Comparative review - XCRm, Famae 542 and RFB

H Wally

H Wally

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Since these are the three primary non-restricted .308 cal black rifles out there, I would be quite interested in input from anyone who has handled and shot two or more of these on pros and cons between them. A side by side review would be amazing.

My personal observations from handling but not shooting:
XCRM seems well built, handy, but front heavy.
RFB seems much lighter with the weight rearward, very solid, but not the greatest design in regards to repair and longterm lifespan of parts.
FAMAE - ?? Never even been in the same room as one.

Skip to post 5 by KevinM - a good review by someone who's lucky enough to have them all - thanks!!!
 
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Here we go, not a comprehensive review by any means, just a few thoughts and opinions about these 3 rifles. If I have anything wrong feel free to correct me and I will update my post.

First off, about the rifles...

All three rifles are chambered in .308 Winchester, all three are reasonably close to the same price range... but that is where the similarities end.


XCR-M

The XCR-M is a fairly new design that uses an operating system strongly resembling the basic workings of Kalashnikov rifles, combined with similar ergonomics to the AR platform. This rifle is built for reliability and durability from the ground up. The addition of a left hand charging handle facilitates rapid operation of the firearm while still keeping your strong hand on the fire controls. The XCR has a fully ambidextrous safety and magazine release, but is only available in right side ejection.

The rifle is equipped with an outstanding muzzle brake that, while loud to people beside the brake, is not oppressive to shoot, and is outstanding at reducing recoil and muzzle jump. This is one of the best rifles I have ever used for shot recovery on target while shooting from prone, you squeeze a shot off, but the crosshair returns instantly to your point of aim. Reliability has been excellent with all brands of ammo thanks to the adjustable gas system, which only requires the rim of a case to operate.

Accuracy is superb, 1MOA capable, with average groups being 1.5 - 2 MOA with my 1-6x optic.

Magazines are widely available in both steel and polymer, as it is just a standard AR-10 magazines. Magpul makes a wonderful 20 round magazine that is as robust and reliable as the rifle.

The biggest downfall to the XCR is the weight. This is a wonderful gun to shoot, but it really sucks to haul this heavy tank of a rifle around in the woods in a backpack to get to your favorite shooting location. Still, I am more than willing to bear that burden to enjoy all the benefits of having this rifle with me on the firing line.




Famae SG542

The Famae SG542 is a Chilean licensed copy of the Sig SG540. If you have ever seen, held, or even better fired off a Swiss Arms rifle, you will know enough to know that you want to own this gun. The SG542 has a few more rough edges than a Swiss arms, and the finish is not to the same quality as a Swiss arms, but other than that, this rifle is a masterpiece of no-nonsense Swiss engineering.

It is right hand charging, left hand ejecting, uses rock and lock style magazines, and does not have ambidextrous controls.

The rifle is lightweight, balances surprisingly well in the offhand shooting position, and has mild recoil with the birdcage style flash hider. Accuracy has proven to be good in the short period I have owned this rifle, with average results being in the 1.5 MOA range with a 1-6x optic, but I have yet to try any hand loads from this rifle.

The rifle is lightweight for its class, and the addition of the optional folding stock makes this rifle an instant favorite for backpacking into shooting locations.

The biggest downfall of the SG542 is the magazines. They are specific to the gun (ie expensive), currently spares are not expected in the country for some time, and I have had reliability issues relating to the follower jamming in cold weather causing fail to feeds. Hopefully an aftermarket polymer option hits the market in the near future.


Kel-tec RFB

The Kel-tec RFB is the only bulpup on this list, and the only "easily" available bulpup .308 in Canada, and that right there is a huge selling point.

It is a completely unique design, as expected from a company like Kel-tec, who have a history of innovative designs. Of course, with innovative designs come quality control issues, and Kel-tec has had plenty of those with many of their firearms, but the RFB seems to have relatively few of these, and mine has run 100% reliably since I have gotten it, despite its complicated extractor mechanism and forward ejection system.

The rifle is left hand charging, forward ejecting, and takes metric FAL magazines, which can be found in serviceable condition fairly easily.

The controls are logically laid out and easy to pick up even if you are not familiar with bulpup firearms. This rifle is truly ambidextrous, just like the Belgian P90, a left handed user can pick this rifle up and use it effectively right after a right handed user, making it a great rifle to introduce people to the 7.62 platform with.

Due to its short length, this rifle is by far the best for offhand shooting, making this an excellent choice for hunters and plinkers, but it is weak at longer ranges as it tends to be tricky to install a bipod on, and I have only had modest results accuracy wise from mine, averaging 2 - 2.5MOA with mine. The mushy bulpup trigger no doubt lends to this, but it is something that is acceptable if hunting and plinking are your goals.

