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Whether or not you want them or hate them, Bear Creek Arsenal is formidable with its designs. Whether or not it’s their lengthy catalog of AR uppers, full rifles, or handguns, it’s arduous to accuse them of not being attention-grabbing. When Bear Creek introduced their 201 in .22 LR, I used to be stunned at how simple the proposition was. The 201 is a heavy-barreled Ruger 10/22 clone with a Hogue over-molded inventory. I purchased one and it turned out to be a tack driver that’s dependable and user-friendly. I used to be extra involved with their proposed Bear Creek Arsenal BC-202 and 203, in .22 Magnum and .17 HMR respectively.
When Ruger up-gunned their 10/22 to .22 Magnum in 1998, the change didn’t go over properly. After an eight-year run, the mannequin was discontinued. Extra just lately, Savage, Magnum Analysis, and CZ have tried their hand at making the .22 WMR work in an autoloading platform. Now Bear Creek Arsenal is bringing again the ill-fated 10/22 Magnum in its means with the BCA Mannequin 202. As a brand new fan of the 201 and an apologist for the .22 Magnum cartridge, I gave the brand new 202 a swing. Here’s what I discovered:
The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-202: Quirks and Options
With all due respect, the BCA 201 is an overgrown 10/22 clone. The BCA 202 is identical however chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. That a lot is true for the center of the rifle–its motion. The BCA 202 incorporates a black anodized aluminum receiver, which homes a black nitrided metal bolt and a stainless-steel recoil spring and information rod meeting configured like a ten/22. The distinction is BCA’s enlarged charging deal with, which is secured to the bolt by way of a set screw, fairly than being an integral a part of the information rod meeting.
Set off Group
The set off group isn’t just like a Ruger. It’s a BX-25 set off from Ruger. It has the everyday crossbolt security and bolt maintain open in addition to an prolonged journal launch paddle. The set off on my specific BC-202 has a checkered black aluminum shoe and an adjustable overtravel cease. I by no means tinkered with the set off because it got here out of the field with a weight of three lbs. 14 oz. with the slightest little bit of mush earlier than the break.
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Inventory
The BC-202 is wedded to a ten/22 Hogue Overmolded inventory. You may have the choice of a black inventory or the Ghillie Inexperienced coloration scheme, as seen right here. However by far the extra putting function of the rifle is the barrel. The BC-202 wears a sixteen-inch 416R stainless bull barrel with an outer diameter of .920 inches, which makes the relieved .22 caliber bore look comically cool. The barrel is threaded for 1/2×28-inch muzzle equipment. It’s free-floated and wears no iron sights. Like different rifles within the BC lineup, this one wears a black anodized Picatinny rail.
Journal
The BC-202 ships with a Ruger manufacturing unit 9-round 10/22 Magnum rotary journal. Bear Creek Arsenal states that the rifle will settle for different aftermarket choices. Nonetheless, there aren’t practically as many for the Magnum as there are for a base 10/22 in .22 LR.
After plucking up a couple of further manufacturing unit magazines from my native store, I set off for the vary with a sampling of various .22 Magnum ammunition to strive. Whereas I’m no stranger to the .22 Magazine, I’m used to firing it from revolvers, lever motion, and bolt motion rifles. That is my first autoloader in that caliber and one of many few in the marketplace. I needed to surprise how properly it will work, if in any respect. In the long run, I got here away stunned, although not with out some teething points out of the gate.
BC-202 Fast Specs:
Caliber: .22 WMR Capability: 9+1 Motion: Straight blowback Receiver: 7075 T6 aluminum Barrel: 416R chrome steel; 1/2×28 TPI; 1:16 twist Barrel Size: 16 inches General Size: 34.5 inches Weight: 7.6 kilos (with optic)
Why a .22 Magnum? And Why a Semi-Auto?
Upon getting my palms on the Bear Creek Arsenal BC-202, I used to be impressed with the match and end, however I needed to surprise who requested for it. Who desires a semi-automatic rifle chambered in .22 Magnum, notably a stumpy, heavy-barreled mannequin just like the BC-202?
