XCR-L: .223 vs 7.62x39

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xclusive

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I am interested in getting this gun but I am having trouble deciding which calibre I should get.

I was reading in the other forum that .223 Norinco is not going to be imported anymore so this would mean that most .223 is going to be very expensive in the future I assume? At the same time however, I don't think I want to be shooting corrosive 7.62x39 in such an expensive rifle.

Just looking for other peoples input here. I am mainly concerned about supply/pricing of ammunition between the two, as well as price of magazines and possible. Also are there any issues with the XCR that are particular to one calibre but not the other?
 
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The guns are the same. What you are asking for a comparison on is ammo. Cost, ballistics, availability. Those things really have nothing to do with the xcr itself.

Do you have other guns in this calibre? Are you target shooting or going after some sort of game or varmint?
 
No this would be my first firearm since getting my licence. I will not be hunting or shooting any game. Just target practice. I probably won't be able to shoot that far to begin with but I hope to one day be able to use the gun closer to its physical limits.

I guess it is mostly about ammo cost comparison, but also I would need to get magazines which for .223 I think I would buy PMAGs, not quite sure about x39. Are there any more issues with the XCR in one calibre than the other or are they the exact same?
 
just because norinco isnt being imported anymore doesnt mean it will dry up overnight. how many shipping containers are already here right? I agree with what others have said its about the ammo the rifle will be the same ect. .223 is still cheap now so stock up, shoot lots and clean your gun at normal intervals. X39 is cheap so stock up, shoot lots and clean your rifle after every shoot. theres the difference.
 
7.62x39 non corrosive is $175 for 500(Called MFS, its what I shoot). 223 will usually always be about 50 cents a round. As zuece pointed out , there is still norinco in the country for about 30 cents a round, if your asking what you should get? Get the .223 xcr (Non restricted 5.56 rifles that take AR mags are pretty rare here in Canada) then just get an SKS for the 7.62.

And whatever, I have never shot corrosive ammo and still clean my guns. Just without corrosive ammo, I dont have to fully take the rifle down every time (I shoot A LOT). Keep in mind, a bolt action like a mosin nagant shooting corrosive ammo isnt a big deal to clean, but semi autos like the SKS or XCR seem to shoot the residure everywhere, people say "I am not scared to shoot corrosive ammo" And I say "I am not scared to spend an extra buck so when I go camping I dont have to clean my guns every night... Or when I get home from the range I can let em sit (Usually not for long, but with non corrosive it doesnt matter)" So, if your going to spend 2500 on a gun, dont be scared to spend 350 bucks for 1000 rounds of cleaner ammo.

Also, Norinco ammo is not coming into the country FOR NOW, China still has tons of it, and will just have to find another courier to get it here, Canada is a pretty market for them, so I dont see this taking long to figure out. AAAAAND , MFS also makes 223/5.56 , at about $330 for 1000 rounds.

When the ammo is here, buy it cheap and stack it deep man. People call it hording, I call it "I have money and dont need to go to the gun shop every time I go shooting" I stock up. Because no matter the caliber, there will be times you wont find any of what you want. Doesnt matter if you buy one case, or 10, the shortages come and go.


Edit: You can also just buy a conversion kit (Changing the rifle from 5.56 to 7.62x39) whenever you want for about 700 bucks, Again, You can buy 3 SKS's for that price and shoot corrosive all you want :D
 
BCshooterFMJ said:
When the ammo is here, buy it cheap and stack it deep man. People call it hording, I call it "I have money and dont need to go to the gun shop every time I go shooting" I stock up. Because no matter the caliber, there will be times you wont find any of what you want. Doesnt matter if you buy one case, or 10, the shortages come and go.
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In the U.S. they call it an Election Year lol.
 
xclusive said:
No this would be my first firearm since getting my licence. I will not be hunting or shooting any game. Just target practice. I probably won't be able to shoot that far to begin with but I hope to one day be able to use the gun closer to its physical limits.

I guess it is mostly about ammo cost comparison, but also I would need to get magazines which for .223 I think I would buy PMAGs, not quite sure about x39. Are there any more issues with the XCR in one calibre than the other or are they the exact same?
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Buy your gun in .223 and start shooting. Then get your conversion to 7.62 X 39, and shoot it even more. There will always be a shortage of 7.62 mags but Wolverine and Questar seem to bring them in regularly. There is lots of ammo around and if no Norc then Tula or MFS will step up to the plate. I personally like shooting 7.62 X 39 through mine as it is more fun. Just buy it and get shooting. I shoot both and there are no issues to worry about. The main thing is get your gun and get shooting. If you have any other questions about the platform shoot me a PM.
 
Start re-loading .223 and the supply issues seem to go away. Like Peirecce said - buy the gun in .223, then the conversion and shoot both. Prolly easier to re-load for .223 tho.

For me, I reload all my .223 (target and AR loads). I buy both corrosive and non-corrosive 762X39 for my CZ. Not sure I'd really want to throw corosive down a nice shiny (and expensive) XCR, but I don't mind throwing it down my CZ.