The biggest weakness of the RFB is the difficulty of installing a bipod, and thus making long range accuracy difficult.


All three are excellent rifles for very different purposes, but I won't be selling any of mine, let's just put it that way. :ar15:













 
Cilvers said:
@Kevin

If you had to choose only 1 of those firearms to keep which one would it be and why?
Click to expand...

Interesting question, and it would be different for different people, but for me, it would be the XCR.

Reason? While heavy and hard to shoot offhand, this thing hits fast, accurately, and far. 500 yard rapid fire from prone on an IDPA target is not just possible while prone, but is boring to do so because you hit so reliably as long as I do my part.

It is just a beautiful piece of kit.

SG542 would be my next choice. Kel tec is my last, I am turning into more of a long range guy, that is where the real challenge is for me, working to get hits at 1km and beyond.

Of course, like I said, this is just my opinion, all I am doing is adding my experience, and you can make your own conclusions. :)
 
I wonder how close those famae 542's are to the original sig 542's. I know epps has an original 12.3 542, would be interesting to pick it up as a parts kit for one of the famae's.
 
Kevin M. said:
Interesting question, and it would be different for different people, but for me, it would be the XCR.

Reason? While heavy and hard to shoot offhand, this thing hits fast, accurately, and far. 500 yard rapid fire from prone on an IDPA target is not just possible while prone, but is boring to do so because you hit so reliably as long as I do my part.

It is just a beautiful piece of kit.

SG542 would be my next choice. Kel tec is my last, I am turning into more of a long range guy, that is where the real challenge is for me, working to get hits at 1km and beyond.

Of course, like I said, this is just my opinion, all I am doing is adding my experience, and you can make your own conclusions. :)
Click to expand...


How does the xcr-m compare to the m14? Assuming you have one. Weight? reliability? What is the xcr-m constructed out of? is it worth the money or should I just stick with my trusty ol norc? Seriously considering getting one of these..
 
whitetailwoodsarcher said:
How does the xcr-m compare to the m14? Assuming you have one. Weight? reliability? What is the xcr-m constructed out of? is it worth the money or should I just stick with my trusty ol norc? Seriously considering getting one of these..
Click to expand...

I don't have an M14 anymore and it has been a while since I have shot one, so my memory is kind of foggy on them.

Better to ask somebody who has one to compare it with.
 
whitetailwoodsarcher said:
How does the xcr-m compare to the m14? Assuming you have one. Weight? reliability? What is the xcr-m constructed out of? is it worth the money or should I just stick with my trusty ol norc? Seriously considering getting one of these..
Click to expand...

This is a good question - I'd be very interested in comparing the M14 with the rest considering it has a massive advantage in price ($500 vs 2500++) Even a nice M14 is running in the $1000-$1500 range, so a LOT cheaper.
 
amae SG542

The Famae SG542 is a Chilean licensed copy of the Sig SG540. If you have ever seen, held, or even better fired off a Swiss Arms rifle, you will know enough to know that you want to own this gun. The SG542 has a few more rough edges than a Swiss arms, and the finish is not to the same quality as a Swiss arms, but other than that, this rifle is a masterpiece of no-nonsense Swiss engineering.

It is right hand charging, left hand ejecting, uses rock and lock style magazines, and does not have ambidextrous controls.

The rifle is lightweight, balances surprisingly well in the offhand shooting position, and has mild recoil with the birdcage style flash hider. Accuracy has proven to be good in the short period I have owned this rifle, with average results being in the 1.5 MOA range with a 1-6x optic, but I have yet to try any hand loads from this rifle.

The rifle is lightweight for its class, and the addition of the optional folding stock makes this rifle an instant favorite for backpacking into shooting locations.

The biggest downfall of the SG542 is the magazines. They are specific to the gun (ie expensive), currently spares are not expected in the country for some time, and I have had reliability issues relating to the follower jamming in cold weather causing fail to feeds. Hopefully an aftermarket polymer option hits the market in the near future.


Kel-tec RFB

The Kel-tec RFB is the only bullpup on this list, and the only "easily" available bullpup .308 in Canada, and that right there is a huge selling point.

It is a completely unique design, as expected from a company like Kel-tec, who have a history of innovative designs. Of course, with innovative designs come quality control issues, and Kel-tec has had plenty of those with many of their firearms, but the RFB seems to have relatively few of these, and mine has run 100% reliably since I have gotten it, despite its complicated extractor mechanism and forward ejection system.

The rifle is left hand charging, forward ejecting, and takes metric FAL magazines, which can be found in serviceable condition fairly easily.

The controls are logically laid out and easy to pick up even if you are not familiar with bullpup firearms. This rifle is truly ambidextrous, just like the Belgian P90, a left handed user can pick this rifle up and use it effectively right after a right handed user, making it a great rifle to introduce people to the 7.62 platform with.

Due to its short length, this rifle is by far the best for offhand shooting, making this an excellent choice for hunters and plinkers, but it is weak at longer ranges as it tends to be tricky to install a bipod on, and I have only had modest results accuracy wise from mine, averaging 2 - 2.5MOA with mine. The mushy bullpup trigger no doubt lends to this, but it is something that is acceptable if hunting and plinking are your goals.

The biggest weakness of the RFB is the difficulty of installing a bipod, and thus making long range accuracy difficult.
Click to expand...


couple of errors.

Famae is a right hand #### and right hand eject. It is also ambidextrous as the mag release is located in the center like an AK and the selector switch is on both sides of the rifle.

Also the RFB is configurable left or right hand cocking


I haven't fired an XCR-m so I can't really talk about it, but the other two I've had good hands on.

Famae 542:

as far as .308 semiautomatics go its lightweight, and well balanced. The sites are a bit crude and lack the ability for true precision that the rifle is cable of; the drum skips from 100m to 300m and the front post is very wide with no center line or dot. At 300m my 15 inch wide gongs appear about half the width of the front blade and were giving me issues with consistent hits. Unlike the Swiss arms, it does not have tritium dots for low light and night shooting. Fit and finish although good just doesn't hold up to a swiss arms when compared side by side.
The gun is more then capable of firing 2moa and better. It seems to run 150gr bullets well but 168gr were erratic and kicked like a mual. This gun is over gassed, plain and simple. it never fails to eject, and ejects the cases quit a distance, 20-45 feet. 150 SST hand loads that fire at 2650 FPS were hot enough to spell the end for the cases as they were mangled. What turned out to be Slightly tamer; 150 federal AE FMJs, which are listed at 2800 FPS muzzle (didn't bring the croney out to check) seem to eject about 20-25 feet and were salvageable for reloading. Accuracy from the hand loads was excellent (reference my gong shooting video) shooting consistently under about 2 MOA and the AE preformed good at about 1.5 to 2.5 MOA excluding my walkers. The rifle fires true even with a hot barrel without the typical wandering groups that I see in other rifles with lighter barrels. The muzzle break fails to eliminate any recoil or muzzle jump, I'm excitingly awaiting after market breaks to appear that don't require threading.
The trigger doesn't creak but it has a very unique pull. Its a long consistent pull that is a bit on the heavy side, at some point the sear just lets go, its not a crisp feeling release by any means. I found it was heavy enough for me to develop 45 degree groupings as I pulled the rifle while squeezing the trigger, this was very evident in the prone position were i forgo the use the of the sling to hold the rifle and place my left hand under the stock in a more classic long distance shooting position. I ended up having better luck at controlling the group in prone with a hand firmly planted and gripping the hand guard despite the use of the bipod.

With a good optic and a pair of shooting sticks I would feel comfortable taking this gun out to 500m for deer


RFB

Other then the idea i find this rifle a disappointment. It is very heavy despite its size. the requirement for an optic or clip on irons made me a little angry considering the price of the rifle and its intended role. I found it very unbalanced, more so then other bull pups I have fired (L85, tavor).
The gun never seemed to group well despite what i feed it. Factory or handloads, big and small it seemed to group around 2.5-4 MOA in the end. the only difference in bullet weight was
1)how reliably it feed
2)how much it kicked
Me and my room mate spent a lot of time playing with this gun, we burt a lot of ammo getting the gas settings right. It seemed to fire 150's alright, 168 were jamomatics and 190's wouldn't feed worth a ####. The gun required a lot of "tweaking" with pliers as many of the parts in the feed path were prone to getting dog eared and causing jams, everything from feed lips to the eject shoot. it was very common for this gun to fire 3 or 4 shots alright then jam the next round because a casings had gotten pinched in the eject system.
Velocity was an issue, with the 18.5 inch barrel it was typically shooting ammunition 200-300 FPS slower then my M14 (18.5 inch barrel as well) with the same ammo.

Between the combined accuracy and slower bullet speed,I wouldn't feel comfortable using this rifle to take a deer past 300m, and ods are with any optic suited for this gun (low power) thats as far as you would be shooting anyways.
This is a rifle that requires a lot of workup to get to a point were its a reliable fun shooter. You have to find an ammo that performs and stick with it, dropping in a different brand or bullet weight could easily spell a wasted day at the range fiddle ####ing about.
 
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