2A Armament XLR-20: A True Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR)
By Todd Burgreen
The Ultimate Hunting AR Package
Modern sporting rifle (MSR) terminology for the AR is an industry attempt to help define the growing role that AR-type rifles have assumed beyond strictly tactical “assault” rifles. AR rifles are versatile, easily accessorized and suitable for a wide variety of recreational, sport shooting and professional applications. While ARs were quickly embraced for varmint hunting, caliber expansion has steadily grown in popularity with hunters for larger-sized game as well. The 2A Armament XLR-20 is a great example of the growing potential of ARs in the hunting arena. The XLR-20 highlights all of the AR positives in its MSR form, especially when combined with the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge.
Features
2A Armament is an ISO 9001 and AS 9100 certified advance manufacturing machining shop for the aerospace, medical, prosthetic, motorsports, semiconductor and outdoor recreation markets. This is matched with hand finishing of every AR part. It only takes a visual inspection to realize that this is not mere propaganda. The individual Picatinny rails running the length of the upper receiver and along the proprietary 15-inch 2A Xanthos-lite rail are hollowed out; brass deflector craftily minimized; 7075-T6 billet receivers precision-crafted; 2A Armament X4 titanium muzzle brake on the 20-inch 5R 1:8 4150 steel barrel; M4 feed ramps; titanium gas block at the end of the rifle length gas rod; and titanium receiver pin—you get the point. No detail was too small in quest to shave ounces. Significantly, a full mass bolt group is used. 2A did not want to sacrifice any reliability by modifying/tinkering with this component.
The XLR-20’s barrel features 1:8RH 5R button rifling. 5R rifling was developed by Barrett “Boots” Obermeyer. 5R is different from conventional rifling by changing the shape and configuration of the lands and grooves. 5R use 5 lands and grooves versus the more common 4 or 6 land/groove profile. This puts lands opposite of grooves with another tweak being the transition from the top of the land to the groove is sloped. 5R reduces projectile deformation as it passes through the bore during the firing sequence....
This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V23N4 (April 2019) |
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