Bear Creek Arsenal is known for making some of the most affordable firearms on the market. They primarily produce AR-15s, but they’ve dabbled in the Glock Gen 3 platform a few times. They’ve also dabbled into “weird ARs.” This includes .410 shotgun uppers, bolt-action uppers, and things like this—the BC-9.
The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-9
The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-9 is a series of AR-type pistols and rifles that eliminate the need for a receiver extension. No receiver extension, no buffer, just a simplistic firearm. The BC-9 comes in several sizes, but as a PDW enthusiast, I went with the shortest, simplest model with a 5-inch barrel. With a five-inch barrel and a distinct lack of a receiver extension, I’ve labeled this gun the High-Tec 9.
As you’d expect, the BC-9 takes Glock magazines! Users can pick between left or right side charging handles. I went with a left-side design since it would be easier to manipulate with my non-firing hand. However, the right side design would work a lot better with folding stocks or braces since most fold to the left side.
While the gun ditches a receiver extension and uses a proprietary upper, it utilizes a standard AR-lower receiver. The big difference is an aluminum block that blocks the receiver extension and provides a 1913 rail for braces or stocks if you go with a rifle variant. The simplistic design uses fairly standard AR controls with a proprietary magazine release to accommodate the Glock magazine.
How The BC-9 Works
The BC-9 series are straight blowback firearms that use a proprietary bolt. It doesn’t look a whole lot different from a standard blowback AR-9 bolt. The front is still like the “pug” of bolt carrier groups, but the rear of the BCG has been trimmed off significantly. Up top, there is a recoil guide rod port.
The recoil guide rod connects to a recoil spring and another port in the block that attaches to the receiver extension cover of the BC-9. The system ditches the need for a receiver extension, and a straight blowback system doesn’t need anything crazy to function with your average 9mm round.
It’s simplistic enough. The gun uses a charging handle attached to the bolt, and the charging handle predictably reciprocates when the gun is fired. Additional features include a fairly short and simple M-LOK rail and a rather obnoxious and long flash hider that’s not necessary for a 9mm by any means.
The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-9 – In Hand
The BC-9 won’t blow your mind ergonomically. The AR-lower is what you expect. It features a swept-back magazine release that’s easily accessible and easy to engage with. The charging handle can present an issue when it comes to optics. We can get the old “SCAR knuckle” if you have an optic with a large bolt or QD lever hanging off the side. It’s easy to avoid these days, but it’s smart to be aware of.
The gun lacks a last-round bolt hold-open device, which slows reloads a bit. It’s like an MP5 but doesn’t cost obscene money. The BC-9 series has a bolt release, by the way, but it’s basically just for looks.
Other than that, it’s all AR. If it can work in a 9mm, blowback-operated AR, it can work in the BC-9.
To the Range
The BC-9 features a straight blowback design, typically imparting a violent recoil impulse. Surprisingly, the BC-9 handles rather well. The recoil is still a little stiff, but it’s not violent. I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth the recoil impulse feels. It’s easy to shoot and control without a brace or stock. I can shoot it in high-tech style, as if I’m a gangster in the future.
The BC-9 is easy enough to control to drive a half-dozen rounds into a target without any difficulty. Even without a brace or stock, I made fifty-yard hits with a Holosun SCRS red dot. Just put the dot on and let it rip. I was pleasantly surprised by the BC-9’s accuracy.
It’s incredibly consistent. The BC-9 can hit an 8.5×11-inch target at 100 yards without a brace or stock. Just a steady hand and the gun can put those 9mm pills right where you want them. The BC-9 can punch a nice, tight hole at 15 yards that’s just a ragged hole. Combining a comfortable recoil impulse and accurate design makes it easy to shoot straight and fast.
Ultimately, my only complaint is that the gun has a little bit of trigger slap. You hit the trigger, and it hits back. It’s not bad; it’s not like a Cobray MAC clone, but it’s noticeable. If you can get past that, the BC-9 can land plenty of accurate hits in a controllable manner. Add a stock or brace, and it’ll get even better.
The Hitch
The BC-9 is accurate, it’s reliable, it’s easy to shoot for the most part, and it’s even easy to control. Admittedly, plenty of guns fit that bill, but the BC-9 offers you all that at a low price point. The entire gun retails for less than $600. That makes it a budget-friendly PDW that’s nicer than it has any right to be. BCA has made a fairly innovative product at an excellent price point.
