AR Vs XCR

DT741

DT741

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Hi

I have an AR15, been working with the platform for a while now and I'm finding myself more and more attracted to the XCR platform.

I like the look of it, and its non-restricted status.

Now I want some infos from the guys that own or used both. No "i heard of this" just cold hard facts. I want pros and cons.

Also, is it like an AR15 : one lower and many uppers ? Can I do some plinking with my non-restricted XCCR, then switch upper for the restricted upper and go to the range for some CQB ?


Thank you in advance for you answers folks
 
I have owned both.
The XCR was my first black rifle due to the NR status. With optics and accessories, it topped out around $2500. Mine is NOT the keymod version and is heavy! Not the best woods rifle IMO. Accuracy is ok but there were FTE and FTF issues so not as reliable as Alex Robinson would have you believe. I only had the .223 NR upper and have no experience with switching to 6.8 or x39 uppers. If switching from 18.6 to another 18.6 barrel, there is no problem. I believe, and please correct me if I'm wrong, you have 1 week to register a restricted upper for any rifle when switching to a short barrel and this will apply to the XCR. I think just switching barrels for range and then to hunting or plinking is a grey area and a legal expert may have to chime in. The XCR short barrel will be restricted and is not the same as the AR where the receiver is the restricted part.
I have a SBR AR and the weight difference and handling is far superior! Since I do most of my shooting at the range, the AR and my Tavor are my go to rifles now. I have traded the XCR to another CGNer and he was experiencing some FTF and FTEs also.
Both rifles have short comings but nothing that can't be overcome.
 
DT741 said:
Hi

I have an AR15, been working with the platform for a while now and I'm finding myself more and more attracted to the XCR platform.

I like the look of it, and its non-restricted status.

Now I want some infos from the guys that own or used both. No "i heard of this" just cold hard facts. I want pros and cons.

Also, is it like an AR15 : one lower and many uppers ? Can I do some plinking with my non-restricted XCCR, then switch upper for the restricted upper and go to the range for some CQB ?


Thank you in advance for you answers folks
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If you want to go fron non restricted to restricted status you have to re register the rifle when you put the shorter upper on and it can not be taken anywhere but to a verifier untill you have the new registration certificate. If you swap it at the range you are looking at/risking getting charged with having an unregistered restricted firearm.
 
You don't just switch the upper. You swap out the barrel, bcg and the extractor. The older gens had a lot of fte issues, I have the newest gen before the keymod and no issues. I haven't heard of any with the new key mod either.
 
Still alive said:
Mine is NOT the keymod version and is heavy! Not the best woods rifle IMO. Accuracy is ok but there were FTE and FTF issues so not as reliable as Alex Robinson would have you believe. .
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I had the same problems

Wakeboarder said:
The older gens had a lot of fte issues.
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not according to a number of posters on this forum who were quick to discount my experience as a one off.
 
Brian46 said:
If you want to go fron non restricted to restricted status you have to re register the rifle when you put the shorter upper on and it can not be taken anywhere but to a verifier untill you have the new registration certificate. If you swap it at the range you are looking at/risking getting charged with having an unregistered restricted firearm.
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This ^^^

I called the CFO and was told during the 30 day grace period the rifle can only travel to a gunsmith or verifier. The rifle can not be taken to the range and used until the registration process is complete or you can be charged with possession of an unregistered restricted firearm.

I think the XCR upper is the serialized part so you could own a non restricted upper and a restricted upper and just use one lower if the uppers and lowers are interchangeable. I have only shot 4 or 5 XCR-L's and one XCR-M but never owned one so I'm not completely sure about the details of interchangeability. It would be expensive if it could work though.

As for the comparison between the two. The AR is lighter, more accurate, more reliable, and has much better parts and accessories support. The XCR is non restricted and can swap calibers between 223, 6.8spc, and 7.62x39 for about the same price as you can built another upper for your AR.
I handled a new keymod XCR-M the other day and it is much lighter than the older ones.

Other than the non restricted status I can think of much better ways to spend $2500.
 
