Rails and things like that are personal, but can always be changed later on if he decides to.
Obviously, discuss it with him, but I’m sure he will be ok with your decision.
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I say SIONICS all day unless you you prefer a different rail. Quality should be excellent on all 3, but the SIONICS comes with MBUS Pro sights, NP3 trigger (the two I've fired extensively are excellent), NP3 BCG, Sprinco buffer and extractor springs, QD endplate, and a Raptor CH. All of those options (or equivalents) are extra on the other rifles (except for the PNT trigger and QD endplate on the BCM).
That said, I love my RECCE16, but mostly because of the handling of the ELW barrel and stoopid light KMR. I've heard that not all BCMs shoot well, but mine is 1 to 1.5 MOA with good ammo FWIW.
There's also SOLGW M4-EXO rifles in that price range.
ETA: I've never experienced better customer service than Centurion Arms. I've dealt with them twice and both times they've been nothing short of amazing. The more recent time was when I stripped a screw on my C4-MLOK and couldn't remove the rail. Corrie had me send the upper in, and in no time at all the upper was back to me with a brand new rail installed.
I truly appreciate everyone's taking the time to reply. You are all bringing up excellent considerations.
The only non-mixmaster ARs I own are an LMT SPM 14 and a 16" PSA Freedom, so feedback from users that own guns from the three companies is huge.
I also want to thank everyone for avoiding "fanboy/chevy vs ford" debates.
Andy
The other question is availability. I’m assuming you don’t want to wait too long.
By the way, here are some discount codes for Centurion Arms.
Rifles: SASRIFLE for 3% off
Uppers/Lowers: SASUPPLWR for 5% off
Other/Misc: SAS10 for 10% off
I'm not sure when Sionics switched to the nitrided barrels, I do remember them having chrome-lined. Just something to notice, along with the fact that their barrel is 1/8 twist, while CA and BCM are both 1/7. The BCM can be had in BFH if one finds such a model, but that standard RECCE-16 does not come in BFH (otherwise it would be the RECCE-16 BFH model... very logical). One could also possibly get the MK2 upper with the BCM, if one decides to get a RECCE-16 MK2 instead.