All you need to switch size in the XCR-L is the barrel, extractor and bcg. In terms of price I've seen a lot of specials been run on the XCR where you buy the rifle and get the other caliber for $250. So basically 2 guns for relatively cheep in my opinion. XCR-L'S comes in either 223 or 6.5 and the M comes in either 7.62x39 or 308. Each are interchangeable within the L or M designation. AR'S range from 7.5 to 9 yup 9 pounds and yes can be cheaper but can also be more expensive than the XCR so neither of those statements are true. The keymod weighs in at just over 7 pounds and the older XCR weighing in at just and I mean just over 8 which in my opinion is still not bad. And in terms of accessories I haven't found anything for my AR that I couldn't buy for my XCR. I love them both but when I go to the range the XCR always comes with me and I just love it. There's pros and cons and price is one of them. If you buy a cheap AR like a.......Norc it's gonna be less but have its fair share of problems and picky with ammo. Or you could buy a PWS AR and it's more than an XCR. You can't go wrong with an XCR, it's non restricted and if you follow the proper gas settings break in you won't have any issues. I never thought I'd be an XCR guy but I know I'll be a fan till the day I die. So pick one up and have a blast....pun intended lol.
Did you say you actually own an XCR-L?
You are so wrong I have a hard time believing you could own one yet know so little about the rifle.
First, the extractor is part of the Bolt, I believe you are talking about the shell deflector.
Second you don't change the size you change the caliber, this may just be a slight error in wording but it makes you sound like a newbie who has very little firearms experience.
Third, the XCR-L can be swapped between 223/5.56 or 6.8 SPC or 7.62x39. The XCR-M can be swapped between 308/7.62x51 or 243 or 260.
Your weight comparisons don't mean much since depending on the configuration you choose for your AR you can have one well over 9 pounds using a heavy contour target barrel and heavy fully adjustable stock which makes it pretty much a bench only rifle but if that's the way you want to set it up you understand that going in. That by the way isn't even an option for an XCR, with an XCR you are stuck with a low quality light barrel or a low quality heavy barrel and that's it. There aren't 30 different manufacturers making compatible parts, there is only Rob Arms.
This is what I meant earlier about lack of parts and accessories, I wasn't talking about being able to change the grip or the stock, I mean bolt carrier groups, barrels, uppers, lowers, recoil springs, buffers, gas blocks. Every piece on an AR can be changed for either simply cosmetics if that's what you're into or parts can be swapped to actually tune the rifle to run better and smoother.
I'm not going to tell anyone not to buy an XCR, everyone is free to do what they want to do but unless you need non restricted status there are much better ways to spend your money and end up with a better rifle with money left over for a case of ammo.
As for your comparison of Norc AR's, I don't even consider the M-4gery to be an AR, sure there have been guys that buy them and don't have problems but just like all other Norinco products there is virtually no QC and you are rolling the dice when you buy anything with that name on the box. there is no consistency and no warranty so if you get one of the problem ones then too bad so sad, it's yours and you can try to make it work or put it on the EE and hope for the best.
Also if you're going to compare prices of XCR's to AR's go with new for both or used for both. A new PWS is less than a new XCR, yes on the used market the PWS will usually pull in a little more but there might be a reason for that. Maybe people know that when you buy a PWS you will be buying a quality, problem free high end firearm and when you buy an XCR you might get a good one and you might get a problem child. I just sold one of my PWS rifles and got more than you paid for your XCR. Just like cars, the higher the quality the better the resale value.
The PWS AR I still own is incredible, 5000ish rounds later it hasn't had a single broken part or a failure that wasn't the fault of the operator, can't blame the rifle if the operator doesn't fully seat the magazine. Add to that, even after 5000 rounds my 12 inch barrel piston operated rifle will shoot 77gr Black Hills match into about 0.8-0.9 moa. I haven't even started trying to develop a handload for it yet but after seeing what it can do with factory built stuff I'm looking forward to getting some time to start load development for it.
I agree with your statement about the accuracy of the XCR. It's adequate for a battle rifle or for hunting small game at closer ranges but if you compare the accuracy to an AR or an ACR it's terrible. This isn't a breaking point which makes the rifle a piece of crap but it is frustrating to continually read guys say their rifle can do more than it really can because they fluke out and get one good group a day then claim the rifle is just as accurate as an AR. Even a cheap AR will shoot tighter groups than an XCR and that's ok, you have to sacrifice something if you want a non restricted black rifle in Canada and don't want to spend even more money, I'm pretty sure the XCR can shoot as well as a Tavor and the Tavor cost more and doesn't have caliber conversion options, The Tavor offers a compact non restricted platform which is another compromise, My ACR is more accurate than an XCR but also costs more to end up non restricted which is another compromise.
Everyone needs to decide what they want and how much they are willing to spend, the XCR has had a shaky first few years which have given it a bad reputation in the reliability department, maybe the new ones are better but time and rounds down range will be how we know, running 500 rounds down a rifle tells nothing, until a few guys with the new keymod generation have a few thousand rounds down the pipe and we stop hearing about problems with them the XCR will be a tough sell to more experienced shooters who have been around a while and have seen the company's past issues.
Better jump on the EE and take a look around....I bought my XCR which is the gen before the keymod with 100....yup 100 rounds through it for $1800 shipped to my door. Plus it had an upgraded pistol grip and the dlask adaptor with magpul slide stock....and I see them every day of the week on there around these prices...you literally just have to pull up the EE and wait for a deal....oh and I've got all supporting paperwork from wolverine the original seller to the guy I bought it from off the EE
So in your eyes a drop in value of $700 (without considering taxes and shipping) from new price is a selling point? I bet the guys that buy them new and sell them don't think so.
That's a pretty good return on investment, 100 rounds for $700
