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Posted: 6/21/2025 4:58:57 AM EDT
| I keep thinking about picking one up just for fun. Has it been reliable? |
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I won't buy anything from Bear Creek in any experimental or non-standard configuration...especially 7.62x39...double especially a 4.5" 7.62x39... I have one BCA 5.56 barrel that shoots well that I kept for a cheap beater. They seemed to have mostly figured out 5.56...mostly. Their other calibers, chamberings, BCGs, or configurations in my experience have been somewhere between a hassle and hot garbage. Getting a BCA .223 Wylde 10.5" and 7.5" to run and extract was a hassle. The BCA 7.62x39 barrel was hot garbage and the BCG was the worst travesty to the eyes and offense to machining I have ever seen. Firing pin was wrong. Chamber was rough. Throat was tight. Feed ramps were chipped. The extractor was a ground down 5.56 extractor and broke before completing the first magazine. The carrier looked like it was dragged down ten miles of bad road before they nitrided it. And I won't even discuss the BCA 9mm PCC barrel until I take my blood pressure meds. I haven't bought BCA since. For me 20% success rate out of 5 BCA configurations does not equal reliability in the slightest. On the other hand, I still had a bunch of x39 mags and ammo. So I picked up a 10" Diamondback 7.62x39 barrel for $40 on black friday (figuring I wouldn't be out a ton of money if it sucked) and an AIM surplus 7.62x39 bolt with enhanced firing pin. I expected to have problems based on my previous experiences with affordable parts. But, to my surprise, the Diamondback barrel has been running like a top. So it is entirely possible for budget brands to make functional stuff, I just don't think BCA is one of those brands. |
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Originally Posted By Rkangel777: I won't buy anything from Bear Creek I second this from the issues I had with a 10.5, 7.62. And what really got me bent out of shape is that their communication is zero; won't answer the phone, call you back, reply to an email, etc. The end... |
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Of course I have to be the contrary one in this. I've had nothing but success with BCA. I have three uppers from them and all are good shooters and function flawlessly. The 20" 6.5 Grendel upper I bought shoots ragged holes at 100 yards with factory Hornady Black ammo. The 18" 223 Wylde is the same with my handloads shooting 69 grainers I bought from RMR. The 16" in 350 legend is MOA all day with 150 grain X-Treme tips. No, I wouldn't take them into battle, but for what I do, they're perfectly fine. My son-in-law built a 16" in 350 Legend because he liked mine so much. When he got his BCA upper, it wouldn't extract (had to mortar it to get the cartridge out). He called BCA, they answered the phone and got everything taken care of. He sent the upper back, they sent him a new one and it's been perfectly fine. In fact, he used it to take a nice 10-point last year. My take is this, if you buy from them with the expectation you might have issues and might have to go through the hassle of returning something for replacement, then you shouldn't have a problem. I've heard stories online about issues with their customer service, but I have never had to call them or contact them. My son-in-law did, as mentioned and it was taken care of. I personally know at least four other individuals at my gun club who had issues and all had no problems getting them taken care of. So yes, five total people is a small sample size, so take it for what it's worth. Unless I have serious problems with them in the future, I have no problems buying uppers from them for builds. The prices can't be beat, especially for fun range toys and tinkering. Now, if you want a battle hardened, trust your life to it build, then by all means, buy better quality stuff better suited for such. As for 7.62x39, many years ago I had a Colt AR-15 I bought when they made their first run in that caliber. I had a lot of issues with it and it wouldn't hit the broadside of a barn. I sold it and moved on. I have one SKS left and that's the only 7.62x39 firearm I now own. It works, it was cheap. When I was stationed in Texas some years ago I was picking them up for $99 each (Norinco Chicoms). I bought 6 or 7 of them and played around with them. Eventually kept the best running and shooting of the bunch and sold the others (had I not been so young and dumb at the time, I would have splurged and paid the $159 the Russian ones were going for!). Had an AK at one point that I bought at a gun show, but had to send it back because the ATF got involved (it's a long story for another day). I never got that gun or my money back, but whatever. With the prices today for AK's, I just don't even bother anymore, but who knows, maybe once I get over my AR kick, I might pick one up. Anyway, I don't really pay a great deal of attention to anything in 7.62x39, but one thing I do notice, generally speaking, is that cartridge in the AR platform seems to be cantankerous for some reason. Nearly every AR forum I've ever read always has a lot of people having issues with it. I don't know if it's due to the shape of the case, or what the issue is, but I'm sure there are also plenty out there that run fine. Personally, I don't feel that cartridge offers something so spectacular to warrant having to go through the ringer to get it work, other than to have an AR chambered in a commie cartridge. |
| I’ve considered a 7.62x39 upper from them as a beater since they are so cheap, but I don’t want a 4.5” upper in anything other than maybe .22 or 9mm. No rifle caliber barrel less than 10.5” other than .300BO. |
-"The truth does not require your belief in it to function."
