I have a Robinson XCR.....

[Scud]

...that is unfired. I have been looking at the Sig 556. It seems that the XCR's have had a few hiccups in their development; the Sig 556 seems to have avoided this. My first question is: am I wrong about the XCR's growing pains? My second question: Do I pop the XCR's cherry, or do I get rid of it for a Sig 556?

[kevinmch]

From what I have heard about the XCR, which I will admit is not that much, it has been decently reliable. Guys seem to like it. I have heard more about the Sig 556, and other than a few cosmetic issues, like a junky forend and buttstock, it is a great shooter. The trigger is supposed to be second to none, and its adjustable gas system eats rounds all day. Tough choice you have though. I think it's a win-win situation. I'm not sure how much an XCR goes for, but I suppose it's similar to the 556 price tag. I looked at a 556 SWAT the other day that was REAL nice. Maybe you should check that out?

[Scud]

Thank you for your reply.

I picked up my XCR last year. I had not had the opportunity to get ahold of a Sig 556 before that time. After handling the Sig I felt that it was more of a quality piece, (in spite of the plastic fore-end). I have not been impressed with the XCR web site; in fact it makes me kind of feel like barfing when I hear about some of the problems that people have been having that should have been worked out in R&D. I also called a dealer yesterday who said that the reason that the XCR is so hard to get now is because they are made in Bulgaria.

It all kind of stinks to me.

[itstock]

I am approaching 10,000 rounds with my XCR (mostly all wolf). I have literally ZERO problems, malfunctions, hiccups, etc. etc. of ANY kind. As you can see, and these pictures were taking around the 8000round mark, there is actually considerably less wear than my 6000 round AR's.



The XCR is my GO TO GUN.

I don't know how the 556 has avoided hiccups??? From the sights (don't get me started on them), to not cycling lower grade ammo, failure to eject problems, failure to fire problems, carrier getting caught on the hammer!, canted rails, poor/wrong assembly of gas blacks/valve, abnormal play between upper/lower receivers, broken/cheap plastic furniture, screws not flush, etc. etc. etc. Just go to many of the 556 or SIG boards and you will find that they are prone to MANY "hiccups", just as any new gun is and has been over the years. JUST AS ROBINSON ARMAMENT HAS, SIG has been fixing the problems as they need to be fixed.

They all have their fair share of problems. The 50 year old AR15 still has problems.

Back to the 556, it's heavy, incredibly unbalanced, and appears to be assembled by a kindergarten class at recess, but aside from that, it is a nice shooter. The trigger is soft and mushy, so I can't even say that it's a good trigger for the gun. The gun is incredibly accurate, and the action is insanely smooth. I did a quick comparison somewhere on this site with side by side pictures to the XCR. Would I ever consider replacing with XCR with the 556? ABSOLUTELY, NO FREAKING WAY. Would I be happy if I couldn't get an XCR, but could get a 556? Absoltuly. They are both great guns, but there is no way I would take a 556 in trade for an XCR. I picked the XCR over the 556 for many reasons (even after actually shooting the 556).

As to being made in Bulgaria, WOW. Whoever you are talking to, you should stop.

Lastly, concerning "growing pains", it's a new rifle. BUT....

5.56x45 has been out
6.8 is out
6.5 is out

a new gas block has been released (I still have the original, and keep it running on setting 3 for everything)
a new firing pin was released immediately after the rifle itself was released

7.62x39 will be shipping very shortly

You can easily order extra parts for the XCR, whenever you want, and customer service/support is a pleasure to deal with.

They are taking care of the very few, and minor problems on a regular basis.

I can honestly say that I have had more problems with my AR's than I have with the XCR (which is easy to say, because there have been ZERO problems with the XCR).

You must be reading AR15 too much, and all of the Alex Robinson haters.

Now go out there and SHOOT THE DAMN RIFLE!!!!!!! If you have problems after a break in period, you can either sell the rifle, or get it fixed. It's that simple. Quality ammo, quality mag, setting 4 on the gas block, and shoot a couple hundred rounds.

[Scud]

Thank you. I needed that.

Life is tough when you are a recovering gun whore!

I was surprised when a dealer who I have dealt with for nearly 10 years had mentioned the point of origin for the XCR. I will be looking into that a bit.

As for Alex Robinson; I spoke with him over the phone about the XCR about two years before it hit the market. This was when people were talking about it almost at the level of the Second Coming. Alex Robinson was very informative, and seemed to be a great guy.

I will take your advice. I'm going to pop my XCR's cherry with a vengance.

I would like to get as much feedback as possible from everybody about the XCR though. If the XCR is an excellent weapon then people need to put the word out.

Thx.

[Scud]

One more thing...
After posting some of my concerns on the XCR website; I do have solid information that the XCR is 100% made in this country. I don't know what the dope at the G-n R@ck was trying to pull. I had no intention on slamming a good product, but I did want some good info. on it.

[kevinmch]

As far as the 7.62 shipping soon comment: Can you change calibers like the SCAR is supposed to? In other words, can you shoot 5.56 and 7.62 from the same gun with a simple bolt carrier/barrel change?
Whatever you choose, Scud, have a blast. Did I hear range report? hmm

[itstock]

Originally Posted by kevinmch

As far as the 7.62 shipping soon comment: Can you change calibers like the SCAR is supposed to? In other words, can you shoot 5.56 and 7.62 from the same gun with a simple bolt carrier/barrel change?
Whatever you choose, Scud, have a blast. Did I hear range report? hmm

From the website as to what is included for the changing of calibers...

Barrel - Complete with Gas Block and 5 Setting Quick Adjust Gas System
Bolt - Complete with extractor and firing pin
Magazine - High Capacity Magazine


It's literally a 2-5 minute job. Already, the XCR is available in 5.56, 6.5, and 6.8, with the 7.62x39 due out shortly. It's a true modular rifle, and was designed this way from the beginning. In other words, the modularity wasn't an afterthought.

[Scud]

Thank you all for your input. I will post a range report as soon as I can get freed up enough to take this thing out. The XCR Forum can give you the latest on the caliber conversions. www.xcrforum.com

[Scud]

http://xcrforum./index