BCL Siberian Review from HGG
- Thread starter adriel
- Start date
For clarity to all reading this, Yes. This rifle is the same rifle featured in the other thread about MrMeatShowers Video. HHG is one of the Testers at CFET, and this video is part of said test.
……………….did you watch the video?
I guessed that. The real deal breaker for me is the gas system. As pointed out even the SVT40 from ww2 allows you remove the piston rod and to clean the gas system without having to remove the gas block. The hand guard removal is a pain but I could have put up with that.
As for reliability. I figured it was the same gun and like the BCL102 there were varying reports. Yet the bcl102 I had shot everything, even steel cased ammo. So I figured that might be a one off or will be fixed already in the most current guns.
The AR18 /180 design is s hard sell for me, never been a fan. With the bcl gas/handguard system it’s an easy pass. Seeing that was what made the decision easy. I admit I skipped a lot on the other video but did watch HGG’s through. So if it was on the other video, I likely fast forwarded past it.
Yup nice looking rifle. But the negatives are hard to ignore.
I agree somehow but I think an adjustable gas block would solve this. I can easily make my own. In fact, any machine shop can. I will just wait until the price drops far enough due to the reviews here and on youtube. Those guys are really pushing it. Thank you. Sweet looking gun.
I think they are mostly Type 81 fans which is 1. another caliber 2. horrible inaccurate. I stick with my arsenal of SKS and modify those, folder, side plates (AK look), much easier to scope, not having to spend $400 to mount a scope.
It is a nice looking gun. Especially in the two tone. If the price comes down and there are third party gas blocks that allow adjustment and removal of the gas piston, then I would consider it again. Also with the BCL102 they adjusted very quickly to problems. Maybe a gen2 version will come out. These videos will likely push bcl to fix it. Never buy a first gen BCL anything.
I had one I bought at SFRC for below $1,500 tax/ship. Most shops are asking too much. Yes, you are correct. Same stuff in another dress than WK180, too expensive.
But I had one (not anymore) and since I am quite handy, I never encountered the problems shown in the test during bench rest shooting. Would love to roll in the mud like they do. Maybe one day I will take the trip.
I kind of wonder how handy/creative those guys are, the comedy show was not good enough to get me excited (thanks meaty, I always love to see when people embarrass themselves (I usually do that when singing Karaokee) , talking about limited amount of magazine brands in Canada. I can't even count anymore how often I ordered from Irunguns to get what I need.
Said it before, say it again, no monie, or no-mone.
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My 102 was a gen 3 and it STILL had issues. They'll get it right eventually, it's just frustrating.
There was a replacement kit as a recall from BCL you needed to request and they sent out. It included new gas rings, extractor and ejector. I changed the rings and extractor. Shot everything after that. Mine was one of the later gens. Not sure which.
This is the primary problem with BCL. They use cheap small parts to begin with in areas that require quality and try and reinvent the wheel on proven designs that need to be robust.
To facilitate disassembly of the gas system they only had to follow one of the other multitude of 180 systems out there.
They may fix it afterwards, but their reputation has already taken the hit, instead of getting it right the first time.
Not disagreeing with you.
To be fair though with the BCL102 it’s competition at the time ( prior to stag 10) cost 3x as much, used cheap DPLS hobby grade LR308 parts, and has some sort of geometry issue ( DPMS lower dimensions with an upsized copy of the side charging AR15 upper - don’t recall the brand but it was one of only a few at the time.). Cost was high and accuracy/reliability was mediocre, it didn’t take long for the BCL102 to beat it on reliability once the rings/extractor was upgraded and it slayed the other in both cost and accuracy. Stag 10 made both obsolete. But the BCL102 did have its time. For a short while.
The Siberian might get there too? If they address the issues, I think it could be a hit. Looks great, controls look great ( other than trigger) and it’s slimmer than the others so more AR15 like.
Buy ya, far too much customer Beta testing and mistakes. Again can’t disagree with your post. I won’t be rushing out to buy one!
I would make the argument that the R18 is the only one that is "reliable". I've personally seen 2 pistons break in 2 different Gen 2 Wk180 platforms. And both of those pistons were sub 400 rounds after getting the gun back from Kodiak's warranty department from a previous piston break.
The WK180 has a carbine length barrel where as the the Siberian has a mid length barrel which makes a difference to how the rifle shoots. I think that you should be able to take the gas system apart without having to remove the gas block which is currently necessary with the Siberian. It has been mentioned that both of these recent reviews where done using the same rifle, so the same problems showed up in both reviews, it would have been much better to not have used the same rifle for both reviews! However I do think the reviewer is very competent.
