Thinking about an AR-10 18" barrel. Just looking for a shooter out to 300 yds. Somebody recommended Beer Creek as a decent low cost option.

Thoughts?

Hard pass

Just don’t do it

I agree with GusWayne. I had a bad experience with Bear Creek on a 6.5 G. barrel. They are no longer an option for me.

I have 2 AR 10 barrels and a .300 Ham'r barrel from Wilson combat. Not inexpensive but definately top of the line!

I highly recommend them.

Palmetto State Armory ? I have an 18" PSA AR10 barrel in .308 stainless with less than 50 rounds fired I would sell.
PM me if interested.

Hard pass, garbage components

Trash

Thanks guys.

Had one of their guns a while back - AR in 7.62x39. Only issue I had was the non-hardened firing pin broke, which is apparently common with 7.62x39 from any maker.

Other than that, it ran like a champ and was surprisingly accurate.

Palmetto State Armory ? I have an 18" PSA AR10 barrel in .308 stainless with less than 50 rounds fired I would sell.
PM me if interested.
This. Although I've gotten several Bear Creek 350 Legend barrels that are very accurate.

I was working with my gunsmith friend a few Saturdays ago, guy came in with a brand new BCA 8.6 blackout upper, just wanted a muzzle device installed and a test fire function check.

Installed device and first shot fired perfect as well as locked back on empty magazine, screw on suppressor, second shot fired perfect and locked back. next step is a 3 round string. first shot goes off just fine, and it feeds the second round just fine, but it never fired again. 3 rounds of factory 8.6 ammunition, no signs of over pressure in the primers and the firing pin shattered.

Took the muzzle device off and shipped that guy back to BCA for a certified repair. The guy wanted nothing to do with their company again. my gunsmith is putting together a nice quality upper instead.

$20 firing pin would have fixed your problem and upper would have been fine from then on.

I understand that, His customer understood that. But the principal of the matter is that the customer should not be held liable for a part failure within three rounds fired in a controlled environment. And if BCA cannot be bothered to use a quality component as simple as a firing pin. Then how can that customer expect to trust in the quality and integrity of any other major components that are supposed to hold up to the chamber pressures of ~60,000 psi.
After the warranty repair is completed, the customer can sell the upper receiver to another individual with the knowledge that it was repaired by the manufacturer prior to the sale.

If BCA puts the same firing pin in, the new customer is likely to have the same failure. $20 would have fixed the problem for you and him.

Reviews consistently show they have firing pin issues with non-223 uppers and almost no other problems.

I am just a bystander. The gunsmith gives options for repairs of the upper in question, and an estimate for a better one. The customer makes the ultimate decision in how they proceed.

Understand.

Just giving you and your gunsmith some updated information so they can make a more informed decision next time. Rather see a $20 fix for his customer or the next buyer than to have 2 people incorrectly thinking BCA can't build an upper.

I have a .458 SOCOM upper from them. I just wanted a toy and didn't want to spend a bunch of money on it. I have had zero issues with it, and accuracy is good, within the limits of that cartridge. From what I have read, their QC is inconsistent, so I probably wouldn't buy their stuff for a high performance build. However, I have been happy with them for my purposes.

Between my sons and I we have at least seven or eight Bear Creek uppers in .300 BLK, 7.62x39, and .350 Legend. Haven't had a problem with any of them. But they aren't guns that run hard, the get shoot a couple hundred rounds a year (the .350 Legend might see a couple boxes a year).

Like SherpaPhil I wouldn't use them for a high performance build, serious competition gun, law enforcement use, ect... But for the occasional range trip, hog hunt, deer season, ect... they work just fine.

I have only used BCA for a couple side charging upper receiver + charging handle. No barrels or complete guns. I give them credit they are offering low cost side charge uppers and now bolt action uppers at prices no where near as high as the competition. The design is blocky but the fit and finish is more than acceptable for the price. I got a side charge upper with BCG for $99. Not sure how they make money on that.

My dad and I have been happy with the our uppers. Great hunting uppers since they are easier to load and unload when moving in and out of blinds or vehicles. I’m contemplating a bolt action upper but don’t really need one.

I’m another BCA fan, my son and I have eight BCA uppers between us and have not had any problems with them. I don’t understand how people can say that they use garbage components and are trash. For the money I don’t think you can beat them.

Ive got 2x BCA AR10's (both with 18" bbl.. basic models)... Ive had no issues with mine..

Granted they are nothing special.. 2" groups at 100 yards is about the best you're going to get out of them.. and I've upgraded them quite a bit (replaced the triggers with Rise Armament 140's, replaced the gas blocks with superlative arms adjustable blocks, replaced the stock and pistol grip with magpul, etc..etc..)..

But they're affordable, and have been reliable so far (maybe 200-250 rounds through each of them at this point).. I was just looking for a couple of "pig" guns.. where I primarily hunt shots are no more than 100 yards on pigs, and can be as close as 50 yards.. So all I was looking for was a gun that would reliably go "bang" when the trigger was pulled, that would keep minute of pig accuracy, and that I could easily mount a suppressor and a thermal to..

Theyve met all of the requirements so far..

I have two BCA uppers in 6.5 grendel and have been pretty happy with them. No issues, group within 1-1.5 inches and they were very affordable. I have many AR's and these are by far the cheapest but they work and help people get into the hobby so I am a fan

+1

Never owned one, but have heard WAY too much negative...

I have 3 PSA's & never had a problem

I've got 2 BCA uppers in .223 Wylde

Several hundred rounds thru both, and zero issues.
Mine are used as inexpensive guns that stay in UTV or truck, don't get cleaned regularly, beat up, been spray painted, and I don't really care.

I've got guns that stay in the safe because they are too $$$ to beat up.