Winchester XPR SR Suppressor Ready

I love to watch low budget SciFi movies, particularly where dinosaurs love people and will snack on them whenever the opportunity arises. Within these epic films, dinosaurs will do it at the end of time travel, they will do it in outer space, they will do it deep in the Amazonian jungles, and they will do it in both Red or Time Squares. Yes, it does take a bit of imagination, and maybe some squinting, to fully enjoy the Dinosaur V. Man genre and to get beyond the dinosaur cardboard cutouts on a stick, bobbing up and down between the “actors” in the foreground and matte painting behind.

The army or air force always arrives, long on bombs and/or ammunition, but short on effectiveness.The dinosaur Bristol Stomps his way through downtown traffic while the Animals perform “Baby, do you understand me now?” in the background. Poorly assembled models of F-35s fighter jets and Apache helicopter suspended with very visible wires, bounce and swing in unnatural flight paths, firing missiles as sympathy builds for the dinosaur. After all he was just doing what dinosaurs do… wreaking havoc on miniaturized urban centers. The story line leads is to realize it was those damn pesky Republican voters and the President who warmed the oceans and woke Chet… Chet being the dinosaur’s real name.

In the end, Chet is put down by the team of Kennedy and Redfield, armed with a GM 79 Grenade Launcher… which is where the whole story falls apart and becomes totally unbelievable as everyone knows, a good 308 Winchester would have put anything down.

Yes, I’m getting there…

The subject rifle is chambered in 308 Winchester, however, the Winchester XPR SR is also available in: 6.5 Creedmoor, 243 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Winchester Mag and 350 Legend for folks contending with differing applications and topography.

The item number for the current 308 Winchester version is 535711290 which reflects a change in twist rate from the subject rifles 1:12″ to 1:!0″. This type of change is being implemented around the industry to better stabilize newer generations of physically longer lead free bullets. As you will see later on in this piece, it would be hard to improve on the 1:12″ twist version.

There was a time when “value priced” firearms was synonymous with the term “cheaply made”. Certainly not the case these days where buyers have to look closely to find the defining line in firearms that makes one  $600 and another $1,200. Functionally it doesn’t exist, aesthetically it may, but the refined aesthetics mostly define the former for hunting and the latter relegated to the target range.

Some of the more salient features… in no particular order

The XPR has a 2 position thumb actuated safety (1); forward off, back on with a red dot safety off indicator. The bolt is locked when the safety is engaged unless the Bolt Release Button (2)  is depressed. The Bolt Release Button permits the bolt to be cycled to empty the rifle’s chamber with the safety engaged. In all cases, when the action is cocked a red indicator is exposed (3)

The magazine will no doubt be a little off putting for some tastes. As an example, it doesn’t project downward far enough to project the banana clip power image some ex video gamers seek and even a contortionist could not find a way for it to get in the way during a carry or shooting situation. Where is the excitement in that? The magazine is single stack. While holding only three rounds, it does position each perfectly for smooth, reliable feed. Finally, constructed of durable poly, the oversize trigger guard allows gloved shooting finger entry and will look like new… forever.

The Winchester XPR scope base fasteners are 8-40 rather than the typical 6-48. Until the recently, 8-40 threads were reserved for bolt action tactical rifle duty were large scopes were anticipated. The oversize fasteners actually make more sense on a light rifle where recoil velocity is more pronounced, like the XPR and where a firearms stands a good chance of being banged around in typical applications.

Contributing to the Winchester XPR’s accuracy…

Over the years I have prided myself on the ability to produce very light triggers on target rifle and triggers with slightly more resistance on hunting rifle. Polished contact surfaces, minimal engagement surfaces and just enough spring to keep all of the parts under tension until sear release was desired. The XPR has a better trigger than any hunting rifle trigger I’ve refined and it is a good deal safer in handling. Winchester’s MOA three lever trigger has virtually zero take up, zero creep and zero overtravel. Pull is adjustable but leaves the factory at a nominal 3.5 lbs.

