I loved shooting my SDS Systems BP12, had some issues initially, but they fixed it under warranty paying the shipping both ways, so I was very happy, but they wouldn't tell me what they did to repair it. I ran in pretty hard with "skeet" loads (1 to 1-1/8 oz #7.5 to #9 shot, 2-3/4 shells around 3 Dram Eq) shooting steel plate rack. Problem is it self destructed a bit over 500 rounds post warranty repair. The 1 year warranty had run out and they didn't extend the warranty for the ~6 weeks they had it. I received this reply in regards to getting spare parts to repair it or paying to get it repaired:
It would be very easy to repair if a replacement "upper" were available, here is where it failed:
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I liked it so much that when PSA had the Panzer Arms EGX500 for $300, since it took the same magazines, I jumped on it. It is supposed to be an "improved" model:
So far I'm a bit over 400 rounds through it, the only issue is when it gets dirty it doesn't go fully into battery and you get a failure-to-fire without a mark on the primer. Depending on the ammo it needs to be cleaned every ~54-136 rounds. I've been shooting what I can find so it has been a motley assortment of ammo. Some cheap stuff from Walmart has gone over 120 rounds twice now, which is three or four outings for me.
The two position externally adjustable gas regulator is a definite plus. A definite negative is they made it so removing the barrel is a major job, which will be an issue if the bolt needs cleaning beyond what can be done with spray parts cleaner, or something like the firing pin or extractor breaks.
Bottom line if you buy one and it breaks after the warranty runs out (I should be over 1000 rounds before my warranty runs out) you are hosed, as replacement parts seem to be unavailable since every batch imported is a different "model" with few parts in common and they don't seem to import spare parts.
After reading the reddit link, I can't disagree, but my only "jams" were what caused my SDS BP12 to go back for repair, and it never jammed or failed to feed or fire until it broke. My only failures with the EGX500 is when a light load on the "High Velocity" gas setting fails to cycle usually doing one of three things -- empty remains in the chamber, empty "stovepipes", or it barely ejects but doesn't pick up a round from the mag and closes on an empty chamber. With ammo I've not shot before I start with the HV setting and push it in if it fails to cycle. I've been able to use very light 7/8 oz target loads with the regulator pushed in for "extra gas".