The BC-201 in .22 LR makes some sense for many who need a bench rifle. The heavy barrel and using a BX-25 set off is a good mixture for paper punching. Or maybe sniping out small recreation in a still-hunt setting the place that further barrel weight gained’t be a problem. The .22 LR additionally is smart as it’s the most well-liked cartridge on the market and a recognized commonplace for closer-distance goal taking pictures and a enjoyable spherical to plink with.
BC-202 Vitality and Velocity Benefits
The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire has double the vitality of the .22 LR cartridge and a velocity benefit that interprets to a flatter trajectory, much less wind drift, and a bit of additional vary. It additionally makes use of a standard jacketed bullet as a substitute of a heeled lead bullet. This could equate to extra benefits on the vary, however the Magnum isn’t any much less correct and the ammunition is extra expensive. It additionally doesn’t assist that .22 Magnum rifles are rarer birds and are normally present in bolt weapons and lever weapons.
Off the firing line and within the subject, the .22 Magnum has higher killing energy on smaller predators. That flatter trajectory helps when you can not fairly shut the space on skittish pests. However in some unspecified time in the future, the legislation of diminishing returns kicks in and also you may end up annoyed with the selection of a .22 Magnum, for the reason that cheaper .22 LR can do a lot of the identical work with out the effectiveness of centerfire .22 cartridges if you actually need the additional energy and vary. The place the Magnum does shine by is that the price of the rifles and ammunition continues to be lower than centerfire choices and there’s much less report and vary, which could be a legal responsibility in additional populated areas.
Finally, I settled on the BC-202 as a fast taking pictures possibility for these skittish pests. The .22 Magnum has ample killing energy inside 200 yards. The cartridge’s lack of recoil and report mixed with an autoloading platform, permits for lightning-fast follow-up photographs earlier than recreation hesitates or scurries from a missed shot. However for this area of interest position or every other helpful and enjoyable position to place a rimfire rifle, it has to perform.
On the Vary with the Bear Creek Arsenal BC-202
My preliminary vary session with the BC-202 was a combined bag. I arrived on the vary with a half-dozen containers of various ammunition and the rifle topped with a Sig Buckmasters 3-9×40 rifle scope. The rifle additionally had a cursory cleansing and some spritzes of Rem Oil for good luck.
I used to be decided to have the rifle zeroed at 100 yards and go for some critical accuracy. From the bench, the rifle positive gave me a few of that confidence. Regardless of its stumpy look, the BC-202 balances completely but, counterintuitively, was ever so barely muzzle-heavy for a gentle intention. I used to be not a fan of the black Hogue inventory on my 201, because it tended to stay to and present grime. The Ghillie Inexperienced inventory had no such downside. It match me like a glove and the rubber texture ensured a slip-free maintain.
Firing Failures and Frustration
Though I used to be capable of zero my rifle scope at 50 yards, I used to be too annoyed to push to 100 on account of malfunctions. I had a couple of failures to feed that bent the skinny Magnum circumstances between the bolt and barrel. After a couple of magazines, that concern went away however I used to be affected by failures to fireside. It was troublesome to get by a nine-round journal with out one or two clicks. The firing pin appeared lengthy sufficient to smack the rounds with authority, however it appeared the edges have been barely dented. However the fired circumstances confirmed the identical gentle strikes.
Dejected, I took the rifle again to the store, broke it down, and totally cleaned the barrel, chamber, and motion. I additionally broke down the bolt and inspected the firing pin. It had no defects. I started to suppose the fuel strain from the brass biking out of the motion blew the case heads out sufficient to make the firing pin dents within the rim appear shallower than they have been. After a radical cleansing and re-lube, I headed out to offer the BC-202 one other shot.