Fitting a conventional barrel; cutting shoulder position, threading and reaming proper chamber depth to set proper headspace, requires a skilled… expensive machinist, and costly machinery and tooling. Running a volume production operation requires a multiple of the same. Installing a barrel with a barrel nut requires a trained assembler, a headspace gauge and hand tools. On the machinist front, too much metal removed means a scrapped barrel. With a barrel nut, it is only a matter of readjusting. Proper headspace is essential to accuracy and a safe operation of a firearm. The receiver is made from a bar of Chromoly steel, machined and then through heat treated.

The poly stock is heavily ribbed for reinforcement. Action fasteners pass through the stock at two reinforced bosses, perpendicular to the rifle’s bore for the greatest action to stock stability. An embedded steel recoil lug locks into a cross slot CNC machined into the forged steel receiver. For me, the stock dampens recoil, but the rifle always holds zero for shot to shot point of impact consistency.

The oversize bolt body is CNC machined from chromoly steel bar stock, hardened through heat treating and then nickel Teflon coated to smooth operation and corrosion resistance. The three front locking lugs and recessed bolt face, enclose a cartridge’s case head for added safety and provides a short 60° lift for improved scope clearance and faster cycling. The full-diameter bolt body increases columnar strength and provides improved guidance during bolt travel. The bolt contributes to a more rigid assembly and, again, accuracy.

The barrel, another chromoly – bar stock piece, has a sporter contour which contributes to the rifle’s light 6 3/4 pound weight. Button rifled for a burnished interior finish, and terminating in a target crown and 5/8″ x 24 threads, the XPR SR accepts industry standard muzzle devices, including silencers. The Perma-Cote finish looks good, handles wear and tear and is more corrosion resistant than conventional oxide bluing.

Practically everywhere you look on the Winchester XPR you will find some design nuance that contributes to performance and/or longevity. Put it next to a rifle at twice the price, sort out the differences, and you’ll be left with production grade walnut and a vanity Model designation.

The 30-06 Short…

I think I still hold a grudge toward the 308 Winchester, probably because it displaced a favorite, the 30-06 Springfield in hunting popularity and in military service. The 308’s effectiveness, as a hunting and competitive shooting cartridge, took away any reasonable excuse for me to hunt with a 300 Mag for anything in, literally, my part of the woods. The 308 Winchester’s appearance (Picture L-R 300 Winchester Magnum, 30-06 Springfield, 308 Winchester) certainly belies its capabilities.

There are currently 142 popular 308 Winchester factory loads in production, a composite of 22 brands, which is greater than any other centerfire rifle cartridge. Ammunition prices ranging between 25¢ and $2.46 per round. For the component seeking handloader, there are 306 popular 0.308″ bullets to select from, in 47 weight increments from 79 grains to 250 grains. Ten companies offer new brass, bare and nickle plated, and an endless stream of quality handloading data is available to fuel a life time of power and accuracy experimentation.

Furthering the 308 Winchester’s popularity are more types and configurations of firearms than there are for any other rifle cartridge. With 157 popular rifle models available, a composite of 24 brands, there are more choices than available for the 223 Remington and even the 22 Long Rifle rimfire. The Winchester XPR SR is an excellent match with the 308 Winchester cartridge, a combination that yields exceptional results.

Live fire

Four types of ammunition were used during live fire, with an emphasis on differing bullet weight and construction. Chronograph data was collected and 100 yard three shot groups were shot. Multiple three shot groups being more indicative of a hunting rifle’s anticipated performance than 5 shot and larger count groups… at least for folks who rely on shot placement and not cover fire for deer season.

Because this model Winchester XPR is suppressor ready, chronograph data was collected suppressed and unsuppressed. Accuracy recorded is with suppressor in place, however, groups were shot both suppressed and unsuppressed with virtually no change.