Are you looking for a budget priced carry that still packs a punch?
I got a chance to review the Bear Creek Arsenal Grizzly Compact and here is how it did.
I stopped over at my friend Bill’s gun shop named Finest Firearms after a message that the Bear Creek Arsenal Grizzly Compact had arrived. He has a great website also to visit and can get you what you need in a hurry.
Behold the new BCA Grizzly Compact now was in my hands for testing. Let’s see what BCA has to say about it before I start the review:
BCA introduces the Grizzly compact, our polymer frame 9MM handgun. Built with perfect ergonomics and bear fur stippling for the perfect grip and control. Boasting the very best of BCA’s evolving handgun technology and best materials. The Grizzly’s solid configuration makes for perfect balance with recoil and weight. We’ve made the Grizzly optic ready with our signature RMR cut and an additional Black Nitride window slide cut. It comes with photo-luminescent sights for low-light shooting for easy target acquisition. It is designed to accommodate all shooters. The barrel is Black Nitride Finish.
Comes with 2 15 round magazines.
Right out of the box the BCA Grizzly Compact has a very familiar build to anyone who has shot a Glock pistol before. It feels great in the hand and points naturally from the sights to the target quickly for me. Below is a list of some of the features the BCA Grizzly Compact has:
| Color | Black |
|---|---|
| SKU | CGP102-91919MWC2POLY |
| Weight (lbs) | 1.250000 |
| Magazine Capacity | 15 Round Magazine |
| Twist | 1:16 |
| Barrel Finish | Black Nitride |
| Material | 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium |
| Thread Pitch | Non-Threaded |
| Caliber | 9MM |
| Gas System | Blow-Back |
| Classification | Semi Auto Handguns |
| Sights | Photo-Luminescent |
The first thing when I received the BCA Grizzly Compact for review was to take apart the pistol. I wanted to check inside of the pistol for cleanliness and just how well the machining was. It was indeed clean, oiled and ready for use and looked great.
Check out the “bear fur stippling” on the grip. That is for sure grip! Also check out the flared mag well for easy magazine insertion.
The slide features photo-luminescent sights and also a removable insert for attaching an optic. Front and rear serrations allow for easy full controlled loading and unloading.
Optics ready!
I really like the conventional rifling that is present in the BCA Grizzly Compact barrel. It allows not only conventional jacketed ammunition to be fired but also lead projectiles. If you cast your own bullets for reloading take note of this important feature over the “polygonal” rifling of other maker’s barrels that do not safely allow lead projectiles.
The two magazines that came with the BCA Grizzly Compact are marked “KCI USA MADE IN KOREA”.
For the initial range day I decided a “plinking trip” was in order before firing at paper targets for groups.
A piece of 4X4 treated lumber just happened to be available for destruction. While it sat on the backstop I fired Winchester 115 grain FMJ rounds at 3o feet away ventilating the wood well. No problems occurred and I was certainly pleased with the results.
I have always been a fan of firing at random “targets” and this initial test fire was quite rewarding.
The next trip was off to my local gun club for accuracy testing. I tested three different cartridge selections. The first one was the previously fired Winchester 115 grain FMJ 9mm cartridge that is packed in 100 round bulk packs. I paced of 15 yards and carefully fired for groups. As I began to fire a stiff breeze over my left began to blow. As I only had the 3 previously used and patched targets with me (my supply was lower than I expected!) I still counted the target. At 6″ (partially natures fault) this group was the largest by far of the day.
The next cartridge tested in the BCA Grizzly Compact was Blazer Brass 115 grain FMJ. Five rounds were once again fired in slow (steadier) shooting and I was rewarded with a 3″ group with one flier opening up to 5.25″.
What happens when you use quality self defense cartridges? Incredible things actually! Winchester SXT 9 147 grain rounds were tight shooting at 2.25″! Now that is much better!
With more practice these groups would indeed be tightened. It is important to practice, practice, practice!
As a side note the BCA Grizzly Compact is shown in the image below next to the previously reviewed full size BCA Grizzly. This gives you an idea on overall size of both.
In summary of testing out the BCA Grizzly Compact I found that it indeed shoots reliable with cheaper cartridges. If you are looking for more accuracy, quality ammunition is the way to go. Of course each firearm groups different with the same ammo, so half the fun is testing them all out!
If you are looking for a handy compact size handgun for defense and even just range fun I can tell you the BCA Grizzly Compact is a good choice at a bargain price. Be sure to check out the BCA Grizzly Compact and all of their other firearms and accessories on their website.
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