XCR-L keymod range report/ ACR range report

E

eatredmeat157

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
39   0   0
So I finally got to shoot my new XCR-L keymod in .223 with the lightweight barrel. I have to say I am really loving the way it handles! At 7.5lbs it really points well and it is so slim! It shoots avg. 2 MOA with Federal American Eagle 55gr. FMJ (im lucky cause it's cheap!). The XCR cost me 2800$, taxes, shipping, all in.





And here are are some of the better groups I made with the XCR:






I also have the Bushmaster ACR with a Dlask NR 18.5" med. profile barrel installed (.223) and let me say I also love it!!! But it is heavier at 8.5lbs, probly a bit more with the 18.5" barrel. You can feel the weight and it also is quite bulky and a bit larger in comparison to the XCR. But the bolt just racks so buttery smooth! And it shoots better, at 1 MOA with the same Federal AE 55gr. FMJ ammo (lucky me). I will say that unlike the keymod, it isn't too hot to hold after 100 rounds.
The ACR cost me 3780$, new barrel, taxes, shipping, all in.



And here are some of the better groups from the ACR:












So there it is. I've done them both, they're pretty much the same thing done from 2 different perspectives.

I'm keeping the XCR based on weight and on the fact that it is slim enough to fit between the front seats pointed to the floor. Shoots good enough for me.

ACR is for sale on EE ;)
 
Last edited:
-[Crosshair]- said:
Did you use the scope in the pictures to shoot that average of 2moa? At what distance did you shoot?
Click to expand...

Yes it's a vortex viper 4-12x scope in ADM QD mount that was used on both rifles. all targets shot at 100yards.

I wish I was a better shot, I'm sure both rifles are capable of a better average than I can produce.
 
eatredmeat157 said:
Yes it's a vortex viper 4-12x scope in ADM QD mount that was used on both rifles. all targets shot at 100yards.

I wish I was a better shot, I'm sure both rifles are capable of a better average than I can produce.
Click to expand...

Shoot off sandbags front and rear and your groups will shrink. Bipods are nice for the field but not as stable as bags. After that it's all trigger control and breathing.

Nice shooting though, those are some really good results considering you're using American Eagle ammo.
 
Nothing wrong with either of those!

Its funny how those two rifles have come closer and closer to each other over the years. Considering the early generations started out quite different:

BnOhnIe.png


iJtmt20.png
 
Thanks for that, great comparison. Very interesting that the XCR seems to print 4/5 nice and tight, then one flyer opens it up. Have seen this mentioned by other XCR owners also... Find a solution to that and the XCR becomes a much more consistent rifle.
 
flashman said:
Thanks for that, great comparison. Very interesting that the XCR seems to print 4/5 nice and tight, then one flyer opens it up. Have seen this mentioned by other XCR owners also... Find a solution to that and the XCR becomes a much more consistent rifle.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be surprised if the flyer was the first down the pipe, or the last of the mag.
believe that this has been slightly documented with the m14 platform and the pressure on the bolt/ rate at which the bolt is closed on the chamber. (google: m14 last round in mag flyer)
it's all a matter of consistency.
this of course, is assuming that op is using 5 round mags.
very interesting that the dlask acr printed better. I assume the barrel has a lot to do with it. Never thought i'd say an XCR is svelte, but boy does that acr ever look bulky next to it.
 
na1lb0hm said:
I wouldn't be surprised if the flyer was the first down the pipe, or the last of the mag.
believe that this has been slightly documented with the m14 platform and the pressure on the bolt/ rate at which the bolt is closed on the chamber. (google: m14 last round in mag flyer)
it's all a matter of consistency.
this of course, is assuming that op is using 5 round mags.
very interesting that the dlask acr printed better. I assume the barrel has a lot to do with it. Never thought i'd say an XCR is svelte, but boy does that acr ever look bulky next to it.
Click to expand...


In the case of the XCR, flyers are usually caused by the barrel retention system they use, as the rifle heats up the POI shifts. A few guys have found that if you wait a couple minutes between shots you can get some very nice groups but to me that defeats the point of having a semi auto rifle. May as well buy a bolt action if you want to shoot slow tight groups. To me I am happy if I can quickly empty the mag and hit the flange at 100 yards every shot.

