BCA Bear Creek Arsenal .22WMR 22 Magnum Upper Review & Shoot

Published on July 23, 2022
Duration: 22:59

This video reviews the Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA) .22 WMR (22 Magnum) upper receiver, highlighting its features like the side charger, 16-inch barrel with a 1-in-16 twist, and compatibility with standard AR-15 lowers. The reviewer experiences initial feeding issues and a ruptured case, which they suspect might be ammunition-related or a break-in period. Despite some malfunctions, the review progresses to accuracy testing at 100 and 200 yards, demonstrating potential for tighter groups with a magnified optic compared to a red dot.

Quick Summary

The Bear Creek Arsenal .22 WMR upper features a 16-inch barrel with a 1-in-16 twist and is available with side or rear charging. While initial testing showed feeding issues and a ruptured case, accuracy at 100 yards improved from 2-3 inches with a red dot to under 2 inches with a magnified scope.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & BCA .22 WMR Upper
  2. 00:43Magazine Details & Lower Receiver
  3. 01:10Handguard & Optics Mounting Options
  4. 01:38Planned Videos: Accuracy & Long Range
  5. 02:00Ammunition for Testing (CCI Maxi Mag)
  6. 02:19Mounting & Zeroing Red Dot
  7. 02:29First Magazine & Initial Firing
  8. 03:21First Malfunction: Misfeed
  9. 03:50Hold Open & Initial Accuracy Check
  10. 04:18Upper Receiver Components (Buffer Tube, Spring, Piston)
  11. 04:37Addressing Potential Break-in Issues
  12. 05:25Second Magazine Test
  13. 06:27Steel Target Engagement
  14. 06:54Malfunction Summary So Far
  15. 07:46Second Malfunction: Ruptured Case
  16. 08:12Investigating the Ruptured Case
  17. 10:11Clearing & Testing After Ruptured Case
  18. 11:04Further Malfunctions: Feeding Issues
  19. 12:16Conclusion on Malfunctions & Ammunition Change
  20. 12:38Testing Federal 50-grain Ammunition
  21. 13:51Federal 50-grain Firing Test
  22. 15:13Testing Hornady 30-grain Ballistic Tip
  23. 16:33Analysis of Feed Ramp Steepness & Gap
  24. 17:04Summary of Feeding Issues with Different Ammunition
  25. 18:02Reviewer's Contact with Bear Creek Arsenal
  26. 18:35100-Yard Shooting Test (Red Dot)
  27. 19:13Mounting Magnified Scope (Simmons 3-9x40)
  28. 19:28100-Yard Accuracy Test (Magnified Scope)
  29. 20:46200-Yard Shooting Test
  30. 22:00200-Yard Results & Long Range Plans
  31. 22:31Rimfire Playlist & Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key specifications of the Bear Creek Arsenal .22 WMR upper receiver?

The Bear Creek Arsenal .22 WMR upper features a 16-inch barrel with a 1-in-16 twist rate. It is available with either a side-charging handle or a traditional rear charging handle, and can also be found in 10 or 10.5-inch pistol-length configurations.

What types of feeding issues were observed with the BCA .22 WMR upper?

The reviewer experienced feeding issues where rounds chambered too high, sometimes catching the rim or bullet. This led to jams and a ruptured case. The feed ramp was noted as being steep with a visible gap, potentially contributing to these problems.

How did the accuracy of the BCA .22 WMR upper compare with different optics?

At 100 yards, accuracy with a red dot sight yielded groups around 2-3 inches. After mounting a 3-9x40 magnified scope, the group size at 100 yards tightened to just under 2 inches, indicating better precision with magnification.

What ammunition was tested in the Bear Creek Arsenal .22 WMR upper review?

The initial testing used CCI 40-grain Maxi Mag ammunition. Due to malfunctions, the reviewer also tested Federal 50-grain rounds and Hornady 30-grain Ballistic Tip rounds to see if ammunition type affected feeding reliability.

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