Overall I am happy with mine. But I think it is fair to inform you what you are getting into:
1) Pricey, at about $1550 with Sites, price is on par with a Colt 6920 with quality rails and BUIS.
2) Changes has already been made since they first came out. New firing pin (not sure why this is), new no tools adjustable gas system (this is a good thing, but sucks for those like me that has the old gas system). And also a new trigger is in the works.
3) Trigger is awful compared to a regular AR. Some guys don't mind it, but for me I don't really like it. Supposedly it gets better with break in. Right now my XCR trigger feels like a DAO Sig trigger. I am going to give her another 500 rounds to break in, if no improvement then off to get a trigger job. Sucks that I have to pay to do this as it should come decent from the factory. All I ask for is a standard single stage trigger like the ones on my AR's.
4) Needs a break in period. I hate guns that need a break in period. I can understand match guns needing this as they have tight tolerances and you are willing to take the time to break in a competition rifle. But a break in period for a battle rifle? XCR recommends hot ammo (such as AE or M855) and #4 gas setting for the first 300 rounds.
5) Longevity? Not sure how the XCR will hold up over time. Colts and Bushmasters have been known to go trouble free for 20k rounds.
Now for the good:
1) Price. $1550 complete with backup iron sites. This is a good deal for a monolithic piston driven railed upper complete weapon. Pistons seems to be all the rage now. SCAR's, Masada's, POF, HK416's, XCR's etc. It is estimated that SCAR's and Masada's will go for about $1800. The HK currently goes for about $5k, and a POF upper alone goes for more than a complete XCR. So the XCR pricewise got all these beat.
2) Quick Multi caliber changes. This is the main reaon I bough an XCR. XCR allows you to change calibers for cheap. You can use the same weapon, all you need is a bolt and barrel swap (which you can easily do yourself without a gunsmith). I am dying to try out the 7.62x39 commie round in my XCR. I truly believe the 7.62 is the best round for anything under 200 yards. I like AK's but the ergos and sites are all effed up. Also I kinda want to try both the 6.8 SPC and the 6.5 Grendal rounds. The SPC supposedly is AK like but goes to 400 yards. The grendal is subsonic past 1000 yards! So it is the best for long range duty. With the XCR I can have basicaly 4 weapons for the price of one well built weapon (about $3200: $1500 for complete 5.56 rifle, and $550 each for the other 3 caliber conversion kits).
3) Adjustable gas system allows you to suppress your weapons easier, and helps ease recoil at a light setting.
4) Nice recoil. Believe it or not, XCR has less recoil than an AR! I even have mine at the highest setting (#4, for break in) and even at this setting recoil is slightly better than an AR.
5) Runs cooler and cleaner than an AR. This is why Piston driven weapons are being sought after. We want a weapon to run longer between cleans and run cooler. In general, cooler means more reliable. As for cleaning, at about 200 rounds the AR is absolutely filthy while an XCR just needs a wipedown.
6) Great customer service. I have not had to use Robinson Support yet but so far the reviews have been positive. Check
www.xcrforum.com. For the most part people are happy with their XCR's, but if they need support, Robinson seems to providing excellent customer support.
If you want a reasonably priced one piece railed upper piston driven weapon or if you want something a little different to go along with your AR's, the XCR is for you.