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-Genuine science is about gathering evidence and testing the veracity of theories, not cheerleading for a particular ideology.
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Originally Posted By backbencher: 2) 7.62x39mm AR bolts are a wear item. Get a spare. Definitely a wear item in 7.62x39 but I would still suggest getting better quality than BCA. 20 rounds between breakage isn't normal wear even for 7.62x39. With as thin as the bolt face and lugs need to be made to accommodate the larger case I wouldn't recommend this at the place to save money. |
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Originally Posted By Rkangel777: Definitely a wear item in 7.62x39 but I would still suggest getting better quality than BCA. 20 rounds between breakage isn't normal wear even for 7.62x39. With as thin as the bolt face and lugs need to be made to accommodate the larger case I wouldn't recommend this at the place to save money. 20 rounds before a bolt breaks? What are you talking about about? I already have several near creek uppers and I love them. I have had zero problems. |
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Originally Posted By EDL: Of course I have to be the contrary one in this. I've had nothing but success with BCA. I have three uppers from them and all are good shooters and function flawlessly. The 20" 6.5 Grendel upper I bought shoots ragged holes at 100 yards with factory Hornady Black ammo. The 18" 223 Wylde is the same with my handloads shooting 69 grainers I bought from RMR. The 16" in 350 legend is MOA all day with 150 grain X-Treme tips. No, I wouldn't take them into battle, but for what I do, they're perfectly fine. My son-in-law built a 16" in 350 Legend because he liked mine so much. When he got his BCA upper, it wouldn't extract (had to mortar it to get the cartridge out). He called BCA, they answered the phone and got everything taken care of. He sent the upper back, they sent him a new one and it's been perfectly fine. In fact, he used it to take a nice 10-point last year. My take is this, if you buy from them with the expectation you might have issues and might have to go through the hassle of returning something for replacement, then you shouldn't have a problem. I've heard stories online about issues with their customer service, but I have never had to call them or contact them. My son-in-law did, as mentioned and it was taken care of. I personally know at least four other individuals at my gun club who had issues and all had no problems getting them taken care of. So yes, five total people is a small sample size, so take it for what it's worth. Unless I have serious problems with them in the future, I have no problems buying uppers from them for builds. The prices can't be beat, especially for fun range toys and tinkering. Now, if you want a battle hardened, trust your life to it build, then by all means, buy better quality stuff better suited for such. As for 7.62x39, many years ago I had a Colt AR-15 I bought when they made their first run in that caliber. I had a lot of issues with it and it wouldn't hit the broadside of a barn. I sold it and moved on. I have one SKS left and that's the only 7.62x39 firearm I now own. It works, it was cheap. When I was stationed in Texas some years ago I was picking them up for $99 each (Norinco Chicoms). I bought 6 or 7 of them and played around with them. Eventually kept the best running and shooting of the bunch and sold the others (had I not been so young and dumb at the time, I would have splurged and paid the $159 the Russian ones were going for!). Had an AK at one point that I bought at a gun show, but had to send it back because the ATF got involved (it's a long story for another day). I never got that gun or my money back, but whatever. With the prices today for AK's, I just don't even bother anymore, but who knows, maybe once I get over my AR kick, I might pick one up. Anyway, I don't really pay a great deal of attention to anything in 7.62x39, but one thing I do notice, generally speaking, is that cartridge in the AR platform seems to be cantankerous for some reason. Nearly every AR forum I've ever read always has a lot of people having issues with it. I don't know if it's due to the shape of the case, or what the issue is, but I'm sure there are also plenty out there that run fine. Personally, I don't feel that cartridge offers something so spectacular to warrant having to go through the ringer to get it work, other than to have an AR chambered in a commie cartridge. Yeah, I've had great luck with numerous BCA uppers in 223 Wylde and 7.62x39. I came here to ask specifically about the 4.5" because I wondered if they had got the gas port size right, then everybody piles in to trash BCA. I can tell you I've had worse luck with arfcoms darling PSA. I've had a CHF barrel from PSA with to small of a gas port do it was non functional and their customer service refused to do anything and I had to drill it my self. |
