Swiss Arms or XCR-L?

xBrokenswordx

xBrokenswordx

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I plan on purchasing a .223 rifle in the very near future, but without having handled either rifle personally I'm having a hard time deciding which of these two rifles will suit my needs/ purpose. I intend to target/ varmint shoot on a regular basis, I want a rifle that's easy to repair and maintain and of course it would have to be accurate. I like the idea of getting a 6.8 spc conversion kit for the XCR so I could hunt deer but not really a must since I can buy a good deer rifle for the amount of the conversion kit. Cost is not a big factor. Any input is greatly appreciated!
 
I'd suggest reading up on both rifles in their respective FAQ sections, The wealth of information in there in enormous.
 
My honest opinion is that value per dollar is about the same. The SA is a very nice rifle, but it's 3000$. The XCR is 2200$, is also a great gun (I have one, I absolutely love it, ignore the haters).

The SA might be 800$ better, but it is 800$ more. My belief is that if you were to break it down to value per dollar, they're about equal.
 
Get the Swiss Arms if you have the money!

Hi, I've owned and shot extensively an XCR-L for the last year and have shot Swiss Arms Green Rifle on and off for 20 years.

My opinion is simple: get a Swiss Arms Green Rifle if you have the money. Build quality is superb, accuracy is very good and durability/reliability is excellent. Check it out and you'll find that it's the weapon of choice for my elite special forces.

You can't add durabilty/reliability if it not designed and built in the rifle.
We can't buy AKs but we can get the good Swiss Arms rifle (the Americans can't buy it...)

Alex
 
na1lb0hm said:
I'd suggest reading up on both rifles in their respective FAQ sections, The wealth of information in there in enormous.
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I've read both faqs extensively as well as any other info i can find online but i'm still undecided.

I like the idea of using ar mags for the xcr, but the reliability issues concern me. The swiss arms certainly seems more reliable. I don't intend to bolt on any tacticool stuff and i prefer iron sights. I've got to admit i'm leaning towards the swiss arms and i don't think i'd regret it, but since i'm only planning to buy one rifle in this category and i refuse to sell any toys i want to make sure i make the right decision.
 
The Swiss Arms is one of the finest service rifles ever built.

The XCR is an oddball rifle which has not taken off in the US, has a reputation for small parts failure, and is popular in Canada primarily because of our specific laws surrounding restricted rifles.

These two rifles do not compare in any way other than having hefty price tags attached, IMO. I have spent a bit of time with both. I have had one 550 apart on my bench and two XCRs. I have shot both a little bit...maybe 500 rounds through a Swiss Arms, and a similar amount through both XCRs total.

Some people get good performance out of their XCRs. Both of my friends that bought them - both very knowledgeable and experienced shooters, not 500 rounds a year guys - got lousy performance and had issues with them. I had been intending to buy one at the time that they got theirs because I thought the RA M96 was quite a good rifle. I was a little late ordering mine, so I got to spend some time with theirs first. I was EXTREMELY glad about it afterwards and I did not order one.

Get the 550...there is not a non-restricted rifle in this country that compares.
 
I agree with misanthropist.

I too have owned both. I've put thousands of rounds through various Swiss Arms rifles and about 800 through my old XCR. The two rifles aren't even a close comparison. Not only that, but I do not think the XCR is worth what people pay for it now. It compares more to a $1600 dollar AR, and even then I would grab the AR before the XCR.

Bottom line, I have trusted my life to an AR and I would trust my life to the 55X series. I cannot say the same for the XCR.
 
xBrokenswordx said:
I've read both faqs extensively as well as any other info i can find online but i'm still undecided.

I like the idea of using ar mags for the xcr, but the reliability issues concern me. The swiss arms certainly seems more reliable. I don't intend to bolt on any tacticool stuff and i prefer iron sights. I've got to admit i'm leaning towards the swiss arms and i don't think i'd regret it, but since i'm only planning to buy one rifle in this category and i refuse to sell any toys i want to make sure i make the right decision.
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I've got an XCR and have about 2000 rnds through it. Most of my shooting is basically IPSC with a rifle. No jams and no issues and I really like the ergonomics and the way it handles. My one wish for it would be a 16 inch barrel.

The Swiss has the reputation of being a superb rifle but at 9lbs the weight of the thing really turns me off. If you like bench rest shooting no big deal but if you think you are going to be moving around alot it may be something else to consider.
 
xBrokenswordx said:
I've read both faqs extensively as well as any other info i can find online but i'm still undecided.
Click to expand...

Just making sure you're not one of those antis creeping/skulking/trolling around here asking about the coolest tactical non-res rifle etc etc. :)

A disclaimer, these are my experiences with my personal XCR, I have NO experience with the swiss arms, therefore; I am not going to say one or the other.

The AR mags were a big plus for me with the XCR,( i don't online shop often, only get to Calgary once and a while) plus the price point and the availability for caliber conversion. With all the rails on the rifle, also, I would not have to buy anything extra if I felt the need to tacticoolize.

I think a major point for the XCR not taking off in the U.S is not because they are inferior rifles or anything of the like, but merely they are a drop in a very large AR pond.

I have personally not had an function issue with my XCR, I love the easily adjustable gas block, the forward ejecting pattern and the trigger.

The LOP is a little short for me, but that is a design problem, not function, I also would feel better with a metal charging handle/ cover, not the plastic.

The disassembly process of the XCR is simple, one small pin, everything slides out. People will b*tch and complain about the loctite issue, I hit the bolts with it, took me maybe 15 minutes. That being said, I never rely on just torque/tightness to keep my rifles operating, all wear a touch of clear nail polish or 'tite somewhere. coat em, tighten, shoot, check. I like the idea of the swiss arms spring being ahead of the bolt, rather than behind. However, you do not need to remove that charging handle on the XCR to unlock the piston.

In terms of accuracy, with a falcon menace 4-14x44, off of bags, I was seeing 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards with 45 grain winchester "bulk" with gas setting on "4". Not always, but generally.the planets might be aligned those days, but I am confident with it.

One factor, you mentioned varmint shooting. the XCR is LOUD with the stock flash hider. Unless you have electronic earmuffs that amplify then cut off, it could be a problem.

I still look at swiss arms, thinking I should trade out the XCR for one once some more capital floats my way. then I get out a shoot it....

my 0.02,
i love my XCR,
is it the end all rifle? no.
are there better things out there? yes.
for the price? its a hell of a rifle for the price.
breakdowns? i've heard very good things about both wolverine and RA.
Would i recommend it? yes.
 
Sorry type, not only my Modern Warfare 2 elite units but many elite units like GIGN and GSG-9...
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No, they use the Sig 550/551 rifles. The swiss arms rifles are NOT sig 550/551 rifles. Variants of the Sig 550/551 rifles are prohibited. These are not. You should know why you should refrain from making statements to the effect that they are...
 
The only major downside to the SAN is that you are stuck with 5 round mags where you can use legal 10 rounders in the XCR (though there is a Lower conversion available that lets you use AR mags, but it's pricey on top of the already high price for a SAN). SAN parts and accessories are pricey but it's a great rifle. I certainly love mine.

One thing to note is that with the flat-top SAN the aftermarket cheekpiece you can buy is too tall to allow the use of a low-mounted scope. My SAN wears a 3.5-10x40mm Leupold Mark 4 in medium TPS rings. It's as low as you can mount it and still have clearance but the cheekpiece is too high. I think the cheekpiece would be ideal for a standard SAN with diopter sights and a higher mounted scope. Of well...off to the belt sander I go!
 
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