Whether you like them or hate them, Bear Creek Arsenal is ambitious with its designs. Whether it is their long catalog of AR uppers, complete rifles, or handguns, it is hard to accuse them of not being interesting. When Bear Creek announced their 201 in .22 LR, I was surprised at how straightforward the proposition was. The 201 is a heavy-barreled Ruger 10/22 clone with a Hogue over-molded stock. I bought one and it turned out to be a tack driver that is reliable and user-friendly. I was more concerned 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 did not go over well. After an eight-year run, the model was discontinued. More recently, Savage, Magnum Research, and CZ have tried their hand at making the .22 WMR work in an autoloading platform. Now Bear Creek Arsenal is bringing back the ill-fated 10/22 Magnum in its way with the BCA Model 202. As a new fan of the 201 and an apologist for the .22 Magnum cartridge, I gave the new 202 a swing. Here is what I learned:

The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-202: Quirks and Features

With all due respect, the BCA 201 is an overgrown 10/22 clone. The BCA 202 is the same but chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. That much is true for the heart of the rifle–its action. The BCA 202 features a black anodized aluminum receiver, which houses a black nitrided steel bolt and a stainless steel recoil spring and guide rod assembly configured like a 10/22. The difference is BCA’s enlarged charging handle, which is secured to the bolt via a set screw, rather than being an integral part of the guide rod assembly.

Trigger Group

The trigger group is not just like a Ruger. It is a BX-25 trigger from Ruger. It has the typical crossbolt safety and bolt hold open as well as an extended magazine release paddle. The trigger on my particular BC-202 has a checkered black aluminum shoe and an adjustable overtravel stop. I never tinkered with the trigger as it came out of the box with a weight of 3 lbs. 14 oz. with the slightest bit of mush before the break.

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Stock

The BC-202 is wedded to a 10/22 Hogue Overmolded stock. You have the option of a black stock or the Ghillie Green color scheme, as seen here. But by far the more striking feature 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 accessories. It is free-floated and wears no iron sights. Like other rifles in the BC lineup, this one wears a black anodized Picatinny rail.

Magazine

The BC-202 ships with a Ruger factory 9-round 10/22 Magnum rotary magazine. Bear Creek Arsenal states that the rifle will accept other aftermarket options. However, there aren’t nearly as many for the Magnum as there are for a base 10/22 in .22 LR.

After plucking up a few extra factory magazines from my local shop, I set off for the range with a sampling of different .22 Magnum ammunition to try. While I am no stranger to the .22 Mag, I am used to firing it from revolvers, lever action, and bolt action rifles. This is my first autoloader in that caliber and one of the few on the market. I had to wonder how well it would work, if at all. In the end, I came away surprised, though not without some teething issues out of the gate.

BC-202 Quick Specs:

• Caliber: .22 WMR
• Capacity: 9+1
• Action: Straight blowback
• Receiver: 7075 T6 aluminum
• Barrel: 416R stainless steel; 1/2×28 TPI; 1:16 twist
• Barrel Length: 16 inches
• Overall Length: 34.5 inches
• Weight: 7.6 pounds (with optic)

Why a .22 Magnum? And Why a Semi-Auto?

Upon getting my hands on the Bear Creek Arsenal BC-202, I was impressed with the fit and finish, but I had to wonder who asked for it. Who wants a semi-automatic rifle chambered in .22 Magnum, particularly a stumpy, heavy-barreled model like the BC-202?

The BC-201 in .22 LR makes some sense for those who want a bench rifle. The heavy barrel and the use of a BX-25 trigger is a great combination for paper punching. Or perhaps sniping out small game in a still-hunt setting where that extra barrel weight won’t be an issue. The .22 LR also makes sense as it is the most popular cartridge out there and a known standard for closer-distance target shooting and a fun round to plink with.

BC-202 Energy and Velocity Advantages

The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire has double the energy of the .22 LR cartridge and a velocity advantage that translates to a flatter trajectory, less wind drift, and a bit of extra range. It also uses a conventional jacketed bullet instead of a heeled lead bullet. This should equate to more advantages on the range, but the Magnum is not any less accurate and the ammunition is more costly. It also does not help that .22 Magnum rifles are rarer birds and are usually found in bolt guns and lever guns.

Off the firing line and in the field, the .22 Magnum has better killing power on smaller predators. That flatter trajectory helps if you cannot quite close the distance on skittish pests. But at some point, the law of diminishing returns kicks in and you might find yourself frustrated with the choice of a .22 Magnum, since the cheaper .22 LR can do much of the same work without the effectiveness of centerfire .22 cartridges if you really need the extra power and range. Where the Magnum does shine through is that the cost of the rifles and ammunition is still less than centerfire options and there is less report and range, which can be a liability in more populated areas.

Eventually, I settled on the BC-202 as a quick shooting option for those skittish pests. The .22 Magnum has ample killing power inside 200 yards. The cartridge’s lack of recoil and report combined with an autoloading platform, allows for lightning-fast follow-up shots before game hesitates or scurries from a missed shot. But for this niche role or any other useful and fun role to put a rimfire rifle, it has to function.

