Advice from the Manufacturer!

23 Sept 09

XCR comments, to me, from the manufacturer:

"The barrel-bolt, extractor, and our adjustable gas system top the list of customer concerns. We try hard to educate each of our customers, so they know how to keep their rifles running.

The barrel bolt must be tightened to two-hundred inch-pounds in order to stretch it adequately, so it won't come loose. When so tightened, it will not come loose under most circumstances, but it still needs to be checked just the same, particularly when the rifle sees heavy use, as does your copy. When you don't have a torque-wrench handy, the rule of thumb is: tighten the bolt hand-tight, and then try to turn it 1/4 turn more. You won't get a full 1/4 turn; you'll only go 60-70 degrees.

We use Red Loctite #277 on ejector bolts. Once we began doing this, we have not lost a single ejector. With all the shooting you do, you've never seen an ejector come loose.

I cannot tell you how many calls I get from customers who are confused about the gas-adjustment dial. Here's the deal: Set the gas-dial on the setting which throws the brass between eight and fifteen feet from the rifle when shooting from a standing position. When brass is landing three to five feet away, you are flirting with a short-cycle. Conversely, when you're throwing the brass over fifteen feet, you'll beat up your recoil buffer (as you did), and the trigger will slap your finger.

You might have to change the setting when you use different ammunition. For Example, Wolf 5.56 tends to be wimpy and often requires the highest setting. On the other hand, American eagle is hot and needs a lower setting.

When you keep your rifle at the highest setting, which some do, your ejection buffer will get beat up, as yours did. With a correct gas setting, buffers will last through 15,000 rounds, minimum. Our friends at DSA have much the same problem in teaching their customers how to get the most from a rifle (FAL) with an adjustable gas system.

I could make a 'fool-proof' rifle by welding-in the ejector, affixing the barrel bolt, and eliminating gas adjustment, but much of the XCR's elegance and grace would be lost. With a little enlightenment of owners, the rifle will run just fine!

So, prior to attending a shooting event, or going on duty, XCR owners should:

(1) Inspect magazines. Watch for feed lips that are spread or cracked. Look over each round as magazines are charged. Watch for bullet set-back, missing primers, cracks.

(2) Check the barrel-bolt. It should be tight, and the barrel itself should have no play.

(3) Check the ejector. It too should be tight, with no play.

(4) Check the gas-valve setting.

(5) Push on the hammer-axis pin. It should not push out.

The XCR is a robust, military weapon and will continue to run and run, despite continuous lack of maintenance and lubrication. However, you should still clean, and inspect (per the above) the rifle when you have the chance."

Comment: Alex Robinson, like Dave Selvaggio (DSA) and many others, is a modern, American hero, boldly and fearlessly innovating and producing. We all want him, and all American arms manufacturers, to be widely successful. We need to be able, as a nation, to produce our own guns!

/John