Bear Creek Arsenal 22lr Upper Review and Function testing - PSA Lower - Review BCA AR22 Reliability 

Finally a video showing how many malfunctions actually happen with those mags.

Even the CMMG conversions needs high velocity ammo to run well. Ya gotta remember that fire control group in an AR lower is of course meant for a centerfire cartridge and that hammer spring is no slouch. So the little 22lr has a job to do resetting it. I imagine one could install a lighter hammer spring and maybe run some standard velocity ammo.

Got that exact same upper this fall, probably 500 rounds (ish) in right now and have had no malfunctions. Running mostly CCI standard, but have run everything from armscor to thunderbolts and have had one dud (but no malfunctions) Running the 25 round black dog mags. I want to buy like 3 more of these things, really fun and has been completely reliable for me.

Good video. My BCA hates federal Auto match. I had the exact problems you were having... that that ammo would usually cycle the bolt, but not cock the hammer. As you pointed out, CCI is leaps and bounds better for function. Ironically, I had a bucket of Remington golden crap in the back of my cabinet, so I tried it out...the BCA ate that stuff up and loved it! The supplied CMMG mags is ok. I also tried S&W 15-22 mags in my BCA 22lr upper...there is interference because of the ejector bar BCA uses. The left feed lip needs to be shaved down on the S&W mags for it to lock in and not push up on the ejector bar. CMMG, Black Dog & KRISS magazines all use the same basic feed lip geometry (in fact, I took a BDM stainless feed lip and installed it on a KRISS mag with minor fitting) so no interference with the BCA ejector bar. I run KRISS mags with the KRISS bolt stop (the C22 will work also, coupled with the reduced power bolt stop spring) for true LRBHO. With high velocity ammo, reliability is very, very high, with only a few ammo related hiccups.

I bought a BCA .22LR upper with a 10.5" stainless barrel about when this video came out. I threw on a set of BCA BUIS until I can get another red dot sight for it since the front sight of a 10.5" barrel is a bit blurry for my old eyes. Last week I took it to a local range for testing using a RF-15 pistol lower. (Thank you to the 5th Circuit judges for the injunctions against the pistol brace rule.) Using a mix of Aquila, Federal and CCI ammo I had no problems except with one of my magazines where I had two misfeeds, likely mag related since they only occurred with that one magazine. I'm pleased with the results. BTW, I only tried out my Black Dog brand 10 rd. and 25 rd. magazines, the same ones I use with my SIG-522.

I put together a similar setup. Psa moe lower with the bca 22lr upper. I opted to use s&w 15-22 mags and a catch 22 clip on mag adapter. Bca recommends 40gr and a 200 rd break in. I used Blazer and automatch. Has run flawless since the break-in.

I have the same upper and federal 1250 fps runs without fail. CCI runs well, and BCA recommended using over 1250 fps ammo. Great Video👍

Using the CMMG Gen2 mags on a BCA .22lr upper they tend to push up on the ejector causing the bolt to jam. Not sure if this happens with other manufactures. Simple solution is to file down part of the feed lip on the left side. Only takes about +/- 1/16 of an inch.

Just waiting for BCA to get more short barrel 22LR uppers in stock. Would love a 7 or 7.5", but shortest I've seen them on the site in the past was 8.5". I have an SBR with a binary trigger, so popping that 22LR upper on the SBR lower will be fun!

My Tippman doesn't like the Fed either

New subscriber, shall not be infringed!

CCI mini mags were designed for semi auto rifles and pistols. The varmint are also a great round from CCI, but do not run stingers through a semi auto. The case is longer, and it wares on the action a lot harder.

I have several BCA uppers they are very nice especially for the price. My 22lr 10.5 inch upper does not like the bulk ammo very well i have a lot of no fire out of my buckets of Remington and the federal bulk boxes. When i use federal premium punch rounds it runs flawless.

I was having trigger reset issues with federal ammo, took out the buffer spring and now no issues.

Excellent videos brother. Waiting on my BCA 22lr 16in. Gonna run it with an old ATI omni plastic lower. Been told only use 40grain CCI or Aguila.

Not a mag issue. Mag is feeding ammo into the chamber, but ammo isn't resetting the trigger. I haven't had this issue with my BCA upper, but I cleaned and lubed mine with Hornady One Shot before firing it. It may resolve itself as you break it in, or just clean and lube. Mine works fine even with standard velocity/subsonic ammo. Thousands of rounds fired and no problems. My favorite 22 lr for sure!

I like the CMMG mags. I thought mine were 25 round. Not 30 or 27. I also use the S&W M&P mags in my CMMG conversion and they run fine.

I have the CMMG 22 conversion kit and I only use CCI mini mags and Aguila super extras. Another good option is also the CCI semi auto quiet.

The new federal white box ammo they changed over to years back always give me trouble in everything. The old federal red and blue boxes from walmart were better still have some from like the 2010s it works much better i dont know what federal did to thier bulk ammo. Thanks for the video on this!

I use Winchester Super X 40grain 1280fps Aguila, CCi mini-mags, and CCI 22 AR 1200fps. Always copper-plated hollow point over 1200fps. It took me about 300-400 rounds to break in this upper. I always run it sopping wet with Hoppe's 9. It runs real reliable. It will never be perfect since it is .22lr.

Just got my 22 upper from Bear Creek. First time out put about 200 rounds of CCI Mini Mags. Your video was a good representation of my experience even though I was using CCI. Don't think it's the ammo. Has to be either the Mags or the Upper itself. Dissapointed.

lol, those CMMG mags that come with the conversion kit are only 25 round capacity Never tried to shove in 27, but you may be shortening the life of those springs I’m curious to know if you can use the M&P 15/22 mags with that upper.

