Hunting with an XCR-M

[ntm]

SPRTN308's accuracy results are not unique. Brobee did a rather thorough write up on the -M as well with the same kind of flyers.

I was never happy with the accuracy on my -L either. It was never better than a 4 moa rifle. Not accurate enough to be interesting.

I had the same experiences with mine, inconsistent groupings.
You could see where the barrel had been rubbing while shifting around inside the reciever, regardless of torque applied to the barrel retention screw.
Hunting can be hard. You do a lot of work to get into the right position, at the right time. Do you want a firearm that might shoot where you aim, or might not ?

 

[ntm]

Double tap

 

[canadiansurvivor]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I've heard a TON of conflicting reports for accuracy with the XCR-M. I want to love this rifle, if it is consistently within 2MOA, thats acceptable, and it sounds like some people's are, but not everyones...

 

[knock-knock]

Im not well versed in the technical aspects of how barrels are retained in different guns... can someone dumb it down for me? Why is Robarm's system bad, and how "should" it have been done? Is it an inherent design issue or something that could potentially be fixed?

Just curious.

 

[supernova]

Accuracy with the XCR seems hit or miss. I always torqued the barrel screw to spec on mine and it shot very well. 1.25" @ 100 yds w/ XCR-L .223 and handloads. Hornady zombie crap was 3" and Hornady match 75 gr OTM was 4-5". Figure that out... That Hornady match is fricken hot ammo though. Cycled the rifle on suppressor gas setting. At any rate, mine never gave flyers unless I caused them and all groups were 5 shot. Others get crap accuracy but most shoot crap ammo like norc and who knows what for irons, optics, rests, skill etc so its hard to say how consistent or inconsistent they are.

 

[supernova]

Im not well versed in the technical aspects of how barrels are retained in different guns... can someone dumb it down for me? Why is Robarm's system bad, and how "should" it have been done? Is it an inherent design issue or something that could potentially be fixed?

Just curious.

The entire barrel assembly is held in place by one single set screw under the barrel extension and other than making contact with the gas system it free floats. The barrel extension slips into a bore in the upper reciever and the set screw tightens into a dimple in it. That's it, the barrel does not thread into the reciever. It makes for 30 second barrel swaps but the positives end there.

 

[SnoPac]

Has anyone ever considered that the accuracy inconsistencies have less to do with the barrel retention and more to do with the monolithic rail and it's attachment? IE. the quick release slider and the main pivot? Is there any play between those components when assembled?

 

[Jerengineer]

I hunt with my RFB every year....it is THE ultimate rifle or the hunting we do here...THICK boreal, swamp, fast action, with the occasional long poke across a beaver pond.

I'm with the RFB crowd. Buy a used one and if you don't like it after a year sell for the same price you paid. No risk. They are on the EE all the time. I would shoot a caribou up to about 200m comfortably with it. But I bought it for wearing on my back on a snowmobile. Perfect application.

 

[BadAsMo]

kudos man

Nuthin like a straight up no BS assessment.

I bought one, knowing I'd play with it and carry it for moose.

I sold it a few months later based on what I considered to be a bad investment. Never actually hunted with it.

I decided it was a number of things, not one of them being a decent rifle for honest to God hunting. Good for other things, sure, but ultimately in my opinion, the XCR-M is a rifle that over commits and under delivers.

If you want to carry something cool while hunting, sure, but, a hunting rifle it is not.

Why not consider a Ruger Scout rifle if you want something cool? Or, buy a AICS in .308. Honestly, if you've got money to burn, and want something that will do both hunting and paper well, in a ###y package, that's the direction I'd go.

Truth is, until we can actually hunt with AR10 type platforms, it's just not worth it in trying to find a decent semi to replace it.

I don't miss my -M one bit. It cost me $3200ish shipped, and I managed to get 2800 for it a few months later after 150 rounds of "what is this sh!t". I ended up turning that 2800 into a lot of other things, like a bow, and a Hornady L-N-L, and a M&P Pro, oh, and a snowblower. Honestly, the 700 from that sale that paid for the snowblower was quite possibly the best purchase I'll ever make in my life after this past winter.

Whatever you do, buy it used. That way when you tire of it, you'll do okay.

 

[BadAsMo]

You probably have the 1:9 twist, so best accuracy would probably be with bullets like a 69 grain SMK with about 25 grains of Win 748.
The 75 grain Hornadys are probably just too much bullet for the twist rate,

Accuracy with the XCR seems hit or miss. I always torqued the barrel screw to spec on mine and it shot very well. 1.25" @ 100 yds w/ XCR-L .223 and handloads. Hornady zombie crap was 3" and Hornady match 75 gr OTM was 4-5". Figure that out... That Hornady match is fricken hot ammo though. Cycled the rifle on suppressor gas setting. At any rate, mine never gave flyers unless I caused them and all groups were 5 shot. Others get crap accuracy but most shoot crap ammo like norc and who knows what for irons, optics, rests, skill etc so its hard to say how consistent or inconsistent they are.

 

[supernova]

The same ammo shot terribly in a bedded 7 twist mini 14 as well, that same mini 14 shot well with 55 gr VMAX handloads. 55 gr Hornady FMJ's under 23 grs H335 was the magic ticket for the XCR I had. Hornady factory .223 has been crap in everything I've tried it in. I don't waste money on it anymore.

You probably have the 1:9 twist, so best accuracy would probably be with bullets like a 69 grain SMK with about 25 grains of Win 748.
The 75 grain Hornadys are probably just too much bullet for the twist rate,