The XCR was designed in 2004 by Alex J. Robinson of
Robinson Armament Co., with production of the XCR-L variant of the rifle beginning in mid-2006. One month after the
September 11 attacks, Alex Robinson received an invitation from the
5th Special Forces Group to participate in a program to provide a design for the SPRV (Special Purpose Rifle Variant), with the requirement of being able to use common enemy ammunition types such as the 7.62×39 and 5.45×39 cartridges, in addition to
.223 Remington. A full-auto variant of the
M96 was built within 60 days, with the gun then sent to
Blackwater for trials, where it was received positively. Following submission by Steve Holland from 5th Special Forces Group, alongside Colonel Jack Dills, to the
United States Special Operations Command for approval, the SCAR program commenced, with the XCR eventually becoming one of many designs brought forward by a number of participating manufacturers. The XCR-L is currently available in
5.56×45mm NATO,
300 Blackout,
6.8mm Remington SPC,
6.5mm Grendel,
5.45×39mm,
.224 Valkyrie,
6mm ARC,
.22 ARC,
.338 ARC and
7.62×39mm calibers. Each of these calibers is available in kit form for converting an existing rifle to one of the other calibers. The XCR-M .308 was officially confirmed via Robinson Arms email circulation to a public reveal at SHOT show 2011. The
6.8mm Remington SPC variant began shipping in November 2007. The
7.62×39mm rifles and conversion kits began shipping in July 2008. • Standard Upper Receiver – The original length and designed to support barrel lengths from 11" to 18.6". • Mini Upper Receivers – 15.25" long and designed to support barrel lengths from 9" to 18.6". Primarily intended for barrel lengths from 9" to 10". • Micro Upper Receivers – 13.25" long and designed to support barrel lengths from 7.5" to 18.6". Primarily intended for barrel lengths from 7.5" to 8". Variants are also available in "
California" versions which are limited to meet the more restrictive
State of California firearms laws. Robinson Armament also produced an 18.6" barrel version for the Canadian market. The XCR rifles intended for the
Canadian market were shipped with the FAST stock (fully adjustable stock), although aftermarket stocks are available as an accessory. These rifles shipped with a single magazine pinned to accept only five rounds. On May 1, 2020, the XCR was reclassified as a Prohibited Firearm and is no longer legal to import or sell in Canada. Since its introduction in 2006, components of the XCR have been updated. Most of these enhancements are available to existing XCR owners. • In November 2006 the
firing pin was redesigned and made more durable and robust. • The first few hundred XCRs shipped with Yankee Hill Machine (YHM) back up iron sights (BUIS). The most recent iteration ships either without BUIS or with BUIS designed by Midwest Industries. • A 2nd generation adjustable gas system started shipping with XCR rifles in July 2007. The 1st generation gas system required tools (a 5/8" wrench) to adjust. The 2nd generation system can be adjusted by hand. • The XCR's
hammer was updated in July 2008 concurrent with the release of the 7.62×39 rifles/kits. The new heavier design allows the XCR to ignite some newer Wolf 7.62×39 ammunition made with extra-hard primers. • In early 2009, Robinson began shipping rifles with an integral winter-style
trigger guard and new paddle style
safety. A provision for a quick detachable sling loop was added to the stock mount. • A two-stage match trigger is available which will break at approximately 3.5 lbs. This trigger can be ordered with a new rifle or retrofitted to an older one. The older one was a two-stage trigger that was about twice as heavy, and some complaints included trigger slap. As of May 2009, the new trigger has been shipping with all new rifles. • Ambidextrous mag release was demonstrated at SHOT 2010. • XCR-M .308 and XCR-L 5.45 calibers have been confirmed for public announcement and display at SHOT show 2011 via Robinson e-mail bulletin. ==Operators==