Bear Creek Arsenal 15-22 22LR upper testing at the range. First indications, it’s good!

Published on December 6, 2025
Duration: 11:44

This review details the performance of the Bear Creek Arsenal 15-22 22LR upper at an outdoor range. The assessment highlights how ammunition choice significantly impacts reliability and accuracy, with Remington Ranch Hand .22 LR proving superior to Federal Champion for consistent cycling and tighter shot groups. The upper is deemed a solid, lightweight plinker suitable for casual shooting and small game hunting when paired with quality ammunition.

Quick Summary

The Bear Creek Arsenal 15-22 22LR upper is a solid, lightweight plinker suitable for casual shooting and small game hunting. Its reliability and accuracy are significantly influenced by ammunition choice, performing best with consistent loads like Remington Ranch Hand, while less consistent ammo like Federal Champion can cause cycling issues.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and Setup
  2. 01:17Initial Testing with Federal Ammo
  3. 04:24Sighting In and Reliability
  4. 06:14Remington Ranch Hand Performance
  5. 08:29Target Analysis
  6. 10:16Final Review and Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Bear Creek Arsenal 15-22 22LR upper perform with different types of ammunition?

The Bear Creek Arsenal 15-22 22LR upper showed improved reliability and accuracy when using consistent ammunition like Remington Ranch Hand. Federal Champion 36gr .22 LR caused cycling issues due to inconsistent velocity, making sighting-in difficult.

What is the intended use for the Bear Creek Arsenal 15-22 22LR upper?

The Bear Creek Arsenal 15-22 22LR upper is primarily intended for plinking and small game hunting. It's described as a solid, lightweight option suitable for casual shooting rather than precision marksmanship.

What magazines are compatible with the Bear Creek Arsenal 15-22 22LR upper?

The Bear Creek Arsenal 15-22 22LR upper is compatible with Black Dog and Smith & Wesson 15-22 style magazines, which were used during the testing in the video.

What were the accuracy results for the Bear Creek Arsenal 15-22 22LR upper?

At 30 yards, the upper produced acceptable accuracy for a plinking rifle, with significantly tighter groups and near bullseye shots when using Remington Ranch Hand ammunition compared to Federal Champion.

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