Bear Creek Arsenal BC-9

Bear Creek Arsenal · Carbine · In Production · 2023

Also known as: BC9, BCA BC-9, BC-9 Bufferless

Overview

The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-9 is a 9mm pistol-caliber carbine built on an AR-pattern platform with a bufferless, side-charging design. By eliminating the buffer and buffer tube from the lower receiver, the BC-9 allows a folding or fixed stock and a more compact overall package than a conventional blowback AR-9. The upper is machined from 4150 chrome-moly-vanadium billet with an M4 flat-top profile and a forward reciprocating right-side charging handle, while the lower retains familiar AR-15 controls for an easy transition. The 16-inch barreled rifle weighs about 6.8 pounds and feeds from any Glock-pattern 9mm magazine, providing wide magazine availability and affordability. A 15-inch handguard carries Picatinny rails front and rear with M-LOK slots on the sides and bottom. A standard mil-spec trigger gives a 7-8 pound pull.

Specifications

Weight (empty)3084 g (108.8 oz)
Weight (loaded)3400 g (119.9 oz)
Overall Length813 mm (32.01")
Barrel Length406 mm (15.98")
Action TypeBlowback
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeSingle Stage
Trigger Pull33 N (7.4 lbf)
Magazine Capacity17 rounds
Magazine TypeDetachable Box
Muzzle Velocity420 m/s (1378 fps)
Muzzle Energy650 J (479 ft·lbf)
Effective Range100 m (109 yd)
Maximum Range1800 m (1968 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Rifling Twist254 mm (10.00")
Number of Grooves6
Frame MaterialAluminum Alloy
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialPolymer
FinishBlack Nitride

Calibers

Features

Variants

Service history

Operators

Production

Production years: 2023-present

Bufferless PCC introduced 2023

Origin

Country of origin: United States

Notes

MSRP roughly $488-$638 depending on configuration. Bufferless side-charging design is the defining feature. Accepts Glock-pattern 9mm magazines. Also offered in a shorter-barrel pistol configuration.

Background

Most AR-9 pistol-caliber carbines rely on a heavy blowback bolt and a buffer tube, limiting stock options; Bear Creek Arsenal's bufferless BC-9 design freed the rear of the receiver for folding stocks and braces while keeping the budget pricing the brand is known for, and its Glock-magazine compatibility kept feeding costs low.