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Originally Posted By AASG: 20 rounds before a bolt breaks? What are you talking about about? I already have several near creek uppers and I love them. I have had zero problems. First 7.62X39 BCA bolt broke within the first magazine at the 20 round mark. The extractor broke on their replacement bolt after only a few magazines. Their enhanced firing also wasn't the correct spec, resulting in numerous light primer strikes. I replaced the bolt with an RTB bolt and a Black Rifle Arms firing pin. Have not had problems since, and quality is 1000% better. I will never buy or trust my life to BCA bolts BCGs or firing pins (and probably most of their barrels in any other caliber but 5.56) ever again. |
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Originally Posted By Rkangel777: First 7.62X39 BCA bolt broke within the first magazine at the 20 round mark. The extractor broke on their replacement bolt after only a few magazines. Their enhanced firing also wasn't the correct spec, resulting in numerous light primer strikes. I replaced the bolt with an RTB bolt and a Black Rifle Arms firing pin. Have not had problems since, and quality is 1000% better. I will never buy or trust my life to BCA bolts BCGs or firing pins (and probably most of their barrels in any other caliber but 5.56) ever again. How long ago was that? |
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Originally Posted By AASG: How long ago was that? 2023. Also went to a gun show in March this year. There was a BCA dealer there with new bcgs that looked exactly the same as what I experienced, dented and chewed up looking carriers and ground extractors that looked to be a 5.56 part modified to fit 7.62x39. Which is exactly why and where my BCA extractors broke. Can BCA make a good product? Sure. I have one 10.5" 5.56 barrel that I have kept which has been reliable and accurate. Are their good products intentional or accidental? That's where I'm not so sure. |
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I've used many BCA uppers great deal the only one thats ever been an issues is a 10.5 in 7.62x39 gas port was too small opened it up and added adjustable gas block and its 100% now, their 7.5" 7.62x39 ran GREAT outa the box..... have used alot of their uppers because I like the gen 2 side chargers I have not tried their 4.5" in .300 or 7.62x39 BUT I did build my own 5" 300 blk before they ever came out with their 4.5" it has been totally reliable since day 1 and is my primary bump in the night gun after I learned that Sig also did the rattler in 7.62x39 for a US Army contract I also did a 5" 7.62x39 twin to my 300 and its been just as reliable only using A2 flash hiders on both as with most of my ARs as the A2 just works and is bout as short as it gets in a FH, neither gun produces exuberant muzzle flash other than every now and then a round will light up the night (I live in the desert, do alot of night shooting under nods or weapons lights) and no I don't need any doubled up ear pro etc..... my 10.3" 5.56 is MUCH louder and way more muzzle flash than the 7.62x39 ever has been I've since built quite a few 5" 7.62s and 300 blk for friends before BCA came out with their 4.5" they'd order either a complete side charger upper on sale then I'd swap out the barrel gas tube and forend or they'd get a striped side charger when available..... have never broken a 7.62x39 BCA bolt so far and have quite a few of them as spares because tome of the BCA uppers friends would buy were 7.62x39 on sale at lowest price and I'd just swap them for a 5.56 bolt as I've got a bunch I got on a sale years ago..... so if one ever does break I have spares but so far zero issues outa the 5" 7.62x39 pistols the magazines can be finicky I've had best reliability with ASC 7.62x39 mags myself ETA,  20 rounds between 7.62x39 bolts??? Ya needa change something I've got a BCA 7.5" upper with well north of 3K rounds on it and still running the same bolt and extractor! I originally started doing 7.62x39 ARs because I got cought flat footed when covid hit I had 30K rounds of 7.62x39 going back to chicom corrosive stuff as AKs and VZ58s were always my prefered... I only had a few thousand rounds of 5.56 so hadda ration it out as I shoot ALOT.. so I built 7.62x39 versions of my 5.56 guns ...... that 7.5" was the stand in for my 7.5" .300 blk which I had very little ammo for at the time and its taken A LOT of rounds of wolf as well as helping reduce the old norinco ammo supply which I'm replacing with AAC steel case 7.62x39 its never once even jammed on meBTW; Shorty .300 blk and 7.62x39 isn't exactly experimental Sig did the rattler in both in 2017..... its turned out to be a pretty reliable system in pretty wide use many of us that couldn't see spending $4K on a micro .300 blk built our own based on AR recievers |
