Will the Bear Creek .410 disappoint again? I think we may already know the answer…

Published on September 25, 2023
Duration: 17:49

This review details troubleshooting attempts with a Bear Creek Arsenal .410 AR upper. The presenter experienced significant cycling and feeding issues, including failures to eject and strip rounds, with various ammunition types and 10-round magazines. While a fix for the bolt extractor was successful, persistent loading problems suggest potential issues with magazine compatibility or ammunition choice, leading to the decision to return the unit to the manufacturer.

Quick Summary

The Bear Creek Arsenal .410 AR upper experienced significant reliability issues, including failures to eject and pick up new rounds. While a fix for the bolt extractor was successful, persistent feeding problems with various ammunition types and 10-round magazines led to the decision to return the unit to the manufacturer.

Chapters

  1. 00:01Introduction & Range Setup
  2. 00:07Bear Creek .410 AR Upper Overview
  3. 00:10Bolt Fix with O-ring
  4. 00:37Testing American Tactical Buckshot
  5. 01:30Failure to Eject Spent Shell
  6. 02:00Initial Cycling Issues
  7. 02:34Magazine Loading Problems
  8. 02:50Testing Remington Express XLR
  9. 03:39First Successful Cycles
  10. 04:04Magazine Stripping Issues
  11. 04:21Ammunition Performance Analysis
  12. 04:37Testing Federal Ammunition
  13. 05:01Magazine Type Discussion (5 vs 10 round)
  14. 05:22Testing Remington Bird Shot
  15. 06:02Intermittent Improvements
  16. 06:23Buffer Spring & Buffer Specs
  17. 06:54Magazine Feed Ramp Observation
  18. 07:13Goal: Run a Full Magazine
  19. 07:19Magazine Removal Difficulty
  20. 07:24Chambering Round Fix Confirmed
  21. 07:37Testing with 5 Rounds Per Magazine
  22. 07:48Reloaded Ammunition Issues
  23. 08:30Extractor Fix Confirmed Again
  24. 08:41Reloaded Shell Case Mouth Issues
  25. 09:02Failure to Fire & Extract
  26. 09:13Stuck Casing Extraction Problem
  27. 09:31Stuck Casing Extraction Resolved
  28. 09:42Bulged Case Head Observation
  29. 10:00Frustration with Loading Issues
  30. 10:32BPS Slugs Performance
  31. 10:45Fire-Formed Case Head Issues
  32. 11:11Reloaded Slugs in Fiocchi Hulls
  33. 11:39Fiocchi Hulls Compatibility
  34. 11:50American Tactical Slug Reloaded
  35. 12:14Chamber Dirtying Observation
  36. 12:25Smashed Shell
  37. 12:57Bolt Action .410 AR Summary
  38. 13:16Extractor Fix Confirmed
  39. 13:22Overall Gun Performance Assessment
  40. 13:31Comparison to Bear Creek Videos
  41. 13:49BPS Red Slugs Testing
  42. 14:06Accuracy at 20 Yards
  43. 15:01Accuracy Results Analysis
  44. 15:12Choke Comparison (IC vs Full)
  45. 15:23Gun Functionality Recap
  46. 15:28Decision to Return to Bear Creek
  47. 15:34Video Wrap-up & Summary
  48. 15:38Bolt Fix Effectiveness
  49. 15:51Extraction Issues with Specific Ammo
  50. 16:07Ammunition Fault vs. Gun Fault
  51. 16:13Recommended Ammunition Brands
  52. 16:22Reloading Considerations
  53. 16:32Final Decision: Return to Manufacturer
  54. 16:53Magazine Fault Potential
  55. 17:015-Round Magazine Recommendation
  56. 17:10Magazine Availability Issue
  57. 17:17Conclusion & Thanks
  58. 17:362A Support & Closing Remarks

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the main reliability issues encountered with the Bear Creek Arsenal .410 AR upper?

The primary issues were consistent failures to eject spent shells and failures to pick up new rounds from the magazine. The firearm also experienced difficulties chambering some ammunition types and had tight magazine fitment, leading to overall poor cycling performance.

Did the fix for the bolt extractor on the Bear Creek .410 AR upper work?

Yes, the fix involving adding an O-ring to the bolt's extractor was successful. This improved the extractor's ability to engage the rim of the casing, and the presenter noted that the extractor functioned as it should have for most rounds.

What ammunition types caused problems with the Bear Creek .410 AR upper?

Lighter loads like American Tactical Triple B Buckshot were not hot enough to cycle the bolt. Additionally, reloaded ammunition with poorly crimped cases or cases that fire-formed and bulged (like BPS slugs in Fiocchi hulls) caused extraction failures and chambering issues.

Are 10-round magazines recommended for the Bear Creek Arsenal .410 AR upper?

No, Bear Creek Arsenal recommends using their 5-round magazines for the .410 AR upper. The presenter experienced feeding issues with 10-round magazines, suggesting they may contribute to reliability problems.

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