XCR? Whats the hype?

Hey guys,
Forgive my ignorance, I'm old and don't get to play as much as I used to. Lately I've been hearing, ok reading alot about the Robinson XCR Modular Rifle, and how it's supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced toast.

Ok, I go to their web site and check it out. To me it looks alot like the old Deawoo K1-A1 which was really an M-16 with the buffer and action spring moved on top of the bolt carrier and with a much better ejector system. I got to play with those when I was stationed at Kunsan AB in the early '80s and was pretty impressed with them.

I know it has an AK style gas system that uses and Operating rod instead of a gas tube, and that is a much more reliable system for weapons that get used every day and see a LOT of abuse, like not being cleaned regularly. I also know that it looks cool and you can put goobs of accessories on it.

What I can't wrap my head around though, is why layout that much money for a rifle that at most will be used to shot Prarrie Dogs? I mean, $1700 for an XCR with the shortest cheapest barrel offered, the cheapest fixed stock offered and iron sights, just seems a bit steep to say the least. I could build an AR for less than half the price, and it'd be every bit as accurate. I could then spend the rest of the money on something for the wife to keep her from 8itching me out for buying, "Yet another gun, you have too many of those dang things anyway!" :roll: You get the idea.

So, what am I missing? Is this just the latest toy to have or is there a real reason to spend that much cash for another rifle?

I don't mean this to come across as bashing the XCR, I'd just like to know more about it.

Thanks,

I've never handled one but considering the pricing for the other couple of piston uppers/complete rifles, the XCR is still a bit pricey IMHO. Hell I think all of the piston based systems are asking rather inflated prices based on novelty. Sure they're the next logical evolution for the AR platform(IMHO), but production costs can't be THAT high.

I'm going to pass on the XCR personally.. I've considered POF, but again pricing just kills me. I think if we can escape a serious gun ban that they'll do nothing but come down in price (especially seeing as there is no real future for them in the way of mil contracts in the near term) if they are going to expand their market.

Hell for the price you can build/buy 2 quality AR's for the price of one decent XCR!

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Originally Posted by BadShot

Hell for the price you can build/buy 2 quality AR's for the price of one decent XCR!

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Then build one and get off the XCR! I bought one and didn't pay anywhere near what you mentioned. On the other hand, I paid about what the 556 was supposed to go for. So for a robust gas piston design with a massive bolt and extremely accurate, I'm perfectly happy.

Go ahead and build your AR. After shooting 400 rounds through my XCR, I disassembled it in about five seconds (taking my time) to clean it and discovered that it barely looked like it had been fired. Sure the barrel looked dirty but not the bolt, boltcarrier, or operating rod - at least not enough to warrant even wiping it down. See what your AR internals look like after 400 rounds through it.

See now, you took my stance on this completly wrong. I'm a huge fan of piston uppers. It IMHO is the next logical evolution for the AR platform. My complaint stands.. the manufacturers are asking WAY more than they should for the market.

Give it a few years and we'll all wonder why no one had made the evolution 20 years ago.. OK, I actually wonder that now days.

Heads up though, it looks like LMT and possibly even Larue are getting into the arena. Plus from what I'm starting to read, they are doing them with the standard rail platforms in mind. No more custom railed forends or massive mods. The more the merrier in my mind, let the market presures bring these uppers back into a price range that makes sense.

By the way, I don't clean my AR's at anything under 500rnds.. takes 30 minutes for 2-3 if I go after it with a vengance. But I cheat and use SLIP 2000 :)

I can't disagree on the prices of things being out of whack, BadShot.

This is my first black rifle and I didn't want a direct gas impingement style so wasn't at all interested until the Sig 556 piqued my interest and I started researching the alternatives. I read a post from an early XCR owner that put something like 4000 rounds through his without needing cleaning and that sold me on the Gas Piston technology. All the reported issues put me off the 556 until Sig gets it's act together but the XCR cried out to be added to my collection.

Some times you get what you paid for and there's no buyers remorse with the XCR.

See that's what I like to hear about a newer weapons platform. I'm with you about he SIG 556.. kinda silly of them considering the 4xx series and it's high marks.

I just can't wait to get a piston upper for myself! If I could justify the cost then I'd be all over it, but I may (I can't believe I'm saying this) be at about my max load for AR's right now. Hopefully a real alternative to the XCR and POF shows up on the market soon!

I guess that's really the thing, "being able to justify the cost."

I'll just stick to spending a little more time cleaning and call it good. May go with a piston upper when and if the prices become reasonable.

Thanks for the info guys. See, even an ORF like me can learn something new. :mrgreen:

There is a ton more to the advantages of the Piston Upper than just easy of maintenance.. there is a good deal of heat reduction and a few other things that just make damn good sense. The real shame is that what.. 40 years after it's introduction the AR series still catches grief from some initial design issues that have long since been corrected.

Sure, it craps where it eats, but 500-1000 rounds between cleanings is not unreasonable for a modern AR. Then again I don't subscribe to the Uncle Sam school of clean the thing every time you look at it funny... even if it was across the room while it is still sitting in the rack at the armory. Even with that said, you can treat a piston upper more like an AK than the way most folks baby their AR's [poke]

I run my ARs basically indefinitely without cleaning, unless they get wet or get sand inside (which is very rare). My SBR runs most of the time dry due to the suppressor.