I'm a soldier buying my first rifle. (advice from XCR owners please)

DrMungkee

DrMungkee

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Even though I'm in the infantry, at this point in my career I'm spending more time training others than shooting on the range myself. I want my own rifle for ranges in my spare time.

I've never owned my own firearm. How much of a hassle will getting my license in Ontario be?

I'm seriously considering the XCR. I love the piston design, the left handed cocking-handle and the index-finger bold-release.

I prefer shooting 5.56 because that's I've shot thousands of rounds of it. I've read on some sites that it's not recommended to fire 5.56 (NATO or other) out of .223 weapons. Is this correct? I didn't find a 5.56 specific model on the Wolverine Supplies site.

Can I expect similar accuracy to a C7 with an XCR? Would I want the thick barrel?

Is the XCR with 20" barrel still unrestricted with a folding butt stock?

Where should I shop for an XCR in terms of both price and customer service?

Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
I don't own one, but have used one, so here's my $.02

I've never owned my own firearm. How much of a hassle will getting my license in Ontario be?
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Shouldn't be a problem, there are plenty of places to take the test here.

I prefer shooting 5.56 because that's I've shot thousands of rounds of it. I've read on some sites that it's not recommended to fire 5.56 (NATO or other) out of .223 weapons. Is this correct? I didn't find a 5.56 specific model on the Wolverine Supplies site.
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I'm pretty sure the XCR is chambered in 5.56 (but don't quote me on that!), but it's difficult for civies to find 5.56 anyway. .223 is plentiful though, and relatively cheap too!

Can I expect similar accuracy to a C7 with an XCR? Would I want the thick barrel?
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What's the minimum accuracy requirement for a C7 to remain in service? Isn't it something like 2 MOA? If so, the XCR should be more than acceptable.

Is the XCR with 20" barrel still unrestricted with a folding butt stock?
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Yes

Where should I shop for an XCR in terms of both price and customer service?
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Wolverine Supplies (I think they're your first, last and only choice :p)

Even if another place had them, I'd say go with Wolverine anyways. I've dealt with them several times (bought my AR180 from them :D) and was really impressed with their service.

Also, there's an XCR FAQ post stickied at the top of this section. Check it out if you have any more questions, the answers will probably be there.

Good luck, and welcome to CGN. :)
 
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New XCR's come with a fixed non folding stock and pinned flash hider.(folding stock adapter may soon be available from wolverine to convert a rifle.) The only barrel available in Canada is the 18.6 inch heavy barrel. It is marked 223 Rem, but I believe it is a 5.56 chamber, it is marked so because US will not always allow the export of 5.56 marked rifles. It's not a Ar15 but it is a fun gun and non restricted to boot.
 
Being a soldier - just remember you are held to an even higher standard of personal conduct that civilian firearms owners (and we already are held to a ridiculously high standard).

BE CAREFUL: The only advice I have for you, as an ex-soldier myself, and being an ex-soldier because many of my military colleagues felt threatened enough of my owning firearms to falsely report me to the police.

You can get away showing off pictures of you training with a C7 or C9 (as long as you're not a moron about it) - you CANNOT get away with showing off your own collection.
 
What a joke it is that we need to pay the CFO to process someone in our countries militaries firearms applications, you would hope that if he meets the militaries standards he would surpass the CFO's.
 
I agree

10mmauto said:
What a joke it is that we need to pay the CFO to process someone in our countries militaries firearms applications, you would hope that if he meets the militaries standards he would surpass the CFO's.
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I agree with that.

The OP will be able to challenge the PAL/RPAL exams easily, then he has to jump through the hoops we all do with the applications.

He might be able to put an XCR (if he eventually chooses one) on layaway and then get it transferred to him once he gets his PAL.

The XCR is a good choice for a non-restricted "black" rifle.
 
harbl_the_cat said:
Being a soldier - just remember you are held to an even higher standard of personal conduct that civilian firearms owners (and we already are held to a ridiculously high standard).

BE CAREFUL: The only advice I have for you, as an ex-soldier myself, and being an ex-soldier because many of my military colleagues felt threatened enough of my owning firearms to falsely report me to the police.

You can get away showing off pictures of you training with a C7 or C9 (as long as you're not a moron about it) - you CANNOT get away with showing off your own collection.
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What?

I am very voical about my onwership of firearms in the military. I do see your point of how beening proud of your sport or toys effecting anything in your military career.
 
crashcollins said:
New XCR's come with a fixed non folding stock and pinned flash hider.(folding stock adapter may soon be available from wolverine to convert a rifle.) The only barrel available in Canada is the 18.6 inch heavy barrel. It is marked 223 Rem, but I believe it is a 5.56 chamber, it is marked so because US will not always allow the export of 5.56 marked rifles. It's not a Ar15 but it is a fun gun and non restricted to boot.
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The chamber is.223 not 5.56 it is ilegal to export a firearm that is chambered in 5.56mm or .223 Wylde
 
harbl_the_cat said:
Being a soldier - just remember you are held to an even higher standard of personal conduct that civilian firearms owners (and we already are held to a ridiculously high standard).

BE CAREFUL: The only advice I have for you, as an ex-soldier myself, and being an ex-soldier because many of my military colleagues felt threatened enough of my owning firearms to falsely report me to the police.

You can get away showing off pictures of you training with a C7 or C9 (as long as you're not a moron about it) - you CANNOT get away with showing off your own collection.
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Right, I forgot about all the BS you had to deal with a while back... :(
 
DrMungkee said:
I prefer shooting 5.56 because that's I've shot thousands of rounds of it. I've read on some sites that it's not recommended to fire 5.56 (NATO or other) out of .223 weapons. Is this correct? I didn't find a 5.56 specific model on the Wolverine Supplies site.
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Before stating that you can safely shoot 5.56 out of a .223 chamber in that rifle (which you probably can), you should have the chamber cast by a competant gunsmith just to make sure the tolerances aren't too tight. .223 and 5.56 are different cartridges so if you have a small .223 chamber and/or barrel, you may end up with dangerously high pressure shooting 5.56 ammunition. If you have a normal or large .223 chamber it should be OK.

Accuracy will suffer and you may have misfires due to the harder primer.

That said, it is not necessarily safe to shoot 5.56 ammunition out of any old .223. They two cartridges have different SAAMI max pressures for one thing. The XCR action is rated to withstand the higher pressure of the 5.56 cartridge. Semiautomatic actions also generally have larger chambers making this interchage safer.
 
Savage said:
The chamber is.223 not 5.56 it is ilegal to export a firearm that is chambered in 5.56mm or .223 Wylde
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XCR are chambered in 5.56, domestic models are marked as 5.56/.223 but export models are marked as .223 only, to be compliant with US Dept regulations, It has been confirmed by XCRmonger from Robinson Arms on several occasions. :)
 
It's impossible for me to try to export a 5.56 firearm out of the US but every so often the US does allow a shipment of 5.56 marked rifles out to Canadian distributors. Check the most recent AR180B's, Colt 6920's and Colt 6940's. To prevent this sporadic export permit approval; Rob Arms and other Mfgr's now rollmark their firearms as 223 Rem. when they in fact still have 5.56 chambers. Not a big deal to me whats marked on the rifle but it does cause confusion for some people, not much chance of getting 5.56 Nato ammo in Canada anyway so 223 Rem. ammo is good to go in a rifle marked either way.
 
harbl_the_cat said:
BE CAREFUL: The only advice I have for you, as an ex-soldier myself, and being an ex-soldier because many of my military colleagues felt threatened enough of my owning firearms to falsely report me to the police.

You can get away showing off pictures of you training with a C7 or C9 (as long as you're not a moron about it) - you CANNOT get away with showing off your own collection.
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I don't get it either..........but whatever you post on the interweb (~8^) is forever and anonymity is not...
 
hbean said:
XCR are chambered in 5.56, domestic models are marked as 5.56/.223 but export models are marked as .223 only, to be compliant with US Dept regulations, It has been confirmed by XCRmonger from Robinson Arms on several occasions. :)
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Then RA is not in compilance with US State Dept regulations regarding the export of 5.56 rifles
 
There is no problem getting 5.56 from Korean manufacturers. I have several thousand rounds of various 5.56. You will also find a number of newly imported LMTs and other rifles that have 5.56 chambers. They are getting through, and getting through legally.

crashcollins said:
It's impossible for me to try to export a 5.56 firearm out of the US but every so often the US does allow a shipment of 5.56 marked rifles out to Canadian distributors. Check the most recent AR180B's, Colt 6920's and Colt 6940's. To prevent this sporadic export permit approval; Rob Arms and other Mfgr's now rollmark their firearms as 223 Rem. when they in fact still have 5.56 chambers. Not a big deal to me whats marked on the rifle but it does cause confusion for some people, not much chance of getting 5.56 Nato ammo in Canada anyway so 223 Rem. ammo is good to go in a rifle marked either way.
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