TFB Review: X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde

TFB Review: X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde – Premium Price Tag & Premier Performance?

In the modern sporting rifle world we are in a bit of a crossroads; a midlife crisis, if you will. We, as the gun community, are blessed to have hundreds of options when it comes to purchasing an AR-15 platform rifle. Some poor, some OK, and quite a few are good. To differentiate yourself from the pack, you either need to be a stalwart name that has been around for decades or deliver something authentically unique and inspiring to the table. A new, up-and-coming company in X2 Dev Group is positioning themselves to do the latter. They have a highly customized upper and lower receiver set as well as other proprietary features blended into their build that will hopefully have you reaching for your checkbook. So, today we are going to take a look at the X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde rifle to see if its premium price tag also delivers premier performance. Let’s dive in!

AR-15 Coverage @ TFB:

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Specifications – X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde

The X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde rifle is available in colorways of Black, OD Green, Flat Dark Earth, and Tungsten. You’ve got the entire tactical rainbow covered for operators and recreational shooters alike. Some of the specs that you can come to expect are listed below as presented by X2 Dev Group:

Cartridge: .223 WyldeWeight: 6 LbBarrel: 16” Trident Barrel with 1 in 8” Twist RateFull Ambidextrous ControlsVF18 Vent Forward Brake7075-T6 Aluminum Machined Receivers

All of the components are made in the USA by X2 Dev Group, and this rifle is touted for exhibiting sub-MOA accuracy out of the box. At the time of this article going live, X2 Dev Group only has one complete rifle offering, in the AR-X LightFighter, in its 4 colorways with the same MSRP for all of them.

AR-X LightFighter | MSRP $2,7956 Week Lead Time | OD Green, Flat Dark Earth, and Tungsten8 Week Lead Time | Black

In the rare event that you should ever need service for your rifle, X2 Dev Group stands behind their products with their Future Proof Warranty. Their version of a lifetime warranty goes above and beyond traditional warranties in that they will even take your rifle back at the factory for in-line engineering changes and/or upgrades. This ensures that you’ll always have the latest technology they can offer to your AR-X LightFighter, free of charge, for life. This means that as a Future Proof Warranty member, you’ll have access to all new upgrades and advancements to the weapon platform without any additional costs.

What’s in the Box? X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde

A crucial and often overlooked question when it comes to purchasing anything nowadays is: “what’s in the box?” Will I need extra accessories to get my new thing up-and-running? Does it come with everything that I need? You get the picture. So, here is everything that you can come to when you purchase an AR-X LightFighter from X2 Dev Group:

Owner’s Manual Card (Scan a QR Code to reach your Digital Owner’s Manual)Cable Lock(1) Lancer L5AWM 30 Round Magazine(4) Allen Keys, (2) Bolts, and (1) Pin for Fine Tuning your Gas Block(1) AR-X LightFighter rifle

***Vortex optic and rings NOT Included***

What’s the Upsell? Why Should you Buy the X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde

So, the elephant in the room is that this rifle costs a lot. We’re talking ~$2,800 a lot. With some heavy coin like that, there is going to need to be some “secret sauce” instilled into this rifle to warrant that kind of money (and there is). There are not only proprietary features that enhance your shooting experience; rather, they are mindfully and artfully deployed so they are not going to pigeonhole you. Let’s take a look.

Ambidextrous Lower Receiver: Places controls where they can be operated without modifying the shooting grip, right or left-handed.Rapid QD Quick Detach Handguard: Attaches to the upper receiver to isolate the barrel and provide maximum rigidity. The positive interface with the barrel provides enhanced longitudinal rigidity and anti-rotational rigidity. Minimal thermal contact points for reduced thermal transmission of barrel chamber heat and resulting thermal signature.Trident Barrel: Bench rest grade 416R Trident barrel using our proprietary extreme fluting profile optimizes weight, rigidity, and cooling. It achieves maximum sustained accuracy in a lightweight barrel. Provides approximately 300% more surface cooling area than a standard AR barrel, pulling heat rapidly from the core of the barrel. Tested to provide consistent Sub-MOA accuracy with 77gr SMK match-grade ammunition.VF18 – Vent Forward Brake: The most advanced muzzle device on the market. The VF18 redirects harmful blast overpressure away from the shooter.  Blast diversion, recoil reduction, flash suppression, and muzzle neutral compensation – all in one device – makes the AR-X LightFighter shoot flat, stay on target during rapid engagement, and reduce felt recoil dramatically.

