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Bear Creek Arsenal
buddyb
Member Posts: 5,365 ✭✭✭✭
Anyone had experience with their products? They seem to have good prices. I have a new PSA AR 10 lower on the way and if I knew Bear Creek upper was compatible with the PSA lower thats the way I would go.
Comments
I had one of their 450 Bushmaster uppers. For the price I couldn't have been more pleased it was very accurate when I downsized it was one of them that was hard to let go.
Not sure on the compatibility for the AR-10 side (since they can be funny), but I mated a PSA AR-15 lower with a Bear Creek .350 Legend upper, and it is perfect. Very pleased. Great value.
I have tried a number of BCA uppers in cals from 450 to 5.56 and they all worked perfectly out of the box. Had a 350 legend that shot sub MOA. I recommend them. They also offer a Mil discount.
I remember hearing they were crap a few years ago. Now I can be wong since there were so many AR companies tokeep track or had similar names.
Now doesn't PSA make uppers or are they out? I'd look at Aero or maybe Juggernaut Tactical. I'd also look in to piece mealing one together.
I bought a 350 Legend from them, works great and dead on accurate
Three or four years back, I bought a 6.5 Grendel upper from BCA. Wouldn't work consistently. Nothing I tried made it better but I finally discovered the problem and returned the upper. They 'fixed' it and returned but the 'fix' only lasted 5-6 shots. I 'FIXED' it and put it on a shelf awaiting a need which hasn't arisen.
Later, I foolishly bought one of their 'ELD' barrels. The crown had burrs that would snag a patch during cleaning. I sent that one back for a refund which they grudgingly offered.
I'll only buy parts which don't affect function or performance (stocks/handguards/external stuff) from BCA and even that very seldom.🤔
I've heard the PSA AR-10 are not compatible with most other Uppers so make sure before buying from BCA, I have a BCA upper side charging 7.62 x 39 on a 80percent AR15 lower and it works fine, was low priced and seems to be good quality. But I haven't put too many shots through it.
I'm no authority but aren't these manufacturers all mil-spec?? If mil-spec wont they interchange??
Most AR15 are Mil_Spec.AR10 is not.
Another reason to buy upper and lower from the same company or make doubly sure they're DPMS "compatible". If yo went that route.
I've BCA ar15 uppers in .223, 5.56, 350 legend, 7.62x39[2], all on psa lowers. all work just fine. i only shoot brass {Belom] 7.62x39. won't touch the steel case stuff. i also have a bca 10, 308 coupled withA products a psa lower, of the DPMS origin. and like yoshmyster said, not all 308s are compatible. i'm really looking hard at some new offerings on the bca lineup. 300winmag[drool drool] 6.5 creedmore, and 22-.250. I've full faith in BCA products for the average shooter.
". i only shoot brass {Belom] 7.62x39. won't touch the steel case stuff."
It's highly unlikely that steel case 7.62x39 will cause any harm to an AR. Possibly after 'long term' high volume use, there could be extractor issues but that would be far down the road.
I always thought ARs being built on close tolerance needs to be clean otherwise things break. Unlike AKs with built in slop can deal with gunk build up. So 7.62x39 in steelies and "sealers" in ARs need frequent cleanings. At least a spray down with Brake Cleen. Also it's a good thing to have spare bits and a bolt on hand.
Now the .300 Win Mag in AR10 Sounds cool (Omen comes to mind) but it sounds like a punishment. What was I reading about. Something about weight of gun to "boom" equalizing felt recoil. The Omen weighing in about 10/11 pounds does not sound fun.
"Unlike AKs with built in slop can deal with gunk build up. So 7.62x39 in steelies and "sealers" in ARs need frequent cleanings. At least a spray down with Brake Cleen. Also it's a good thing to have spare bits and a bolt on hand."
I've been shooting 7.62x39 AR's for several years and haven't found this necessary. I'm not a high volume, mag dumper type of shooter so maybe this would make a difference. My primary hunting use ammo for 7.62x39 is Hornady steel case SST and I'm fairly sure the only cleaning has been a bore snake with a spritz of CLP after season before storage.
Mobuck - When I hear Steel Case I think not American, dirty and breaking extractors. But that's just me.
I have no idea where Hornady sources their steel cases.
'Breaking extractors' isn't likely with 7.62x39 due to the tapered case. One of my chore gun AR's is a 5.45x39 loaded with Hornady steel case V-Max ammo. It gets a BoreSnake treatment 3-4 times a year and is fine. Another tapered steel case that isn't affected by the same issues as .223 steel case ammo.
I've been eyeing the 30-06 version