Not long ago, we looked at Bear Creek Arsenal’s Bear Essential rifle and were impressed with the quality and accuracy results, even more so considering when on sale they could be had for around $290.00. It seemed when combined with a quality magazine such as a DURAMAG. The gun had none of the hiccups that ARs of this caliber are known for.
Bear Creek BC-15 7.62×39 Right Side Charging Upper Bear Claw Fluted Complete Upper
This combination features a heavy stainless barrel with spiral fluting. Results can be seen below:
The specifications below are taken directly from the product page. This is a complete upper with a charging handle and one of Bear Creek’s unique bolts.
- 16” Heavy Barrel
- 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium
- Black Nitride Finish with exposed Stainless Flutes
- Spiral Fluting
- 1:10 Twist
- 12” MLOK Rail
- 7.62×39 Caliber
- Carbine Length Gas System
- M4 Flat-Top Forged Upper Receiver
- Standard Bear Creek Arsenal Bolt Carrier Group
- Charging Handle
- Bird Cage Flash Hider
Product description from the manufacturer:
“The BCA AR-15 Bear Claw Complete Upper Assembly has a 16″ heavy barrel profile made of 416R stainless steel with a Black Nitride finish. The barrel has Bear Claw flutes and a 1:10 twist rate. The assembly includes a 12″ MLOK rail and upper receiver. This upper is chambered in 7.62X39 Caliber and machined with 300 Blackout feed ramps (both in the receiver and barrel extension).
The BCA upper assembly, like all BCA products, is subjected to numerous QA/QC checks which for our firearms and upper receiver assemblies includes test firing prior to approval and shipment. This upper assembly is also backed by our BCA limited lifetime warranty. Choose an upper assembly designed by a U.S. company made in the U.S.A. Choose right, choose accurately, and choose BCA.”
I wish I knew what magic Bear Creek is working to make these available at such prices. Out of two complete rifles and two separate uppers, the biggest flaw I’ve found yet was one gas block that needed tightening. Nothing major. Their bolts and barrels are beautiful with rich nitride color. I’d suggest just picking those up, but you’d be hard-pressed to get a bolt and barrel for less than the cost of this complete upper.
Live Inventory Price Checker
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Bear Creek Arsenal .30 Caliber PATRIOT SERIES(R) Rifle Cleaning Kit | 7.62x39/.308/.300 Win Mag | Bear Creek Arsenal | $ 22.99 $ 19.54 |
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Bear Creek 7 Tine Spear | GrabAGun | $ 89.99 |
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BC-15 | 7.62x39 Upper | 16" 416R SS Black Nitride Bear Claw Fluted Black Nitride Heavy Barrel | 1:10 Twist| Carbine Length Gas System | 11.5" MLOK | Bear Creek Arsenal | $ 260.26 |
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DKG 7.62x39 Golden Bear 123 Grain Full Metal Jacket 2401 fps 500 Rounds | GrabAGun | $ 195.99 |
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About Graham Baates
“Graham Baates” is a pen name used by a 15-year active Army veteran who spent most of his time in the tactical side of the Intelligence community, including tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Post-Army Graham spent some time in the local 3-Gun circuit before becoming a full-time NRA Certified defensive handgun instructor and now works as an industry writer while curating a YouTube channel on the side. Visit Graham on Youtube.
@Graham, nice little discount just for reading your article, again Thanks, every bit helps.
Charles,
Correct ion to my las post. I realized I WASN’T clear about where to put the silicone seal . On the rings. Probably obvious anyway ,but I’ m 74 and not quite up on social media. I still treasure my 2004 flip phone.
@Rick, I hear ya, I just got rid of my twenty year old Nokia. The only phone with a
load enough ringer I could hear with. I just got an Apple I smart phone, but I don’t think it
was to smart on my part.
@Graham Baates, what did you say the lower was? I played it back a couple times and got American something
but could not make out the second half. Can you post it? Thanks
@gcm, it’s from American Defense Manufacturing.
Thanks Graham, I appreciate it.
I have their 16″ hbar pattern 7.62x39mm with a2 front sight. I have shot every brand I can find through it, mag dump after mag dump. I have not had any issues with it. The hardest thing was finding magazines. Cproducts and acs make mags that work well.
THAT is the one thing you touched on that some folks may not be aware of. If you are using a 556 lower you cannot use a standard AK magazine, they will not fit. You have to buy aftermarket mags and many, if not most, do not have springs that are as strong as the standard AK Springs. As a consequence they don’t hold up nearly as well. Good ones are expensive and very difficult to find. The market has not caught up with this yet.
Ar stoner mags work without flaw and are affordable
I’ve had 2 cproduct mags one was crap and the others spring was to weak
Hi, Curt here, I’m wondering more about what mags you were using for this. Do standard .223 mags single stacked do the job? Or what are they? What works?
I bought a BCA upper a few years back. Out of the box I had a little trouble getting it to rack. I thought it was a machining defect of sorts, so I called BCA right away, and told them the issue I was having, and they could not have been any nicer. I gave them all my info, and they sent me a tube, and pre-paid shipping label, and I was expecting to wait a couple weeks for the return, and about the time I figured it should be getting to them, it showed up on my door step… Read more »
BCA was UNKNOWINGLY employing illegals. They were raided and the illegals were rounded up and, I believe, deported. A check by ICE of the paperwork submitted by these illegals for employment showed a multitude of forged documents. BCA hired these people in good faith and relied on the documents as proof of legal status. Hopefully, they have learned their lesson and will fully vet any future prospective employees going forward. That said, I recently (before the illegals fiasco) bought a rifle from BCA and I am pleased with it’s performance. I am looking forward to buying more arms from BCA.… Read more »
Bob needs to ease up on the water pipe. If you have a beef with BCA, call them and work it out. You can say anything in a forum like this, but you cannot prove it. For all we know, Bob is on a list that requires him to register with the local authorities his address for tracking purposes. Feels different when the shoe is on the other foot, huh Bob?
Your discriptiin and their product information differ 1/10 twist to 1/8 twist?
I assume 1/8 is correct since you mention it is right off their sheet?
No – 1:10. That’s the twist rate shown at the BCA web site product page.
Bear Creek has been known to employ illegal immigrants at sub standard pay. Sorry not buying or carrying about anything made by them.
So does gm, Ford, I make your shocks they come from Mexico we assemble them in the U.S. don’t be a dick every day take a vacation
I have a 7.62×39 barrel that I was told came from bear creek that was suppose to be a second .excellent barrel shoots tight groups at long range. Paid under 200.00 for it only issue is the scope moves forward from recoil sometimes can’t keep it tight.
Charles,
As an owner/builder of 2 ar’s I’ve had the same scope slippage when switching from 5.56 to a larger caliber. What has worked for me was removing the scope , putting on a ” VERY” thin coat of clear silicone, let it cure for a few days, reassemble and try it again.
Hopefully you will find th helpful.
I put a BCA 7.62×39 upper on a super cheap PSA lower half and had it for under $350 with FFL taxes and shipping. Had it for months and haven’t shot it. Can’t order the CPD mags in Colorado and no physical store in neighboring states has it. Looks good but my buddy bought a complete BCA and the little buffer detent pin wasn’t set all the way. Buffer needed one more turn. We fixed it but that really struck me as a QC lapse which is a shame because the parts themselves looked of decent quality. I’ll probably stick… Read more »