Attempting the BC-202 Once more With Success
Over the following few vary periods, I managed to get by one other two-hundred-fifty rounds. I began by re-zeroing my optic for 100 yards and going for teams. I fired a breadth of ammunition starting from CCI 30 grain TNT varmint masses to Federal Gameshock 50 grain sluggish drugs. All ammunitions hit near the identical level of intention at 100 yards, though the group sizes assorted. All issues thought-about, commonplace 40 grain loadings carried out the very best with CCI’s Gamepoint 40 grain JSP load.
All ammunitions hit near the identical level of intention at 100 yards, though the group sizes assorted. All issues thought-about, commonplace 40 grain loadings carried out the very best with CCI’s Gamepoint 40 grain JSP load. The sunshine, pointy Hornady V-Max spherical comes shut and beats the percentages as I discovered my teams persistently had extra flyers on the lighter finish of the spectrum, though extra so with the heavier Federal Punch and Gameshock masses.
Evaluation
If it was not for this particular tendency, the TNT load could be probably the most correct as I may get three photographs right into a 3/4 inch group. However probably the most constant ammunition additionally occurred to be the least dependable as I counted one other half-dozen failures to fireside utilizing the Gamepoint spherical. That is possible attributable to a foul lot of ammunition, as I had no additional points with every other ammunition. I rapidly gravitated to CCI FMJ and the Hornady load for accuracy and reliability. Each rounds cycled reliably and gave good accuracy.
Weight
At seven and a half kilos, the BC-202 is a hefty rifle for a rimfire and I wouldn’t need to take it for a daylong squirrel hunt. It’s actually able to that within the accuracy division. It’s MOA of squirrel, chipmunk, and hog with the correct load. After working by its teething points, I shot the BC-202 on and off the bench from 100-300 yards. From a supported place, whether or not from sandbags or an impromptu relaxation, the BC handles properly and balances simply ahead of the motion. The 13 1/2 inch size of pull is about up for an grownup and it simply barely matches my six-and-a-half-foot body with ease.
I fired the BC-202 unsuppressed and the .22 Magazine is loud, no less than in comparison with .22 LR. However recoil out of this stout little rifle is nonexistent and I misplaced a goal in my scope. The BX-25 set off allowed me to get quick, predictable set off presses simply in time with out being so gentle that the spherical goes off earlier than the crosshairs are strains on the aiming level. At 150 yards, hitting paper and metal was simple. These CCI FMJ rounds drop simply 4 inches at that distance and the Hornady load shaves one other inch off. However the drop begins to fall off after 175 yards. At 300 yards, I needed to intention a full 4 toes above my metal rams to get successful. At that time, the .22 Magazine is past its sensible limits and it was time to interrupt out the AR.
The BC-202: An Attention-grabbing Area of interest Choice
The .22 Magnum cartridge has loads of potential, though it sits uncomfortably between the ever-popular .22 LR and extra succesful centerfire rifle cartridges. However for many who want a bit of additional energy with out touching off a cannon on the again forty, the case for the Magnum will get a lot better. Whereas it’s simpler to discover a .22 Magnum in a bolt motion or lever motion, the case may also be made for a semi-auto while you may want quicker follow-up photographs.
Constructing a .22 Magnum semi-auto is hard as seen with the ill-fated 10/22 Magnum. The extra highly effective spherical is on the higher finish of what a standard .22 rimfire motion can deal with safely whereas nonetheless functioning reliably. However it isn’t so highly effective {that a} locking motion is overkill.
Conclusion
The wonderful CZ 512 was a great try, although it’s now discontinued. Rossi additionally makes a .22 Magnum with some promise. Savage, greatest recognized for his or her bolt weapons, makes the A22 in .22 Magnum. It makes use of a delayed blowback mechanism however is poorly designed. The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-202 isn’t solely a distinct segment rifle however a distinct segment inside a distinct segment. It takes few possibilities, and those who it does take are sensible additions. On this pattern dimension of 1, the BC-202 is a ten/22 Magnum clone accomplished properly and is, maybe, the very best .22 Magnum auto in the marketplace up to now.
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