I thought I pretty much had my heart set on a BCM 11.5" upper (either the standard barrel or BFH), but now I’m considering the Sionics option as well. I plan to shoot this primarily un-suppressed (so I’m not looking at the Sionics barrel with the reduced gas port size), but am curious as to how the two might compare with a suppressor. Does the Sionics M-Lok V2 rail have built in QD sockets? The picture shows circular cut outs but the description doesn’t say. I am a big fan of the BCM KMR handguard, which is why I’m maybe still leaning that way. I assume the overall weight of the two is about the same? Any input would be appreciated.
You might consider checking out BCM’s ELW profile barrel as well.
Also, does anybody know the gas port sizes of both the BCM and standard Sionics barrels?
IIRC both are .076". Barring extreme conditions (freezing temps, etc.) you’d probably do fine completely unsuppressed with the Sionics RGP at .070", especially if you’re using an A5 RE. Or if you prefer a lighter profile, pick up either barrel and put a gas port limiter (such as BRT’s).
I have a BCM, but I never measured it. We’ve run them suppressed and not. No problems with either.
I’ve run the RGP barrel quite a bit in sub 32 temps. As low as 20 degrees (I live in Texas so it rarely gets colder than this) with no issue. This includes with PMC Bronze. Over a thousand rounds on multiple days, slow firing, fast firing, running drills, etc. I’ve run it with an A5H2 and a H2 with blue Sprinco spring. I also have a BCM EWL and is has run with no issue. BCM is a factory built upper, Sionics RGP was built by me.
NC
There you go, it works in the cold with weak .223 to boot. Tough to see why most civilians would need to go much bigger in GP.
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Great info. Any experience with Wolf Gold?
Yes. I have shot lots of it. Works fine in the RGP barrel. I can’t say for sure that I’ve used Wolf Gold in sub freezing temperatures. I have run PMC Bronze, Fiocchi, GECO and AE 223 through the RGP unsupressed, in the Texas “cold” (between 20 and 40 degrees) without an issue.
I decided on the Sionics RGP, went ahead and ordered it. Thanks for the help.
I don’t have experience with the sionics but I have a few BCM 11.5’s and also a balistic advantage 11.3 hansen profile. Both run with and w/o my can very reliably and I haven’t had any issues that I can remember. Both with standard carbine buffers and springs and anything from my duty ammo to plain old 223. I also can’t remember the gas port sizes off the top of my head. I know then I emailed BA they had no problem telling me and BCM would not tell me the size.
PMC Bronze, for those unaware, is probably the weakest brass cased 223 on the market.
Which has me really confused.
If Sionics RGP barrel is running weak ass 223 in 20 degree weather unsuppressed why in the world are manufacturers still producing barrels with 0.080”+ gas ports?
So you can run Tula at 20 degrees? 
You will not be disappointed. I have a bcm elw standard and a sionics rgp barrel both are reliable. The sionics cut my group sizes in half.
That’s simple - to account for loose gas keys, leaky gas blocks, and crappy installations…
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My Sionics upper with RGP barrel functions perfectly unsuppressed with everything I’ve fed it so far, including Federal M193, Wolf Gold, and PMC Bronze. Ejection is around 3:30-4:00, with Sprinco blue spring and ST-T2 buffer. Now I just need to wait to test it in some sub zero temps.
My Sionics RGP barrel runs fine unsuppressed.
I don’t run any anemic ammo, so I can’t vouch for that.
I shoot a lot of the Wolf Gold.
None of which should happen with a quality build or a factory tested assembly.
How is the lock up on the v3 sionics rail?
Just pinned my standard BCM 11.5" barrel at .073" dia. gas port. Have to tear down my BFH to compare.