Bear Creek Arsenal BC-201 Review: A 10/22 Competitor?

Over the last several years, I’ve become increasingly interested in rimfire firearms, with the Ruger 10/22 being one of my favorites. So when I saw the Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA) BC-201 at SHOT Show earlier this year, I was instantly intrigued. 

BCA rolled out its first 201 model with much of what you’d expect from a higher-tier 10/22 model. In fact, it even comes with a 10-round Ruger BX magazine and a BX trigger group.

With an MSRP of just under $350, you may wonder what the catch is. Today, we’ll examine all the fine details of the BC-201 to see if it’s a great alternative to the 10/22 or an expensive paperweight. 

Features & Specs

BCA did a nice job adding several upgrades that many would choose to add anyway. In addition, the rifle is compatible with many aftermarket Ruger components and magazines, so you’ll have many options to customize further if you’d like.

At the heart of the rifle, you’ll find a Ruger BX-Trigger group. With an extended mag release, a cross-bolt safety, and a serrated aluminum trigger, it’s hard to complain. The trigger pull is extremely light and consistent, so shooting it is enjoyable.

Looking above the trigger group, you will see a nice-sized Picatinny rail that can fit most of your favorite scopes or LPVOs. I threw a Primary Arms LPVO on it with no problem and had plenty of room to move it forward or backward.]

Once you have your chosen optic mounted and are ready to hit the range, the 416R stainless steel match grade barrel will supply all the potential accuracy you’ll need. With an 11-degree target crown, you won’t be able to blame the gun if you have poor groupings!

A classic over-molded Hogue stock pulls all the components together and offers a very comfortable package. It’s ergonomic, offers a substantial amount of grip, and is weather-resistant.

Caliber	.22 Long Rifle
Capacity	10 Rounds
Barrel Length	16 Inches
Twist	1:16
Barrel Material	416R Stainless Steel
Weight	6.5 Pounds

Range Report

My first outing with the BC-201 was a rough one. For every 10-round magazine I shot, I’d have 4-5 failures to feed, mostly with hollow points (36-grain Winchester CPHP) but some others. After a few frustrating magazines, I gave up and contacted BCA. 

The team quickly got back to me and suggested I apply some additional oil. So before the next range day, I did just that…and barely saw any failure to feeds. There was still an occasional here and there, but nothing like the first trip. 

After several more magazines, the malfunctions became few and far between, so there must have been a break-in period. In short, if you do grab one of these, make sure to oil it up and give it several magazines at least before jumping to conclusions.

While I have only had the chance to shoot it within 50 yards so far, the groupings have consistently been able to place inside of a poker chip. I know that’s not “precision” standards, but I also have been shooting without a bipod or rest, using whatever ammo I have on hand.

Pros & Cons

Pros: 

• Ergonomic Hogue stock 
• Plenty of Picatinny space
• Stainless steel match grade barrel
• Comes with a Ruger BX Trigger Group and Ruger magazine

Cons:

• No threaded barrel option
• Length of pull seems short (for me)
• Break-in period

Parting Shots

At the end of the day, I see a ton of potential for the BC-201. With the upgrades included at the price point, it’s hard to find much to complain about.

Aside from the rocky break-in period, this rifle has been a blast to shoot and provides enough accuracy for my use cases. I’m looking forward to putting more rounds down range with it and hope to see a breakdown model hit the market eventually. 

As always, stay safe, train hard, and have fun.