How have XCRs been holding up lately?
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How about the FN Scar/is it worth an additional grand?
Are either of these worth spending the money on or should I just stick to my AR/AKs…
What purpose are your weapons for? What issues do you have with your M4s and AKs that makes you think one of these is better?
Just curious as to your motivation 
I am interested in the SCAR, but in no big rush to get one.
I have 0 problems with my current weapons.
It will be used at the range primarily and possibly in the future as a duty rifle.
I think a lot of us are waiting on the SCAR to come down in price. They aren’t too bad now, but with the SCAR H coming out early next year, it may be the one to get.
The SCAR and similar designs are a step into the future, and if you don’t mind paying the cash, is probably a more fun gun and a better duty weapon than the XCR.
Thanks, this is what I was thinking.
Is the SCAR worth the price over the XCR? No, and I have not even shot the SCAR yet. If it can go over 10,000 rounds without giving me any problems (which it BETTER), and can shoot under 2moa, I’ll be happy with it, but still like my XCR better. My XCR is just a flat out great shooter, near perfect ergonomics (needs a better stock for a more consistent cheek weld), very well balanced (I STRESS THIS, GET THE LIGHT BARREL), over 12,000 trouble free rounds, extremely clean running, easy to clean, and robust design.
With the reports that I am reading, the SCAR is more accurate. However, for my use of shooting paper for fun at 100 yards, 2 moa is more than enough. If you want a match rifle, there are better options for the money anyway.
Having owned both, I would take the XCR over the SCAR for a duty weapon any day of the week. I don’t see any reasonable argument that the SCAR would make a BETTER duty weapon.
To me, the XCR is worth owning over the AR. It runs cleaner, has a more robust design (however, all of my AR’s have been 100% functional), MUCH more ergonomic, is a breeze to clean, the folding stock is a nice bonus, it’s an incredibly smooth shooter, and has adjustable gas.
Here are some pictures comparing the two and my initial impressions of the SCAR…
My overall impression is that everything the SCAR does, my XCR appears to do better.
It’s an extremely nice gun and I’ll save my final judgement for when I have a couple thousand rounds down range, but overall, I’m not too impressed. My FS2000 and PS90 are still way nicer in terms of finish as there are a lot of “factory” blemishes/nicks on the SCAR. I opened it fresh from the shipping box, so I know it wasn’t done at the store, and there was nothing to do the damage inside the box.
I’ll take a bunch of breakdown pictures later on, also comparing it to the XCR, but this is just to post my first impressions. Nice gun, not really too impressed. Incredibly well balanced and a very nice weight, it’s ergonomic, and appears to be rather robust other than the stock which seems to have some “plastic play”, almost like I could snap it off it I try hard enough. I won’t though .
On the stock issue, if you lock the stock in the shouldered position, push the stock in the folded position without pushing the button, it feels (and looks) like it’s going to break with just a little bit more pressure.
XCR folder…
SCAR folder…
This is the point of which I’m complaining about on the stock. As you can see, they are very thin lips of polymer and hopefully it gives a picture of why it’s a concern (to me).
These pictures speak for themselves IMO.
A simple guide to field stripping each platform…
XCR
DONE.
SCAR
DONE
Side by side
Bolts
definitely looks like the xcr is much easier to clean…
Thanks for the review and taking your time.
Very nicely done.
Is it me or does the op-rod/carries/bolt of the SCAR resemble the the ACR’s??
I have a XCR and like it. It probably had about 18k rounds through it and much of it is generation 1 parts. RA has updated the bolt, the gas system, and some other components since I bought mine in 2005. So a new XCR is a pretty refined rifle with the bugs worked out.
I have also shot the SCAR some and played around with it quite a bit. The SCAR is also a nice piece of hardware and comes fully loaded with a nice collapsing/folding stock and a quality BUIS. The only downside to the SCAR is the reciprocating charging handle…however, it is fully reversible unlike the XCR which is mounted on the left side. I’m not a big fan of the SCAR keeping the M16 bolt release for the sake of minimizing training needs…but I’m not an elite operator I guess.
