Bearlative Creek Arms (BCA) GPx Piston Upper? - The Cheapest Piston AR Upper on The Market

Published on May 22, 2022
Duration: 9:36

This video provides a first look at the Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA) GPx Piston Upper, potentially the most affordable piston AR upper on the market. The review highlights its similarities to Superlative Arms components, particularly the BCG and adjustable gas block. Initial shooting impressions indicate it functions well, though adjustment requires removing the handguard, and light primer strikes were observed with certain steel-cased ammunition.

Quick Summary

The Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA) GPx Piston Upper is a budget-friendly piston AR upper featuring a short-stroke gas piston system. It shares design similarities with Superlative Arms components. Initial testing showed it runs softly with steel-cased ammo but may require handguard removal for gas block adjustments, and light primer strikes were noted with certain steel casings.

Chapters

  1. 00:14Introduction to BCA GPx Piston Upper
  2. 00:42What is a Piston Upper Receiver?
  3. 01:37Comparison to Superlative Arms
  4. 03:01GPx Gas Block Features
  5. 03:33Gas Block Adjustment Method
  6. 05:07First Shots & Performance
  7. 06:33Initial Shooting Impressions
  8. 06:45Gas Block Adjustment Issues
  9. 07:10Functional Issues: Light Primer Strikes
  10. 07:46Steel Case vs. Brass Performance
  11. 08:46Price and Value Proposition
  12. 09:20Future Review Plans

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Bear Creek Arsenal GPx Piston Upper unique?

The BCA GPx Piston Upper is notable for being one of the most affordable piston AR uppers on the market. It features a short-stroke gas piston system and a BCG that bears strong resemblances to Superlative Arms components, suggesting a potential manufacturing partnership.

How is the gas block adjusted on the BCA GPx Piston Upper?

Adjustment of the gas block on the BCA GPx Piston Upper requires removing the handguard. It offers five distinct settings plus an off position, allowing users to tune the system for different ammunition types, though on-the-fly adjustments are not easily accessible.

What were the initial reliability concerns with the BCA GPx Piston Upper?

During initial testing, a couple of light primer strikes were observed, particularly with steel-cased ammunition. This is attributed to potentially recessed primers in the casings, though the firing pin strike itself appeared substantial.

How does the BCA GPx Piston Upper perform with different ammunition types?

The system ran very softly with steel-cased ammunition, to the point of barely cycling. With brass-cased ammunition (like M193), it was described as a little punchy, indicating that the performance is somewhat dependent on the ammunition used.

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