In the end, you need both a nice XCR in .223 and something cheaper (SKS or CZ/VZ) to run the 762. After all, the XCR may be your first, but it will surely not be your last. ;) ;)

:cheers:
 
I don't shoot corrosive ammo as I just don't want the added headache because I know how crazy I am about cleaning. I come home after every single shoot and take down the rifle and clean everything. Takes 15 minutes and costs me pennies in solvents, paper towels and oil. So if its gonna save my $3000 rifle why not. That all being said corrosive ammo IMO will not damage your gun like most people would think. Remember militairys used this ammo in war! You think after every action these soldiers stopped and cleaned there guns? Some guys would have seen months go by and have shot a ton and still never cleaned it. So if your going to range and shooting 100 corrosive rounds. Pack your gun up, go home and clean it. Absolutely nothing will happen to your gun. And if your really worried I know a lot of guys who clesn there gun at the range right on the hence before they pack up.
 
Hi xclusive, welcome to GunNutz.

I like your choice for first rifle, safe bet you'll like it too.
I bought my XCR last May and I've shot a little over 4500 rounds of x39 corrosive surplus. In dollars and cents that's around $900 worth of ammo. Had I gone .223 I'd be closer to $2000.
The way I see it, another 4500 rounds and my gun is paid for. :)

I have no issue shooting corrosive through an "expensive gun", it's a tool, no more no less. The rifle is easy to clean and hot water is free.

Here's a couple pics of the rifle after 4500 rounds.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1000412-My-XCR-4500-rounds-*pic-heavy*

Either way you go, you'll enjoy. Congrats on getting your pal.
 
9x19p said:
Hi xclusive, welcome to GunNutz.

I like your choice for first rifle, safe bet you'll like it too.
I bought my XCR last May and I've shot a little over 4500 rounds of x39 corrosive surplus. In dollars and cents that's around $900 worth of ammo. Had I gone .223 I'd be closer to $2000.
The way I see it, another 4500 rounds and my gun is paid for. :)

I have no issue shooting corrosive through an "expensive gun", it's a tool, no more no less. The rifle is easy to clean and hot water is free.

Here's a couple pics of the rifle after 4500 rounds.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1000412-My-XCR-4500-rounds-*pic-heavy*

Either way you go, you'll enjoy. Congrats on getting your pal.
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x2. Completely agree.
 
xclusive said:
I am interested in getting this gun but I am having trouble deciding which calibre I should get.

I was reading in the other forum that .223 Norinco is not going to be imported anymore so this would mean that most .223 is going to be very expensive in the future I assume? At the same time however, I don't think I want to be shooting corrosive 7.62x39 in such an expensive rifle.

Just looking for other peoples input here. I am mainly concerned about supply/pricing of ammunition between the two, as well as price of magazines and possible. Also are there any issues with the XCR that are particular to one calibre but not the other?
Click to expand...

I'm not 100% sure but the corrosive ammo is steel core and will wear out your barrel a lot faster as steal on steal is not very good. They may have a light copper jacket...
I was also told MFS is the same. Again I cant confirm any of this so maybe someone can weigh in and correct me if I'm posting inaccurate info.

As for the two calibres I previously owned, I found the XCR-L in 7.62x39 was a lot more accurate under 100m than the 5.56mm...
 
for us ex military guys cleaning ur gun after shooting isn't much a new thing so i dont mind corrisive at all I would go with whatever u have access to currently. but if you want me to clean ur blacken+boots or press ur dress uniform I aint ur guy
 
ogradyrw said:
I'm not 100% sure but the corrosive ammo is steel core and will wear out your barrel a lot faster as steal on steal is not very good. They may have a light copper jacket...
I was also told MFS is the same. Again I cant confirm any of this so maybe someone can weigh in and correct me if I'm posting inaccurate info.

As for the two calibres I previously owned, I found the XCR-L in 7.62x39 was a lot more accurate under 100m than the 5.56mm...
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the things is with 7.62x39 it not a fast round , soo the barrel with last a lot more than the 5.56 , personnally the xcr-l in 7.62 x39mm is on my list i already own a cz858 and sks but i want a 10 round mag with a different style ^^

like some says the cheap surplsu in 7.62x39 do a very big difference if you shoot a lot , you can shoot 2 or 3 time more
 
Anyone know of a good retailer that has it cheapest for Ontarians (not sure if this is appropriate to ask)? I am having trouble finding a single retailer that has the x39 pistol mags + ammo + the gun. I am trying to save on shipping/not pay over 2400 for the black rifle.

Also is the XCR finicky for what kinds of x39 you shoot through it? And on top of this, don't some ranges disallow certain kinds of ammo (due to excessive wear on the range)?
 
Some ranges have banned steel core, you have to call around.

Trade Ex has free shipping deals for ammo.
Questar has a great deal on 10 packs of mags, shown in stock. Shipping I don't know.
Iirc Wanstalls has $10 shipping for the rifle, I'm not sure about Wolverine.

My XCR shoots any ammo, it's not picky. It sure grouped nice the one time I shot commercial ammo, but that's for a higher class of people than me. :)
 
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