After all is said and done, I still prefer the XCR. Right now you’ll pay about $2600 for a SCAR. For that price, you can get a really good XCR setup with aftermarket parts and even an aimpoint/eotech. I just wasn’t impressed with the SCAR enough to want to dish out that kinda cash given other alternatives that seemed equally impressive.
I’ll keep upgrading my XCR until the Reminton ACR hits dealer shelves 
Every time the word ‘SCAR’ is mentioned in the same breath as ‘XCR’, istock is just seconds away getting ready to copy and paste his review again… I’m not here to challenge your opinions or start another flame war, just wondering why I get the feeling you’re on a constant crusade to lambast the SCAR at every chance you get. :rolleyes:
Has anybody had any issues on their XCR with the barrel nut walking?
ITSTOCK,
How can you say what the SCAR is or is not worth if you have not shot it yet?
SCARS BCG looks a bulkier than the ACRs:
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/upper-tfb.jpg
What you don’t see on the ACR is the op-rod over the barrel. The SCAR doesn’t need one because the (longer) BCG interacts directly with the gas piston.
I own both. I have a lot of rounds through the XCR,while the SCAR has maybe 300 rounds fired tops
I prefer my XCR. Once the SCAR actually becomes modular, instead of just a really expensive 5.56 spitter (something any $700 AR15 can do just as well) I might grow to appreciate it more. As of right now I think about selling it quite often.
The XCR is cheaper, has far greater modularity, better trigger, and has better ergos.
For $2500 there just isn’t as much to the SCAR as there should be. I do however like the SCAR stock, the balance is grand, and the sights are outstanding.
I wonder how much the fact that the SCAR is the first new combat small arm to be developed by and for SOCOM that is supposed to replace at least four other weapon platforms has to do with the price? For me it speaks volumes when a gun passes the R&D department at SOCOM. But before I spend the money I would like to see spare parts, barrels, etc available for them.
There are some things that keep me from laying the cash down on the XCR. One is the fact that 1/7 twist barrels are hard to get and lag time is indefinite. Two, that the Rob Arms rails are not to 1913 Picatinny specifications, and finally as a VEPR owner there is the fact that Rob Arms has a habit of abandoning their rifle lines and leaving owners with out service and or parts.
I do like however the XCR’s KISS para style stock…simple, robust, and idiot proof. I had heard that Robinson Armament was in the process of developing a telescoping side folder like that of the SCAR, ACR, Beretta ARX-160, CZ S805, and the Mexican FX-05. Any word from the XCR crowd on this?
I think RA wanted to keep the 1/9 barrel standard as there is still no concensus on what is the ideal bullet weight for the 5.56. The military wants the 77gr for long ranged shooting in Afghanistan, a lot of domestic law enforcment prefer 62-64gr bonded loadings, and then you have the civilian sector which still like their M193. There is also a correlation between twist rate and reliability of rapid bullet yaw which still isn’t entirely understood…other than that slower twist rates seem to offer better yaw reliability. One guy in Iraq says his M4 isn’t stopping the enemy reliably, and another says it works great…they are both right as reliable yaw seems to vary between rifle to rifle and more so with the 1/7 twist rate. Just what I’ve read…not entirely sure if it is on the mark. Slower twist rates also help to speed up the velocity of the bullet.
As far as the rails go…as far as I know no one has had trouble mounting accessories on the XCR. The only real difference is a center slot in the rail to accomidate some scope mounts with a parallel screw.
RA abandoned the M96 because there was no market for it, and they would likely go out of business if they continued to produce it. They made the intelligent move…even though they knew that the move would damage public relations. From my understanding of the Vepr situation, the import costs of the Vepr were going up and profits were greatly diminishing for a rifle that wasn’t very popular. Like all businesses…RA probably made the right move.
So far, RA has fully supported the XCR well beyond any of their other products combined.
found a pic of it. Doesnt look like it would reciprocate with with BCG. I would like minimal reciprocating mass.
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/piston_4-tfb.jpg
Is it me or does that look like a Spike’s barrel?