Just found the 22lr Borebuddy fix kit. Very interesting if ya'll want to check that out.

loved watching you fiddle with the bolt catch release 🤣🤣 It's just for looks 😎😎 I just received the BCA 22WMR upper, haven't gone to the range yet, but can't wait to try it out. I already have a few boxes of Maxi Mags for it.

I bought the full rifle, and BCA sent me something that looked like a keyed car. My firearms are tools, but I prefer to put the wear on them myself.

My bca runs flawlessly not one problem or malfunction plus i notice every one i see someone running has the big 22 stamped on the side mines isn't stamped or marked show its a 22 anywhere again i say i love it not one problem never from unboxing to now over 1000 rounds and accurate as Fu€k no hiccups so far no cleaning since unboxing or nothing

Nice! Thanks :) Those specs are cool, what are they if you don't mind.

If it’s loading the next round it’s not the mag. The ammo is not giving you a full cycle and not resetting the trigger.

Anyone use the S&W 22 mags with the Bear Creek upper. Yes I know they work with the cmmg conversion. Just curious about with the bear creek upper

Mixed upper and lower for the black dog mags

I really wish mine worked well. I have so many malfunctions i cant even shoot one full magazine without a hitch. I have 2 different companies of magazines and just trying to find something that works well.

Yo did you clean and oil before hand? Btw liked the video, subscribing

how can they keep selling these

Will this upper work with a m&p 15-22 lower???

Thank you for this video. Ill remind myself this with running only, CCI

As I would love a dependable and reliable 22lr in the AR platform [or any semi-auto platform], reality proves otherwise, at least in something affordable, which is the whole point of 22lr almost. Reviews are as mixed as the combinations of 22lr ammo and the tools that fire them, some great and some not, hit or miss. I have been shooting 22lr for over 75 years, a bunch of them, and in almost everything 'new' that came out, claiming it was the sh+t and a 'must-have', and with great marketing skills, and some lived up to the hype, mostly, but never 100%. New styles, new shapes, new whatever, but the physics never changed, it is a 22lr cartridge, and the physics limit its' function. The most reliable auto-load 22lr's are very expensive and require premium ammo [race pistols, competition rifles, etc.]. Most of you know all of the above. I did not grow up around AR's as many of you did, maybe from using them in the military. I am 81yrs old , only using AR's about ten years, and much more aligned with a 1911 45acp Gov't model [no fancy sights] and a Ruger Ranch Mini 14 (for a modern rifle) from my military experience. I have always been a revolver fan, single action initially. That brings me to this: 22lr is fun, but importantly useful. Great for teaching new shooters, pest control, camp meat, self defense and home protection in a pinch, and much more. Easy to carry with lots of ammo. Still, not always reliable, the ammo or the tool. The BEST 22lr rifle, meaning 16" or longer, for walking around the homestead, is a lever action. This is my opinion, from much experience. Whether I am on the ranch in the southern USA or on the property in Alaska, on a ATV/UTV, tractor, horse, on foot, etc. I have a chest rig with an appropriate caliber revolver for the area [Ruger GP or Redhawk, S&W XVR, etc.] and a lever action rifle also with the appropriate caliber. A lever gun is reliable, well-balanced, ........ and fast for follow-up shots. I still use a Marlin 39D 22 S-L-LR that I bought in 1980 , hard to find now, and pricey. But, there are some great ones now, like a Henry, but I have a serious recommendation, whether you are on a budget or not, the Rossi Rio Bravo, comes in different configurations, in 22lr and 22WMR, and I suggest getting both. Accurate, reliable, and buttery smooth. I prefer the synthetic over the wood options. Yes, I have AR's and love 'em, and they have a serious place in my usage, including one of my all time faves, a BCA 22WMR upper with Black Dog mags, has run 100% flawlessly, with 10.5" 416R SS barrel. Truly a sweetie. And I do like 300BLK and 223 Wylde. Social media is laden with millions of experts, especially firearms related. Some are worthy and some are simply regurgitating what they experience on electronic devices, claiming truths, and even extending those truths in their backyard commando training encampment, begging for acknowledgement. Just be aware to not fall to fools play. Proper training is very beneficial. God bless all of you. I pray that you practice safety and situational awareness. Ozo

Not a huge fan of bear creek wouldn't buy their 5.56 rather buy a PSA but for less then $300 you can't go wring with a 22lr upper that functions. The jams are because it's a 22lr and that shit happens. No 22lr upper is gonna be perfect. All the jamming was probably because of ammo and magazines. Only 22lr semi auto i have that will run anytime is my 10/22's.

Do yourself a favor and get a TIPPMAN. i can run anything in it and have NEVER had any issues

BCA uses YFS charging handle bolts & YFS fasteners in their AR BCGs...

mine does this with the cmmg mags

What's up with not buying the lower from BCA as well? Do BCA uppers suck as badly as their customer service, or?

No 22 as HD SD gun for sure.

Capacity is 25 rd for the cmmg mags lol Federal Automatch runs flawlessly with my AR with the cmmg kit. I heard the bear creak uppers don’t like that ammo but idk

The capacity is 25.

I think those mags take 25 rounds lol 27 is close enough

Chicken wingin

Those are 25 rd. mags and you put 27 😅😅😅😅

That many malfunctions, i'll take a hard pass.

Federal automatch is garbage

I can ONLY fit 27 in there....its a 25 rd mag, ya doofus 😂

Enjoyed the video information but lay off the caffeine and stay still , lol