Fixed Tunable Gas Block: All the configurability of an adjustable gas block with the reliability of a fixed gas block. Includes 3 customized regulating inserts. No matter the shooter’s setup, whether it involves a suppressor, normal kit, or light ammunition, the AR-X can be fine-tuned to deliver optimal performance in any situation. Eliminates turbulence and fouling, typical of impingement designs. Regulating rods are easily changeable, allowing for user customization.Jackal-X Ambidextrous Charging Handle: Combat derived solution that prevents out-of-battery malfunctions caused by gear snags. With a streamlined design and reinforced construction, it ensures reliable operation in any situation, preventing potential damage or breakage. Experience the confidence of smooth and uninterrupted performance, free from the risk of gear-related mishaps.Flared Magwell: For rapid mag changes.

Range Experience – X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde

To finally put this rifle through its paces, I topped it off with a Vortex Strike Eagle that typically is adorned on my Springfield Armory Model 2020 Waypoint 6.5 Creedmoor, but I wanted to give the X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter a quality optic to see how accurate this rifle could authentically be.

Strike Eagle 3-18x44mm FFP with an EBR-7C (MOA) Reticle and 34mm Main Tube

The bulk of the ammunition that I ran through the rifle was 55 Grain ball ammo (M193), and surprisingly to me, it shot peculiarly well! I pulled it randomly from a range ammo can of mine where it was a mixture of varying manufacturers, varying ages (some stuff could have been 20+ years old and others brand new), and I was able to drop groups that were anywhere from 1 ⅛” to 1 ⅜” in size at 100 yards. Essentially, a 1 ¼” average for boring ol’ M193 ball ammunition.

I did this with the factory VF18 – Vent Forward Brake as well as my silencer of mine in the SilencerCo Hybrid 46 DTM. I saw similar results with both muzzle devices. The next ammunition I fed to the X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter was a bit more premium with some Federal Gold Medal Match 69 Grain.

Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing 223 Rem 69 Grain | GM223M | MSRP $40.99

The Gold Medal Match ammo the AR-X LightFighter didn’t favor that much as my best groups were consistently 1.5” (or in that ballpark). I was hoping for tighter groups, but the rifle simply didn’t favor the 69 Grain ammo.

Again, my silencer of choice for this range session was the SilencerCo Hybrid 46 DTM. If you want to give the Hybrid 46 DTM a try on your own hunting rifle, AR-15, or other project you’re conspiring to complete, jump on Silencer Shop’s site because they make grabbing a silencer a breeze. The Hybrid 46 DTM weighs around 13.7 ounces, is rated up to .45-70 Government, and has a range of mounting options. You can buy the SilencerCo Hybrid 46 DTM from Silencer Shop through the link below:

The Finer Details – X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter

Now, let’s get down in the weeds a bit and take a closer look at this rifle. This rifle is complemented with some B5 Systems furniture in the pistol grip and stock, but the lower and upper receiver is where the “secret sauce” lies. You get an ambidextrous safety selector that has a 45 degree short-throw as well. I pushed super hard for that coveted 3rd position, but no dice (I await the full-auto version to come out soon, haha). You also have captured trigger and hammer receiver pins. So, they will never walk out on you.

Departing Thoughts

So, what are my final thoughts on the X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde rifle?… Overall, this is an expensive rifle. I won’t push aside that thought, but it may be worth it to a lot of shooters and gun owners. It gives you a bevy of proprietary and premium features that you may not be able to find anywhere else out in the expansive AR-15 market. With the cheap ammo I ran through it, it was achieving 1 ⅛” groups, and ironically with premium ammo, it shot 1 ½” groups. So, in this test it didn’t achieve sub-MOA accuracy, but I also only fired 2 grain weights: 55 grain and 69 grain (times are tough, guys). Maybe some good ol’ M855 62 Grain is the secret elixir to accuracy. In sum, if you want a premium rifle donning premium features out of the box, this may be just the thing for you. If you are a new gun owner and aren’t sure what exact features and elements you want, maybe one of their Trident barrels and building your own AR-15 is the answer. High quality is everywhere with X2 Dev Group, it simply depends what your budget is.

In closing, I want to say thank you to X2 Dev Group for allowing TheFirearmBlog and myself the opportunity to try out their X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde rifle. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the X2 Dev Group AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde rifle is something worth spending your money on? Would you take one with you hunting? Shoot a league or competition? Deploy it for home defense? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about X2 Dev Group and the AR-X LightFighter .223 Wylde rifle in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.