Winchester SXR2

[Stonia]

I'm starting to see these pop up, and in the best cartridge ever, 9.3x62. Looks like a less expensive BAR, and until now only available internationally, maybe? Tempting, but I've never even heard of this. Anyone know anything?

https://www.winchester.eu/products/rifles/semi-auto/A-WSXR2COMPO/A-WSXR2COMPO.html

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[wind gypsy]

Are you saying they are available in the states or asking if people know if they will be? Unsure since you linked the Winchester EU site.

 

[Stonia]

Are you saying they are available in the states or asking if people know if they will be? Unsure since you linked the Winchester EU site.

Sorry, there's dozens of that model on GB and my local shop can get ahold of them. Wondering if anyone has any experience with them.

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[Begle1]

You ever find anything out about the SXR2?

I saw a few while looking at BAR's a while ago and thought... Huh... A semiauto 9.3x62 for under $1000 sure sounds interesting.

 

[Stonia]

No, they're still available to order, but never seen one in person. I don't want to be the test case, but I'm definitely still interested. There's a few more chamberings, 308, 30-06, 300win mag, as well as wood stock models.

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[Begle1]

Their manual sure has some interesting nuggets.

Your rifle has a detachable or fixed magazine mounted on a hinged floorplate depending on the legislation in force in each country. The magazine capacity also depends on the legislation in force in each country.

Their website lists 2 round and 3 round "drop box" magazines, but all the online lists I see specify 2 round mags. 3 round mags seem a lot more compelling.

I don't know what the ideal number of 9.3x62 rounds would be to have in a 7lb 2oz semiauto rifle, but I can't help but feel the answer is "more than 3".

 

[Begle1]

This website has some interesting magazines for European 9.3x62 rifles that I've never heard of.

Does the Browning Maral use the same magazine as the Winchester SXR2? Perhaps, since this magazine is listed as fitting both of them.

I love how Europe has their own market of weird-looking rifles that are hard to find information on. I don't love how there is apparently a semi-auto and a pump "SXR2".

Cool Steyr rotary magazine.
Cool extended Steyr magazine.

 

[Begle1]

A 30-06 magazine would probably work with 9.3x62, right? Same dimensions apart from the bullet?

Why do the Europeans have 10 rounder magazines for the BAR that I've never seen before? Are these unobtanium in the US for some reason, or am I just ignorant?

 

[Begle1]

I'm still a little intrigued by these rifles.

It appears that Lipsey's imported a glut of them from Europe. North American Winchester isn't happy about it because they don't have any parts or knowledge of them.

So the guns are orphaned to some degree, although I understand they also share some parts commonality with a BAR, so maybe it's not so bad.

As it comes to magazines, a picture of an imported SXR2 magazine is attached. Winchester USA told me that the SXR2's would take their BAR magazines, but the pictured magazine would not be compatible with an American BAR, correct?

It seems to me like these imported SXR2's would take the "drop box" European magazines that a brave shooter could order from around the world for $150+ each. It also seems to me like a 10 rounder 30-06 magazine would also be useable as a 10 rounder 9.3x62 magazine. But I don't know how to verify either of those things without talking to a European, or maybe an Aussie.

 

[Begle1]

I traded some messages with the RifleMags.co.uk people.

1) They tell me that semi-auto and pump-action SXR2's take the same magazines. (So the 10-round 30-06 magazine would be this one.)

2) They are happy to ship magazines to the USA. (For these prices I would be too.) They estimated a 10-14 day delivery time.

3) They don't think that the 30-06 magazines are the same thing as 9.3x62 magazines, because apparently there used to be a 10rd 9.3x62 magazine, but it was discontinued. (But they did say that maybe the base pad and spring from the extended 30-06 magazine could be mated to the 9.3x62 upper section, if somebody really wanted 10 rounds of 9.3x62.)


I am tempted to try one of these in 30-06. It does fill a niche that otherwise isn't available; lighter weight than an M1A or other battle-rifle derivative, more accurate (I'd presume, generally speaking?) than a Benelli R1, and more traditionally shaped than an AR10, as it eschews the protruding mag well and pistol grip. And available with 10 round droppable magazines, unlike the North American BAR. So until somebody makes a new and better Winchester 100 or Remington Woodsmaster, the SXR2 seems to check the boxes I was looking for.

If I could trust this gun to be as reliable and indestructible in jungle mud and water as my Mini30, then I'd be buying one. Still trying to decide.