Gunner Quinn
The popularity of Ruger’s semi-automatic 10/22 rimfire rifles and carbines has been fueling third-party accessory production for many years now. It’s also inspired other gunmakers to try their hand at offering their interpretation of this rugged, reliable and modular platform. That’s why it wasn’t exactly earth-shattering news to find out at the 2024 SHOT Show that Bear Creek Arsenal, better known for its budget-priced ARs, was launching its own 10/22 clone.
The first carbine out of Bear Creek’s doors would be the model BC-201 chambered in .22 LR. But it was the model BC-202 that caught my eye. Available midyear 2024, this version is based on the elusive semi-automatic Ruger 10/22 Magnum. Chambered in .22 WMR, or .22 Mag., this version of the 10/22 was only in production from 1998 to 2006 before being dropped from Ruger’s catalog. This discontinuation was a disappointment to those of us who are fans of both the cartridge and the platform, which make for a handy combination in the field. This is why I jumped at the chance to work with the BC-202 to see how it would perform.
As part of the Bear Creek BC-200 series, the BC-202 is a fixed barrel, blow-back operated rimfire semi-automatic. At first glance, this gun looks like a factory 10/22. This is because the Magnum models kept many of the same external dimensions and components as their .22 LR compatriots. This means that the BC-202 carbine is compatible with most of the stocks and trigger groups currently available for the 10/22 platform.
Rather than reinventing the wheel, Bear Creek configured its version to accept Ruger’s patented in-house, nine-round detachable 10/22 Magnum magazines. Ruger’s rotary feeding system has a longstanding reputation for reliable operation. One of these magazines, which also fits the Ruger bolt-action 77/22 models, is provided with this carbine.
The free-floated 16″ long, match-grade, 0.920” diameter barrel is made from 416R stainless steel. This particular gun is among the first 200 units made. At that time, the company offered both threaded and non-threaded barrels with this being one of the latter models. If you look at the web listings today, the current production BC-202 options are listed with a muzzle threaded at 5/8×24 TPI with a knurled thread protector provided.
The 10/22-pattern receiver is milled from a billet of 7075-T6 aluminum and treated with a matte black, hard-coat anodized finish. It features an integral 5.5″ long Picatinny optics rail. The high-performance bolt assembly is fitted with an enhanced, patented and removable bolt handle. This straight-profile handle, which is secured by a single hex-head bolt, is intended to contribute to faster and easier manual bolt operations.
The layout of the BC-202’s controls will be utterly familiar to those who are fans of the 10/22. The reciprocating charging handle is located in the right-side ejection port. The remaining controls, including the magazine release, bolt stop, safety and trigger are all incorporated into the polymer trigger housing with its integral rounded trigger guard. The push-button magazine release has been replaced with an extended lever, which is pressed forward in order to drop the flush-fit magazine. The bolt hold-open lever is located just behind the magazine release. The crossbolt safety button is pressed to the right to set it into the Safe position and to the left, exposing a red ring, into the Fire position.
The curved trigger is molded from red polymer with a lightly grooved face. The typical factory-installed 10/22 trigger pull-weight should land somewhere in the 5- to 6-lb. range, but several aftermarket triggers are available that improve on the weight and the quality of the pull. In this case, the BC-202’s single-stage trigger exhibited a 0.25″ arch of travel and a clean break requiring just 2 lbs., 7 ozs. of force. In other words, a match-grade trigger is included with this gun’s package of features.
With a wide variety of 10/22 compatible stocks to choose from, Bear Creek opted for the top-notch Hogue stocks in black and the “ghillie green” swirled color version shown here. These stocks are overmolded with Hogue’s signature soft rubber with molded-in pebble texturing adorning the sides of the fore-end and grip. Commonly found on this company’s handgun grips, this texturing in conjunction with this material is effective, non-abrasive and enjoyable to use in a variety of weather conditions. Other features include front and rear sling swivel studs, a soft black rubber recoil pad and a 13.75″ length of pull (LOP).
Bear Creek’s offerings consist primarily of budget-priced AR-pattern rifles and carbines. However, the BC-202 does not look or behave like a cheap .22. It’s well made and properly fitted throughout. The Hogue stock is a pleasure to use and sized to accommodate most people. Sporting a solid stainless-steel bull barrel, the carbine sent for this evaluation tipped the scales at 6 lbs.. 2.7 ozs. with the empty magazine installed. For the informal and formal range testing, the carbine was topped off with a Bushnell Rimfire 3-9X 40 mm Rifle Scope featuring a DZ22 Dropzone 22 reticle (RR3940BS4; $100) mounted using an AR style Weaver One-Piece SPR scope mount (48377; $70).
At the shooting range the BC-202 proved to be a reliable operator with the provided Ruger magazine. There was a singular failure to feed within the first nine rounds fired. After that, there were no more malfunctions of any kind with any of the ammunition tested. Formal accuracy testing consisted of five, five-shot groups fired at 50 yards using CCI A22, Federal Champion and Remington Premium Magnum loads. Bullet velocities were measured for 10-shot strings using a LabRadar LX chronograph:
The Bear Creek Arsenal’s .22 WMR BC-202 proved to be a handy, reliable and capable stand in for Ruger’s discontinued 10/22 Magnum carbine. In fact, Bear Creek improves upon the design with desirable upgrades including the match-grade bull barrel, a nicely tuned trigger and the comfortable-to-use overmolded stock. Although some groups were just over an inch, the majority were sub-m.o.a. with the best single group of 0.60″ fired using CCI’s A22 load. I have no doubt that, with a bit more testing, that elusive half-inch or smaller group is well within reach. It’s certainly an endeavor I would enjoy pursuing with this particular member of the BC-200 series of semi-automatics.
Bear Creek Arsenal BC-202 Specifications
Manufacturer: Bear Creek Arsenal
Model: BC-202
Action Type: blowback-operated, semi-automatic, rimfire rifle
Chambering: .22 WMR
Barrel: 16″ 416R stainless steel; 0.920″ bull barrel
Receiver: 7075-T6 aluminum billet; CNC-machined; matte-black hard-coat anodized finish
Magazine: Ruger nine-round rotary
Sights: none, Picatinny rail
Trigger: 10/22-pattern; red polymer trigger; 2-lb., 7-oz. pull
Drop at Comb: 1.25″
Drop at Heel: 1.50″
Overall Length: 34.625″ as configured
Weight: 6-lbs. 2.7-oz. with empty magazine
Accessories: owner’s manual, one magazine, lock
MSRP: $495 (threaded barrel)
Read the full article here