On the Range with the Bear Creek Arsenal BC-202

My initial range session with the BC-202 was a mixed bag. I arrived on the range with a half-dozen boxes of different ammunition and the rifle topped with a Sig Buckmasters 3-9×40 rifle scope. The rifle also had a cursory cleaning and a few spritzes of Rem Oil for good luck.

I was determined to have the rifle zeroed at 100 yards and go for some serious accuracy. From the bench, the rifle sure gave me some of that confidence. Despite its stumpy appearance, the BC-202 balances perfectly yet, counterintuitively, was ever so slightly muzzle-heavy for a steady aim. I was not a fan of the black Hogue stock on my 201, as it tended to stick to and show dirt. The Ghillie Green stock had no such problem. It fit me like a glove and the rubber texture ensured a slip-free hold.

Firing Failures and Frustration

Although I was able to zero my rifle scope at 50 yards, I was too frustrated to push to 100 on account of malfunctions. I had a few failures to feed that bent the thin Magnum cases between the bolt and barrel. After a few magazines, that issue went away but I was plagued by failures to fire. It was difficult to get through a nine-round magazine without one or two clicks. The firing pin appeared long enough to smack the rounds with authority, but it appeared the rims were barely dented. But the fired cases showed the same light strikes.

Dejected, I took the rifle back to the shop, broke it down, and thoroughly cleaned the barrel, chamber, and action. I also broke down the bolt and inspected the firing pin. It had no defects. I began to think the gas pressure from the brass cycling out of the action blew the case heads out enough to make the firing pin dents in the rim seem shallower than they were. After a thorough cleaning and re-lube, I headed out to give the BC-202 another shot.

Trying the BC-202 Again With Success

Over the next few range sessions, I managed to get through another two-hundred-fifty rounds. I started by re-zeroing my optic for 100 yards and going for groups. I fired a breadth of ammunition ranging from CCI 30 grain TNT varmint loads to Federal Gameshock 50 grain slow pills. All ammunitions hit close to the same point of aim at 100 yards, although the group sizes varied. All things considered, standard 40 grain loadings performed the best with CCI’s Gamepoint 40 grain JSP load.

All ammunitions hit close to the same point of aim at 100 yards, although the group sizes varied. All things considered, standard 40 grain loadings performed the best with CCI’s Gamepoint 40 grain JSP load. The light, pointy Hornady V-Max round comes close and beats the odds as I found my groups consistently had more flyers on the lighter end of the spectrum, although more so with the heavier Federal Punch and Gameshock loads.

Analysis

If it was not for this specific tendency, the TNT load would be the most accurate as I could get three shots into a 3/4 inch group. But the most consistent ammunition also happened to be the least reliable as I counted another half-dozen failures to fire using the Gamepoint round. This is likely due to a bad lot of ammunition, as I had no further issues with any other ammunition. I quickly gravitated to CCI FMJ and the Hornady load for accuracy and reliability. Both rounds cycled reliably and gave good accuracy.

Weight

At seven and a half pounds, the BC-202 is a hefty rifle for a rimfire and I wouldn’t want to take it for a daylong squirrel hunt. It is certainly capable of that in the accuracy department. It is MOA of squirrel, chipmunk, and hog with the right load. After working through its teething issues, I shot the BC-202 on and off the bench from 100-300 yards. From a supported position, whether from sandbags or an impromptu rest, the BC handles well and balances just forward of the action. The 13 1/2 inch length of pull is set up for an adult and it just barely fits my six-and-a-half-foot frame with ease.

I fired the BC-202 unsuppressed and the .22 Mag is loud, at least compared to .22 LR. But recoil out of this stout little rifle is nonexistent and I lost a target in my scope. The BX-25 trigger allowed me to get fast, predictable trigger presses just in time without being so light that the round goes off before the crosshairs are lines on the aiming point. At 150 yards, hitting paper and steel was easy. Those CCI FMJ rounds drop just four inches at that distance and the Hornady load shaves another inch off. But the drop starts to fall off after 175 yards. At 300 yards, I had to aim a full four feet above my steel rams to get a hit. At that point, the .22 Mag is beyond its practical limits and it was time to break out the AR.

The BC-202: An Interesting Niche Option

The .22 Magnum cartridge has plenty of potential, although it sits uncomfortably between the ever-popular .22 LR and more capable centerfire rifle cartridges. But for those who need a bit of extra power without touching off a cannon on the back forty, the case for the Magnum gets much better. While it is easier to find a .22 Magnum in a bolt action or lever action, the case can also be made for a semi-auto when you might need faster follow-up shots.

Building a .22 Magnum semi-auto is tricky as seen with the ill-fated 10/22 Magnum. The more powerful round is on the upper end of what a conventional .22 rimfire action can handle safely while still functioning reliably. But it is not so powerful that a locking action is overkill.

Conclusion

The fine CZ 512 was a good attempt, though it is now discontinued. Rossi also makes a .22 Magnum with some promise. Savage, best known for their bolt guns, makes the A22 in .22 Magnum. It uses a delayed blowback mechanism but is poorly designed. The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-202 is not only a niche rifle but a niche within a niche. It takes few chances, and those that it does take are smart additions. In this sample size of one, the BC-202 is a 10/22 Magnum clone done well and is, perhaps, the best .22 Magnum auto on the market thus far.

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