eliminate.
The second time I've taken my XCR on "patrol" was when I went ATV'ing at the Barnett's Ranch. I followed one of the Barnett's up a rocky draw/wash. He only carried a sidearm so I had a bit of a challenge trying to navigate under branches, brush, and hopping over rocks large and small. It was the same as carrying a M16. With more huffing and puffing, kicking over rocks and stepping and brush the rattling was unnoticeable.
That's it for now folks. Please post your experiences.
I've only experienced 2 stoppages in my first 2 mags, 0 since then.
I've taken my XCR on a couple of patrols, off-duty of course since I'm only authorized to carry a M4 as a duty rifle.
Here in SE AZ we are still in the old west. I'm not exsaggerating on that. This area is quite frequented my illegal alien and dope smugglers. You will find signs in National Forest areas stating that as a warning sign.
One area I patrolled w/my XCR is quite favored by dope smugglers and it is the destination point before getting it into vehicles after carrying it over 60 miles. My XCR has the heavy barrel. I chose the HB because that is the general barrel profile of an M4. I wish I had spoken to Alex Robinson before I ordered the HB, I only got to speak w/him after I got it and he pointed out some obvious things that I should have known better.
One was that the XCR barrel is free floated to an issue of a light barrel flexing upon being supported is not an issue otherwise the HB was not necessary. Alex told me that the only reason he came out w/the HB was out of community feedback/pressure. Just b/c the AR's had them people demanded the same of the XCR. I have to agree w/Alex that the HB is not necessary on the XCR as a patrol carbine and there is a 6 oz. difference between the HB and the LW barrels. The HB is as thick as a typical machine gun barrel such as a M240, M60, M249 SAW. The XCR HB is as thick as a donkey's dong which would be needed if you were to use it as a support/suppresive fire MG putting down a continous rate of fire of 200 to 400 rounds per minute for 5 to 10 minutes if not longer. The light barrel is the way to go for the XCR.
As far as weight is concerned, apparently NOW most people can't handle anything that is an ounce more than 6.5 lbs even though most people won't even carry a rifle more than 100 feet from their car. I find my 8 plus pound XCR comparable to that of a M16A2 with a full mag and to which I have more time on humps along w/the M203, M60, M249, and such. The M16 was the lightests. Given a choice to carry the lightest, and to my knowledge, that would be a CAR-15 (old style) with a 11 inch barrel and 20 rd mags that'll put it around 5.5 lbs.
I think a XCR with a light barrel at 14.5" (perm FH in place will put it at 16") will get it close to the M4's weight and within a pound if not just at a pound over it. With all the do-dads people tend to add on M4's now they all are close to 9 pounds now and 9 pounds over all isn't that bad. Bottom line, the XCR is heavier than an M4 but right at the weight of a full size g'vmt AR.
Folks that complain about how one gun is a few ounces heavier that the favored one and that would be unacceptable are the people that only carries their rifles from their vehicle to a shaded shooting bench 25 feet away and spend the next few hours shooting the rifle on a rest and drinking a 44 ounce Big Gulp.
Back to the "patrol". We occasionally check this area out usually to see what we missed but we encounter stuff from time to time and it's nice to be ready. I was showing the area to a friend on the way back from throwing some rounds down range. I typically park about 150 meters away and walk it in. The area is in some thick brush and trees next to a large wash. That particular spot has the loamy type soil that makes it about as quiet as one can to walk on. I do notice the occassional rattle of the bolt catch that has been complained by others, but even in that enviroment by the time a bad guy hears the rattling bolt catch they will be able to tell the colors of your eyes and read the time on your watch. If I were a Ninja, the rattle would concern me, right now it just annoys more than anything else. A quick fix with black electrical tape will help, but not eliminate.
The second time I've taken my XCR on "patrol" was when I went ATV'ing at the Barnett's Ranch. I followed one of the Barnett's up a rocky draw/wash. He only carried a sidearm so I had a bit of a challenge trying to navigate under branches, brush, and hopping over rocks large and small. It was the same as carrying a M16. With more huffing and puffing, kicking over rocks and stepping and brush the rattling was unnoticeable.
That's it for now folks. Please post your experiences.