As long as people understand when they buy these rifles that they were designed to be battle rifles and not precision rifles everyone is happy. If you think that just because it costs over $2000 it should print sub moa then you are mistaken and you will be disappointed. Anything better than 4 moa is good and the reason the ACR can almost always print better groups is because it's barrel retention system is very similar to an AR which locks the barrel into the receiver much better.

Good shooting OP and keep the pics and range reports coming.
 
cr5 said:
In the case of the XCR, flyers are usually caused by the barrel retention system they use, as the rifle heats up the POI shifts. A few guys have found that if you wait a couple minutes between shots you can get some very nice groups but to me that defeats the point of having a semi auto rifle. May as well buy a bolt action if you want to shoot slow tight groups. To me I am happy if I can quickly empty the mag and hit the flange at 100 yards every shot.

As long as people understand when they buy these rifles that they were designed to be battle rifles and not precision rifles everyone is happy. If you think that just because it costs over $2000 it should print sub moa then you are mistaken and you will be disappointed. Anything better than 4 moa is good and the reason the ACR can almost always print better groups is because it's barrel retention system is very similar to an AR which locks the barrel into the receiver much better.

Good shooting OP and keep the pics and range reports coming.
Click to expand...

This is sound advice!
I expected sub MOA with the ACR, I did end up just making the 1MOA mark. And it is very impressive. I was discouraged at first, but I have now come around full circle and I see that my expectations were just too high. It will always be a semi auto. Semis have their purpose as do bolt guns.

U like ACR, I like XCR. You say tow-may-tow, I say tow-mah-tow.
 
cr5 said:
In the case of the XCR, flyers are usually caused by the barrel retention system they use, as the rifle heats up the POI shifts.
Click to expand...

I was figuring as much. Be interesting / wonder if RA would ever develop a non QC barrel model. I suspect 95% of XCR owners use it single caliber, so it seems to be a significant trade off for a seldom used feature.

Anything better than 4 moa is good
Click to expand...

Not sure if you mean in general as an assault rifle standard of accuracy, or for the XCR in particular, but I'd take some exception if you mean the former. For the application, the ability to reliably hit a man size target out to 300m should be a baseline requirement, and 4 MOA all but rules that out. The general standard among rifles with the same design imperative, and the usual military acceptance standard is around 2 - 3 MOA. 6" at 300 yards is good enough, 12" at 300 yards seems dismal.
 
cr5 said:
In the case of the XCR, flyers are usually caused by the barrel retention system they use, as the rifle heats up the POI shifts. A few guys have found that if you wait a couple minutes between shots you can get some very nice groups but to me that defeats the point of having a semi auto rifle. May as well buy a bolt action if you want to shoot slow tight groups. To me I am happy if I can quickly empty the mag and hit the flange at 100 yards every shot.
Click to expand...
Not arguing/anything like that, just wondering/ curious how the heating causes the POI to shift due to the retention system? Wouldn't that be more a function of the barrel?

I love my XCR. It's no bolt gun, and never will be, but if there's certain tweaks and tricks i can do to get a little better performance out of it, then by all means I will.
 
na1lb0hm said:
Not arguing/anything like that, just wondering/ curious how the heating causes the POI to shift due to the retention system? Wouldn't that be more a function of the barrel?

I love my XCR. It's no bolt gun, and never will be, but if there's certain tweaks and tricks i can do to get a little better performance out of it, then by all means I will.
Click to expand...

I hear there are some guys working on a solution but I think it will involve a new receiver or making the barrel non removable.
The single set screw means that the barrel is not held with even pressure into the receiver, as things warm up things shift slightly. Rob Arms would have been better off to go with some type of pinch system similar to the LMT quick change system or something like Bushmaster/Magpul did with the ACR where the barrel slides into a socket like on an AR and a nut holds the barrel into the socket. Even force applied means more even expansion and contraction.

Nothing is going to get you better than 1.5 moa other than a fluke group once in a while with handloads or premium ammunition. If you were to have a high quality barrel built for it and then shoot slowly I'm sure sub moa is achievable but you're looking at another $1000 to have a smith do that for you. Contact Ian at Herron Arms and ask for some advice if you want it straight from the guy that does it. I've heard he's done at least one custom barrel for an XCR but you need to sacrifice your factory barrel unless you can find a barrel extension and gas system for it.

Enjoy it for what it is and don't worry about what it isn't.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom