Day out with the new XCR in 223

Camp Cook said:
Not yet have only left it on gas setting 4 so far.

from what I understand I am to fire 400 rounds to break it in then lower the gas setting its working great right now so I'll leave it on 4 until it is time to change it.

I'm trying to get to the club this afternoon if I do I'll put another 50 or so rounds thru the rifle so it should only be a few more weeks before I start changing the settings.
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I was under the impression that the manual made reference to a 200 round break in period. I believe that you can also damage your buffer by running your gas setting too high.

Please note that I don't have a manual in front of me and that I am going from memory as to what the magic number is.

Regards,

Chizzy
 
Chizzy said:
I was under the impression that the manual made reference to a 200 round break in period. I believe that you can also damage your buffer by running your gas setting too high.

Please note that I don't have a manual in front of me and that I am going from memory as to what the magic number is.

Regards,

Chizzy
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I remember it being around 400.
 
The general consensus is 3-400 rounds. If you have fired 200 rounds reliably with a well lubed rifle on setting 4, there is nothing wrong with turning it down to setting 3, or even 2. Just remember that the first 400 rounds could have a few issues. Once you are confident, turn it down to the setting that throws brass 8-15 feet. Mine works on setting 2 perfectly. If you keep it on setting 4 forever, it will just beat up the buffer pad at the back.
 
Chizzy said:
I was under the impression that the manual made reference to a 200 round break in period.
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On page 16 of the manual it states: "The "4" setting is the highest setting. It allows the largest amount of gas to impinge upon the Piston. It should be used when breaking in the Rifle. It may take as many as 200 rounds for the Rifle to be broken in. It is suggested that a higher pressure ammo, such as American Eagle, be used during this period. After the break in, the Rifle should cycle most brands of ammunition reliably."

Regards,

Chizzy
 
I made a quick trip to the range Thursday afternoon I was doing some load development for with 350gr TSX for my 21" barreled Rem 700 LSS in 375RUM so I threw in the XCR.

Unfortunately I didn't have much time so I only shot 20 shots 10 @ 100 yards & 10 @ 200 yards.

I was shooting from a rest and max time between shots was 2 - 3 seconds.

Here is the target from 200 yards I had the scope set on 8X and I was shooting my60gr Sierra HP loads ok so I pulled off a couple of the shots but the main group is 7 shots (yes 2 are in one hole) into 2" which I feel was very good considering how I was shooting.

I have to say the more I shoot this rifle the more I like it just need to mount a scope with some magnification so I can wring it out properly...

img_9182.jpg
 
Way better than I did......

I took my FDE XCR out last night, fired my break in period but got nothing for groups past 50 yards..... I tried AM FMJ, RUAG .63GR FMJ and Federal match .62GR. hollow points. The only ammo it liked out to 50 yards was the federal.

I sighted in at 25, after that I cut one hole with the RUAG, then I went to 50 and got 3-4" groups, went to 100 yards and was all over the place. Back to 50and tried the federal, 1.5" 5 shot group, back to 100 yards with the federal I got a 6" group, back to RUAG at 100, all over the place again.......:( Then we just turned down the gas and had some fun.... Jesus, that thing throws the brass at setting 4... I was 40 feet from my buddies pickup and we hit the truck a few times.......

FYI: I have a Burris 3-12 XTR mounted in ARMS High Rings, and a PRS stock and a bipod on her.... I figured that with that setup, I should be able to get a tighter group at 100.

Anyway, what are your thoughts, does the XCR just not like the RUAG .63, do I need to use heavier bullets, etc. etc??????

P.S.... I know I'm starting a S**T Storm right now, but, I could do better than that with open sights on my SL-8.
 
I'm surprised to hear that your groups are so bad have you checked to see that the scope rings/rifles screws are tight/correctly mounted?

Myself I have never had good luck shooting off a bipod and even though I have 2 of them I find I never use them.

I'm finding my most accurate load so far are my 60gr Sierra HP Varminters + 23.5grs H322 + Win SR primers that I seat to fit the mags.

With these loads I shot another 1" 100 yard group the other day I was adjusting my scope so the first 3 hit a bit higher than the other 7 I have the target downstairs I'll try and get a pic later for you.

What I am finding is like any other rifle I shoot point of impact does start to change when the barrel heats up so I now am only shooting a max of 10 rounds then letting it cool off.
 
I'll put my thoughts another way I am so happy with the performance of my XCR-L in 223 that I just yesterday ordered a 6.8 conversion kit/dies/shell holder/200 Rem brass.

I have 150 Barnes 95gr TTSX's and 50 110gr TSX coming from Tod Bartell @ Omineca Sports in Vanderhoof and 200 110gr Sierra Prohunters from WSS...

I plan on hunting deer/black bears/predators with it... :D
 
gcarms said:
I sighted in at 25, after that I cut one hole with the RUAG, then I went to 50 and got 3-4" groups, went to 100 yards and was all over the place. Back to 50and tried the federal, 1.5" 5 shot group, back to 100 yards with the federal I got a 6" group, back to RUAG at 100, all over the place again..
QUOTE]

6-8moa with RUAG and Federal? you got problem(s). Not saying you have problems or the rifle has problems however, there are problems.
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gcarms said:
I took my FDE XCR out last night, fired my break in period but got nothing for groups past 50 yards..... I tried AM FMJ, RUAG .63GR FMJ and Federal match .62GR. hollow points. The only ammo it liked out to 50 yards was the federal.

I sighted in at 25, after that I cut one hole with the RUAG, then I went to 50 and got 3-4" groups, went to 100 yards and was all over the place. Back to 50and tried the federal, 1.5" 5 shot group, back to 100 yards with the federal I got a 6" group, back to RUAG at 100, all over the place again.......:( Then we just turned down the gas and had some fun.... Jesus, that thing throws the brass at setting 4... I was 40 feet from my buddies pickup and we hit the truck a few times.......

FYI: I have a Burris 3-12 XTR mounted in ARMS High Rings, and a PRS stock and a bipod on her.... I figured that with that setup, I should be able to get a tighter group at 100.

Anyway, what are your thoughts, does the XCR just not like the RUAG .63, do I need to use heavier bullets, etc. etc??????

P.S.... I know I'm starting a S**T Storm right now, but, I could do better than that with open sights on my SL-8.
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Have you tried using the small aperature on the irons that came with it? Just to eliminate the possibility of the scope/mount being out of whack?
 
Ffynn said:
Have you tried using the small aperature on the irons that came with it? Just to eliminate the possibility of the scope/mount being out of whack?
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Thats the only way my XCR is accurate. The large appature is too large to be accurate for me and my XCR. With the small appature I can hold 1-2" groups a fair bit of the time with the bi-pod and I am not a sniper by any means.
 
????????????

Ffynn said:
Have you tried using the small aperature on the irons that came with it? Just to eliminate the possibility of the scope/mount being out of whack?
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I'm going to take off the scope and try the irons with the same ammo and range..... and then go from there.

Gord.

P.S. I'm a dumbass, my front ring was loose. It was tight with the sights..... lapped and retorqed the rings,,, all is well??? I was getting groups closer to camp cooks and the power settings didnt change the point of impact. It liked everything I fed it after that.... Not as accurate as my SL-8, but hey, I didnt expect that anyway.

Have a great one.

Gord.
 
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