I recently handled a new gen xcr-l with the keymod and light barrel. I was really impressed by the weight. It didn't feel big and bulky at all, and unlike some, I think the folding fast stock is a keeper. It's on my "want" list now, after all these years of waiting until Rob Arms got it right.
 
twoguntim said:
I recently handled a new gen xcr-l with the keymod and light barrel. I was really impressed by the weight. It didn't feel big and bulky at all, and unlike some, I think the folding fast stock is a keeper. It's on my "want" list now, after all these years of waiting until Rob Arms got it right.
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Not quite yet, when they change the ridiculous barrel retention/recoil lug, then they will have it right. Until then, it will never approach the ar's accuracy.
 
twoguntim said:
I recently handled a new gen xcr-l with the keymod and light barrel. I was really impressed by the weight. It didn't feel big and bulky at all, and unlike some, I think the folding fast stock is a keeper. It's on my "want" list now, after all these years of waiting until Rob Arms got it right.
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That's weird, the FAST stock sucks from what I've seen, did they change it this year? The one on my buddy's -M will fold unintentionally if you shoulder it tight and wiggle the rifle.
They have a ways to go before they have the rifle perfected. It is getting better though.
 
I own both an XCR and a high end AR. Shot lots both and enjoy them both too. Maybe I am just lucky but my XCR is quite accurate and has a fairly good stock trigger as well. Being non-restricted is a huge bonus. I like its balance as well and for the range, it's a fairly soft shooter. Wouldn't be scared to recommend it to anyone. It fills a niche in Canada that no AR can fill and is unique.
If you are going to shoot nowhere but at the range, then I'd say grab an AR for less money and so many choices, and just as accurate, or spend the same or a bit more money and get a more accurate AR. If you plan to shoot both range and in the bush, then it's really hard to beat.
 
Wakeboarder said:
You don't just switch the upper. You swap out the barrel, bcg and the extractor. The older gens had a lot of fte issues, I have the newest gen before the keymod and no issues. I haven't heard of any with the new key mod either.
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Ditto. Mine has run flawlessly with Norc non-corrosive. Weight has never been an issue for me either....but "I got big arms, cause I drum, right?"

While I don't have much experience on the AR platform, mainly because I won't own a rifle I cannot shoot in the bush, I find the ergonomics on the XCR vastly superior to the AR. Yes, my muscle memory is almost non-existent on the AR, but the XCR is just intuitive, IMO. I have even read posts from Yanks on the XCR forum who have returned from the sand box and couldn't wait to ditch the AR for their XCR.

Does the rifle have its faults? Sure....it is the most I have spent on a rifle, and that still stings, but I have no regrets.
 
Wakeboarder said:
You don't just switch the upper. You swap out the barrel, bcg and the extractor. The older gens had a lot of fte issues, I have the newest gen before the keymod and no issues. I haven't heard of any with the new key mod either.
Click to expand...

I know several guys who keep dedicated uppers for each caliber conversion, this way thier optics are always kept sighted in. I bit more expensive than just the conversion kit though.


redrams9 said:
I own both an XCR and a high end AR. Shot lots both and enjoy them both too. Maybe I am just lucky but my XCR is quite accurate and has a fairly good stock trigger as well. Being non-restricted is a huge bonus. I like its balance as well and for the range, it's a fairly soft shooter. Wouldn't be scared to recommend it to anyone. It fills a niche in Canada that no AR can fill and is unique.
If you are going to shoot nowhere but at the range, then I'd say grab an AR for less money and so many choices, and just as accurate, or spend the same or a bit more money and get a more accurate AR. If you plan to shoot both range and in the bush, then it's really hard to beat.
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Ditto!!

I also have both AR-15s and an XCR-l in 223/7.62x39. I love my XCR, if I could keep only one black rifle it would be that one. Mine has been 100% reliable for me in both calibers, the only part I have replaced to date is a recoil buffer pad after a few thousand rounds. The bolt catch is also starting to show some signs of wear, I have a new one waiting for when it needs to be replaced. I only have 10 round LAR and RA pistol mags, all function flawlessly, even the 7.62x39 mags. Accuracy is what I would expect from a battle rifle, 2-2.5MOA, 1.5 MOA in my 223 HB with 75gr handloads. Some guys whine how heavy it is, it's around 8lbs with optic....lots of limp girly guys out there, lol I carry mine slung in the bush, the weight doesn't bother me at all and it seems minimal once shouldered. For a cool, non restricted black rifle you can take out coyote smashing, the XCR is hard to beat.
 
andrew3081 said:
Like $1000 more? 1/3 of the price of the XCR.