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I’ve had a few BCA uppers. They weren’t assembled properly but the parts weren’t THAT bad. After I reassembled them I had no reliability issues and accuracy pretty damn decent honestly. 5.56, x39 and .450 Bushmaster. I only have the 5.56 left but not because I didn’t like them I just don’t have any real use for 450 and decided to put all my x39 ammo going forward through my AK. |
R.I.P. Beau 8-17-2022
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| BTW If ya want some truly impressive muzzle flashes... nearly biblical... leave the factory BCA "Flash hider" on the barrel lol.... if ya are into more descreat go A2 or muzzle device of your preference EVERY BCA upper I've fired except the .22lr that had that twisted port FH on it was good for big flash |
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Originally Posted By Rkangel777: I won't buy anything from Bear Creek in any experimental or non-standard configuration...especially 7.62x39...double especially a 4.5" 7.62x39... I have one BCA 5.56 barrel that shoots well that I kept for a cheap beater. They seemed to have mostly figured out 5.56...mostly. Their other calibers, chamberings, BCGs, or configurations in my experience have been somewhere between a hassle and hot garbage. Getting a BCA .223 Wylde 10.5" and 7.5" to run and extract was a hassle. The BCA 7.62x39 barrel was hot garbage and the BCG was the worst travesty to the eyes and offense to machining I have ever seen. Firing pin was wrong. Chamber was rough. Throat was tight. Feed ramps were chipped. The extractor was a ground down 5.56 extractor and broke before completing the first magazine. The carrier looked like it was dragged down ten miles of bad road before they nitrided it. And I won't even discuss the BCA 9mm PCC barrel until I take my blood pressure meds. I haven't bought BCA since. For me 20% success rate out of 5 BCA configurations does not equal reliability in the slightest. On the other hand, I still had a bunch of x39 mags and ammo. So I picked up a 10" Diamondback 7.62x39 barrel for $40 on black friday (figuring I wouldn't be out a ton of money if it sucked) and an AIM surplus 7.62x39 bolt with enhanced firing pin. I expected to have problems based on my previous experiences with affordable parts. But, to my surprise, the Diamondback barrel has been running like a top. So it is entirely possible for budget brands to make functional stuff, I just don't think BCA is one of those brands. What did you have to do to get the BCA .223 Wylde 10.5" and 7.5" to run and extract? |
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Originally Posted By mech-monsoon: I've used many BCA uppers great deal the only one thats ever been an issues is a 10.5 in 7.62x39 gas port was too small opened it up and added adjustable gas block and its 100% now, their 7.5" 7.62x39 ran GREAT outa the box..... have used alot of their uppers because I like the gen 2 side chargers I have not tried their 4.5" in .300 or 7.62x39 BUT I did build my own 5" 300 blk before they ever came out with their 4.5" it has been totally reliable since day 1 and is my primary bump in the night gun after I learned that Sig also did the rattler in 7.62x39 for a US Army contract I also did a 5" 7.62x39 twin to my 300 and its been just as reliable only using A2 flash hiders on both as with most of my ARs as the A2 just works and is bout as short as it gets in a FH, neither gun produces exuberant muzzle flash other than every now and then a round will light up the night (I live in the desert, do alot of night shooting under nods or weapons lights) and no I don't need any doubled up ear pro etc..... my 10.3" 5.56 is MUCH louder and way more muzzle flash than the 7.62x39 ever has been I've since built quite a few 5" 7.62s and 300 blk for friends before BCA came out with their 4.5" they'd order either a complete side charger upper on sale then I'd swap out the barrel gas tube and forend or they'd get a striped side charger when available..... have never broken a 7.62x39 BCA bolt so far and have quite a few of them as spares because tome of the BCA uppers friends would buy were 7.62x39 on sale at lowest price and I'd just swap them for a 5.56 bolt as I've got a bunch I got on a sale years ago..... so if one ever does break I have spares but so far zero issues outa the 5" 7.62x39 pistols the magazines can be finicky I've had best reliability with ASC 7.62x39 mags myself ETA, 20 rounds between 7.62x39 bolts??? Ya needa change