PSA: Crusader Crux

[u/ParalyzedNeckUp]

I bought this rifle as soon as it came out and was really excited as I’ve been enjoying my Templar. My first impressions were not great. When it got here the bolt carrier group was locked forward and stuck. I had to dismantle it and when I did the rear takedown pin just fell out. Then I had to beat the shit out of the lower receiver to get it to even separate from the upper due to there being too much friction between the upper and lower. I had to use a pair of pliers to remove the BCG from the chamber because it was stuck for a reason I cannot figure out.

Today I took it out for the first time. My first 15 rounds went fine and I was really impressed with the accuracy at 100m with the standard iron sights, and the trigger felt great. In my next 5 rounds I had 3 failure to extract issues resulting in the BCG ramming a live round into the back of the empty casing in the chamber, resulting in the casing of the live round being dented and the bullet being shoved down into the casing. On my 5th and final mag, I fired one shot, which resulted in my extractor snapping off.

When I got home and examined the rifle further, I noticed two of the bipod MLOK nuts had backed off, pieces of my extractor fragmented in the upper receiver, and an extraordinary amount of brass inside the rifle, like a ton.

I paid $3954 for this rifle. Basically $4000. So I’m obviously not thrilled that it feels so cheap and that it broke after literally 21 shots. I will be attempting to reach out to crusader for a new/better extractor. I am attempting to manage my expectations and frustrations.

TLDR: difficult to take down, feels really cheap for the price, and the extractor breaks after ~20 shots.

[u/ParalyzedNeckUp → u/[deleted]]

There is discolouration around the rim and gouges out of the brass on the rim edges. I saved one casing of both the brands that I shot. The rest all looked the same as the ones I kept

[u/ParalyzedNeckUp → u/[deleted]]

No not that I can see. All the primers looked fine to me. I did just reinspect the brass I kept and in the Winchester spent casing there is considerable bulging and a small crack about a centimetre above the rim, but nothing like that on the spent Federal casing. But there is more dents and scrapes in the side of the casings than I’m used to seeing.

[u/ParalyzedNeckUp → u/[deleted]]

I know now days 7.62 NATO and .308 are supposed to be pretty much interchangeable, but I’m starting to wonder if the chamber is actually for 7.62 NATO and not 308. The 7.62 NATO camber is usually about 0.006 to 0.010 inches longer than a 308 and I’m curious if this could be causing headspace issues. Paired with the slightly higher pressure from 308 rounds due to the thinner case walls, it could explain the amount of brass flying around in the rifle, and the bulging and crack on the Winchester cases. Judging from the extractor mark on the casing, the bulging and crack is on the area of the case that would be facing down towards the ground. I’m not sure if that would be any help in investigating the issue, just what I’m observing. I appreciate you reaching out

[u/ParalyzedNeckUp → u/[deleted]]

I know, it’s just nice to see any company reach out and throw in their two cents