Or you can wait 5 years for the factory NR ACR and save some money...
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Used XCR's are around $2000 and a used ACR is around $2000-$2400 depending on how good you are at haggling. Add a $500 non restricted barrel and that doesn't come close to $1000 more for a rifle that is definitely a better choice. Once my rifle was non restricted I sold the barrel it came with and got a nice chunk of the cost of converting it back which dropped the cost down to around $2500 all in. Since then I have gone a little overboard buying a 6.8SPC barrel and building the 300BLK conversion but that is all optional.
My ACR has never had a failure that wasn't my fault, all failures were while working out the bugs with the 300 Blackout conversion I built. My NR 223 conversion has been 100%. I use the ACR a lot and other than cleaning the bore and wiping it down it doesn't get much more than a couple drops of oil every few hundred rounds. It is also shooting sub moa groups with the 300 Blackout barrel and my 155gr handloads.

The factory non restricted ACR is not worth waiting for in my opinion. It won't be cheaper and it won't shoot any better than the 16 inch restricted version (not that the 16 inch doesn't shoot well). It will just be heavier and more expensive with a fancy PRS stock. Putting a longer barrel of the same quality on it won't increase anything but velocity and weight.

I'm not trying to bash the XCR as I do think it's a decent rifle but it has some issues that Rob Arms needs to correct before it can be a great rifle.

As for the AR, if it wasn't restricted I wouldn't own anything else. I'm down to 4 of them now, I have a 9mm, a 223, a 300BLK, and an AR-10. Every one of them is lighter and shoots better than any other black rifle I've shot. I've owned or at least shot pretty much every restricted and non restricted black rifle available in Canada for civilian purchase and my favorite is the AR. Nothing is as accurate and no other rifle has the parts and accessory support an AR does.
 
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cr5 said:
Used XCR's are around $2000 and a used ACR is around $2000-$2400 depending on how good you are at haggling. Add a $500 non restricted barrel and that doesn't come close to $1000 more for a rifle that is definitely a better choice. Once my rifle was non restricted I sold the barrel it came with and got a nice chunk of the cost of converting it back which dropped the cost down to around $2500 all in. Since then I have gone a little overboard buying a 6.8SPC barrel and building the 300BLK conversion but that is all optional.
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A used XCR can go for $1700. $500 to re barrel the ACR....so that is $600 after tax and shipping etc.
So yes lets say $800 to $1000 more than an XCR. Still roughly 1/3 of the price of XCR.
 
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I like the look of it, and its non-restricted status.
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NR status is the only advantage XCR has over AR.

Can I do some plinking with my non-restricted XCCR, then switch upper for the restricted upper and go to the range for some CQB ?
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No, you cannot do this. You'd need 2 lowers. One registered having the restricted barrel length.

AR > ACR > XCR

If you're only going to the range with it, save yourself the money and buy more ammo for the AR. As is the case with the XCR, ACR is interesting if you get the NR barrel. Otherwise, there is really no point in buying one at all IMHO. AR is cheaper, lighter, parts and accessories are plentiful and it performs better (with the caveat that you buy a good one) than Robinson Armament and Bushmaster.
 
One day at the range, i was sitting just beside a gentleman i did not knew and he was shooting a XCR-M...
We talked and after a while we did tried our rifles, i was shooting my entry level DPMS Panther Oracle 308 with a variety of factory loads and chinese cooperwash stuff...

At no time did the XCR-M grouped close to the AR, the gentleman did not want to try Norc in is rifle but all is reloads and quality factory ammo were shot in both rifles... Something to mentionned, the XCR-M experienced 3 failures, none with the DPMS...

We both concluded that this cheap AR was grouping better than the XCR-M....
So for half the price for me it is a no brainer... Just saying... JP.
 
yohann160 said:
NR status is the only advantage XCR has over AR.
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For many of us, that is a HUGE advantage, especially if we want to hunt small game etc. Would I have bought the XCR if the AR was non-restricted? Probably not. The price and accessories available would have been enough to drive me towards the AR. I do like a piston versus impingement, but you can get that in an AR too.

Bench rest and shooting imaginary assailants in CQB is a blast, but no comparison to the "freedom" one gets with a non-restricted black rifle.
 
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