something I've got a BCA 7.5" upper with well north of 3K rounds on it and still running the same bolt and extractor! I originally started doing 7.62x39 ARs because I got cought flat footed when covid hit I had 30K rounds of 7.62x39 going back to chicom corrosive stuff as AKs and VZ58s were always my prefered... I only had a few thousand rounds of 5.56 so hadda ration it out as I shoot ALOT.. so I built 7.62x39 versions of my 5.56 guns ...... that 7.5" was the stand in for my 7.5" .300 blk which I had very little ammo for at the time and its taken A LOT of rounds of wolf as well as helping reduce the old norinco ammo supply which I'm replacing with AAC steel case 7.62x39 its never once even jammed on meBTW; Shorty .300 blk and 7.62x39 isn't exactly experimental Sig did the rattler in both in 2017..... its turned out to be a pretty reliable system in pretty wide use many of us that couldn't see spending $4K on a micro .300 blk built our own based on AR recievers @mech-monsoon Where did you get 5" barrels? You say you converted some BCA 7.62x39 uppers to 5.56. did you notice that their 7.62x39 uppers and barrels have bigger feed ramps than M4? How'd that work? |
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gorrilla machining... https://www.gorillamachining.com/Gorilla-Machining-AR-15-5-Micro-762x39-Stainless-Steel-Barrel-Micro-Gas-System-110-5R-Kit-_p_903.html they have black nitride https://www.gorillamachining.com/gorilla-machining-ar-15-5-762x39-110-saami-barrel-micro-gas-system-5r-kit-black-nitride I've never had a bad experience with the GM barrels but for those who don't wanna deal with them... a simple google search turns up ALOT of other options... like I said before the shorty .300 blk and 7.62x39 is not anything new been a thing since 2015-17 time frame.... I've been a gunsmith for 4 decades so the first 2 I did I just turned down existing barrels then threaded em on centers to be 110% sure threads were concentric with the bore https://pro2a-tactical.com/tactical-kinetics-5-inch-762-39-barrel.html KAK https://kakindustry.com/4-75-inch-7-62x39-melonite-barrel whole upper at optics planet https://www.opticsplanet.com/tacfire-bu762395-7-62x39mm-5-black-nitride-barrel.html optics planet barrel .300 blk https://www.opticsplanet.com/tiger-rock-ar-15-300-black-aac-5in-pistol-length-1-7-twist-barrel.html optics planet barrel 7.62x39 https://www.opticsplanet.com/tiger-rock-ar-47-7-62x39-5in-micro-pistol-1-10-twist-pistol-barrel.html as far as feed ramps ya simply open them up a little mostly taking the hump down in the center, but usually the side charger uppers that are in stock are usually the 7.62x39 if ya check BCA bare recievers.... I've also turned down 2 barrels that started out as 16" on my lathe its a pretty simple conversion the GM barrels are really nice though and a time saver, they also come with the gas tube and low pro gas block but I replace the GB with an adjustable one was going to add that https://www.schuylerarmsco.com/ had some 5" barrels but they are no longer listed, I used several of the Areo precision .300 blk barrels they were listed at $99 ETA the anodizing on feed ramps dosn't usually last very long ya won't notice any difference in wear ETA2; Just got home from work and was able to read better.... the larger feed ramps have no effect on 5.56 or .300 blk at all, if you use a 5.56 ya needa open up the feed ramps a small amount... its totall un noticeable going to a smaller cartridge, |
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that optics planet barrel is such a good deal........... just ordered one of each .300 blk and 7.62x39 now needa fire up the mill and cut 2 more lowers! DAMN it! its a disability I tell ya! I oughta be gettin a .gov check for this illness its debilitating it is! ya'll done caused me to have to build yet another 2 shorty ARs which means gotta order a couple more PDW collapsible braces cause they just only look right with the PDW brace............... If ya'll wouldn'tv cause me to have to go do a google search for barrels I'd never seen the Tiger rock barrels and I like them better than the GM barrels but they never had the 5" ones before................ also found Bear creek has 6" 7.62x39 barrels for $39 if anyones intrested........... https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/calibers/7-62x39/7-62x39-barrels/6.html |
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Originally Posted By RoadShow: I second this from the issues I had with a 10.5, 7.62. And what really got me bent out of shape is that their communication is zero; won't answer the phone, call you back, reply to an email, etc. The end... Third fourth and fifth on that, RTB is decent if you are looking for cheap, or of course PSA. |
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