M305 A 'Poor Mans' XCR?
- Thread starter Demonical
- Start date
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC Canada
I like the M305 and XCR. I plan to have one of each. Both extremely ###y rifles.
At different times I've owned an XCR-M, and 3 different M305s.
My experiences with the differences:
1. I owned an M305 18", bog-standard and sold it. That M305 worked, but it had poor accuracy, around >6 MOA.
2. Then I bought 22" M305 in a Sage EBR chassis from another website that I will NEVER go to again (firearmscanada.ca, they're infested with scammers don't buy anything there). The Sage chassis didn't fit the trigger group properly, and so it failed the test-after-assembly. Had I shot it I would have gotten slam-fires. The seller went no contact after that, I wasn't happy. I sold that to a guy on the EE here at a significant loss because I was completely up front about the technical problem, he was cool - he just wanted the stock.
3. So that partially financed the XCR. The XCR was problematic at first with stoppages, but it got worked in after about 40 rounds, but it was a lot better in accuracy with the heavy barrel, 2-3 MOA.
4. But eventually I decided I missed the M305, so I got a third one - a SOCOM 18. I put that in a wood stock, and put a scout rail on it. It looked gorgeous. Took it out, and the accuracy sucked. AGAIN. >6 MOA.
...I was constantly disappointed with the accuracy of the M305. I know it's not my shooting, because I can nail <2 MOA on a Ruger Scout, and 0.75 MOA on a Savage 10TR, and 3 MOA on my XCR.
I also like the AR style mags and the left-side cocking handle on the XCR-M. I just didn't like it on the right side of the M305. I had a .223 rifle with a left-side cocking handle, and I liked not having to learn two different movements to work the action, change mags, etc. As an aside, I tried out a light barrel for the XCR, and it was not accurate either - about 5-6 MOA again.
All in all, I just got tired of M305s not functioning to my expectations. As long as I stick with the heavy barrel, the XCR just worked better for me, but maybe I just got unlucky with three M305s that were lemons all in a row. My buddy has one and it shoots reasonably well.
My experiences with the differences:
1. I owned an M305 18", bog-standard and sold it. That M305 worked, but it had poor accuracy, around >6 MOA.
2. Then I bought 22" M305 in a Sage EBR chassis from another website that I will NEVER go to again (firearmscanada.ca, they're infested with scammers don't buy anything there). The Sage chassis didn't fit the trigger group properly, and so it failed the test-after-assembly. Had I shot it I would have gotten slam-fires. The seller went no contact after that, I wasn't happy. I sold that to a guy on the EE here at a significant loss because I was completely up front about the technical problem, he was cool - he just wanted the stock.
3. So that partially financed the XCR. The XCR was problematic at first with stoppages, but it got worked in after about 40 rounds, but it was a lot better in accuracy with the heavy barrel, 2-3 MOA.
4. But eventually I decided I missed the M305, so I got a third one - a SOCOM 18. I put that in a wood stock, and put a scout rail on it. It looked gorgeous. Took it out, and the accuracy sucked. AGAIN. >6 MOA.
...I was constantly disappointed with the accuracy of the M305. I know it's not my shooting, because I can nail <2 MOA on a Ruger Scout, and 0.75 MOA on a Savage 10TR, and 3 MOA on my XCR.
I also like the AR style mags and the left-side cocking handle on the XCR-M. I just didn't like it on the right side of the M305. I had a .223 rifle with a left-side cocking handle, and I liked not having to learn two different movements to work the action, change mags, etc. As an aside, I tried out a light barrel for the XCR, and it was not accurate either - about 5-6 MOA again.
All in all, I just got tired of M305s not functioning to my expectations. As long as I stick with the heavy barrel, the XCR just worked better for me, but maybe I just got unlucky with three M305s that were lemons all in a row. My buddy has one and it shoots reasonably well.
If I could have a FAL, I would have an M14, M1A, and a FAL. Still wouldn't have an XCR..
Hahaha me too! At a fraction of the $, even tuned up, it's really a no brainer. The XCR really doesn't have much over the m305 IMO.
Last edited:
I don't think the M305 is a poor man's XCR. It's really the poor man's semi 308. For the $600 (and a lot cheaper in the past) it represents a lot of value espesially to people to tinker. And to a lot of people who have a limited budget, it's opened up an area of shooting not that might not be available to them. It's also created a strong M14 fan base in Canada, which i think is super awesome.
Personally, I'm glad I can afford other rifles as I do not like to tinker (outside of reloading) but it's great that we have a budget option for others.
Personally, I'm glad I can afford other rifles as I do not like to tinker (outside of reloading) but it's great that we have a budget option for others.
I sold this
To get this
Wish i had kept the m305
Sold the xcr-m
The xcr-m cost was almost 3K basic, the M305 as above was 1k
To me the xcr-m was not worth extra 2k basic.
I know I'll get blasted for this but the wood on that gun you sold is so ugly. Why are people so stuck in the past with wood stocks, it's so ugly compared to modern synthetic stocks. My dad had guns with wood stocks and I used them for firewood.
To each their own.
2stonedbirds
Regular
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I love the norc m305, once she's all tuned up. Mine is about 2 moa with norc ammo. I can ring gongs all day at 100m with irons and my piss poor eyesight. I like the xcr, but not for the price. If it was $1500, THEN it would be worth the $$, but not at $3k +
The M305 is the dump truck of guns. Crank er over and get to business. It aint perdy but it gets the job done.
The XCR is a bit like a hot girlfriend. It's nice arm candy, but then the guys come around and hit on er right in front of ya. She eventually rubs that in your face and you get sick of the work. Opening the darn car door, fancy dinners, bla bla bla.
Sometimes ya just want to rent a movie and have some popcorn with the M305.
The XCR is a bit like a hot girlfriend. It's nice arm candy, but then the guys come around and hit on er right in front of ya. She eventually rubs that in your face and you get sick of the work. Opening the darn car door, fancy dinners, bla bla bla.
Sometimes ya just want to rent a movie and have some popcorn with the M305.
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC Canada
That's why you need both. One's your wife, one's your whore. Unless you can get your wife to dress up like the whore... that will be a lot cheaper...
They are all Whore's, given the right circumstances and opportunity.
