Bear Creek Arsenal BC-9 Review: A PDW for the Poor?

I love PDW-type guns—the super small, often pistol-caliber weapons. What I don’t love is their price. Yes, I know that quality costs, but have you ever shot a Uzi Pro or a B&T MP9?

They don’t provide an experience worth the price. The Flux Defense raider is my favorite, but that still has you spending a grand or so on the platform and gun.

Keep in mind you’re paying all this money for what’s essentially a large handgun. Ballistically, you’re not getting any advantages that you would get with a rifle. You get a big pistol that’s more controllable, easier to shoot accurately, and easier to shoot at extended ranges.

PDWs are seemingly not for the poors…or are they? Enter the sub $500-$600 BC-9 — Bear Creek Arsenal’s take on a bufferless pistol-caliber AR.

Bear Creek sent me one for review, and I’ve been chewing through some ammo. So the real question is, do we have a good, affordable PCC on our hands? Or is there a good reason they are all so expensive?

BCA BC-9 Specs & Features

Specs:

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Semi-auto, direct-blowback
• Capacity: Varies (accepts any standard Glock magazine)
• Barrel Length: 5″, 10.5″
• Weight: 4.4 lbs – 5.8 lbs
• Country of Origin: USA

Features:

• Compatible with Glock magazines
• Rear 1913 Picatinny brace/stock adapter
• Bufferless design
• Side-charging

The BC-9 Backstory

Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA) is known for producing ultra-affordable AR-platform rifles and selling them directly to consumers. They offer an extremely wide variety of calibers and configurations, including a propensity for offering side-charging ARs.

The BC-9 was released in 2023, and I somehow missed the initial release. Something this affordable and neat should have been all over my radar.

Unlike most AR-style PCCs, the BC-9 eliminates the receiver extension that would normally house the buffer system. It utilizes a 1913 rail, where the buffer tube would typically be, making it extremely easy to mount folding braces or stocks.

This combination of features allows the BC-9 to be very compact. It works well as a PDW, a backpack gun, or a home-defense tool.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

BCA is a budget company, like we mentioned, and the BC-9 does have some of that budget feel to it. It’s not the fanciest finish or furniture, but it’s all entirely functional.

You can get the BC-9 in both 5-inch and 10.5-inch barrel lengths, and it is available as either right-side or left-side charging. I opted for the 5-inch, left-side charging version.

The bolt is surprisingly easy to move, and the action is smooth for a blowback-operated firearm.

The A2 grip will soon be zapped in favor of a Magpul K grip, but ultimately, the A2 grip is fine. The lower controls are simple and function well, and they can be easily swapped if you prefer one part over another.

I also expected a heavier gun. I think it’d be Gimli from The Lord of the Rings, but I got Legolas instead. It’s very light for a blowback design and feels well-balanced. If I’m being completely honest, it reminds me of a modern TEC-9.

As the owner of a TEC-9, I can confirm that the BC-9 has that same vibe. It’s a good bit bigger, more like a Hi-TEC 9.

Shooting the BCA BC-9: Accuracy & Reliability Analysis

I was pleasantly surprised. I expected a rough recoiling, “accurate enough” gun for its price point, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The blowback recoil is there, but it’s tamer than I imagined. The spring and bolt weight seem well-balanced, which helps keep that snappy recoil in check. It’s not quite soft like a radial or roller-delayed design, but it’s better than most straight blowback guns.

Even without a brace, the BC-9 handles fine. It’s a bit unwieldy, but since it’s lightweight and recoils smoothly, you can shoot TEC-9 style quickly and accurately with minimal effort. Add a sling, and we get some isometric tension stabilizing the platform even more.

I shot a sub-two-second Bill Drill from the low ready on my first try. You can work that trigger quickly, and the gun isn’t bucking away from you. The red dot rises and falls without ever going above the target.

While zeroing the dot, I looked at the gun’s accuracy. I zeroed at 25 yards and punched surprisingly tight groups. A short-barreled AR-ish pistol in 9mm isn’t a tack driver, but an inch group or smaller is easy at 25 yards from a standing position.

At 50 yards, I struck an eight-inch gong repeatedly. At 100 yards, I attempted the “Minute of Bad Guy” test. It’s seven rounds at an 8.5 x 11-inch target, specifically a Sage Dynamics printed torso target. If the majority of the rounds hit, you pass.

The BC-9 hit all seven at 100 yards, making it Minute of Bad Guy accurate. It’s also quite fun to ring an IPSC-sized steel at 100 yards, especially when you sneak in a few headshots while standing. Imagine how well this would do with a magnifier!

Reliability

It’s tough to build an unreliable blowback-operated gun. Don’t get me wrong; it can be done, but it takes some serious effort, especially in an era where the blowback AR has been mastered.

However, this isn’t an AR. It’s AR-ish at best. It works seamlessly with all types of magazines, including Glock OEM, KCI, Magpul, and ETS mags without a problem.

Yet, the BC-9 works like a champ. It digests the cheap steel-cased Academy ammo I shoot without pain. The BC-9 ate everything I put through it.

Drawbacks

As far as downsides go, there is some noticeable trigger slap. It’s not entirely uncommon with blowback-operated firearms, but it’s quite noticeable with the BC-9.

I prefer the charging handle on the left side for most uses, but I used an optic with a fairly large nut hanging off the side. If I reloaded too fast, I’d rap my knuckle against the optic mount, and it was quite painful. Be mindful of your optic and mount choice here, or opt for the right-hand charging version.

I also wish it had a last-round bolt hold-open feature. Many companies have figured this out, and it is sorely missed with the BC-9.

Who Is BC-9 For?

Are you a PCC fan looking for something affordable? If so, the BC-9 is for you.

One thing that bothers me is how much some companies charge for a simple blowback subgun. IWI wants how much for a Uzi? Even the CZ Scorpion has risen to the $1000 mark or higher in some cases.

The BC-9 gives us a similar platform, with greater compatibility options, for less than $500-$600. It’s one of the best bargains on the market.

By The Numbers

Reliability: 5/5

The BC-9 shoots everything you put through it. Mine handled over 600 rounds of Monarch steel-cased ammunition through the gun without issue, aside from a single seemingly dead primer.

Ergonomics: 3/5

It’s mostly fine. The AR ergos are great, but the side charger has some challenges. Mix that with trigger slap and the lack of an LRBHO, and I rate this as fine instead of great.

Accuracy: 4/5

I’m judging this as a 9mm large-format pistol and PCC. In this genre, it punches well above its weight. The accuracy is only going to get beaten out by guns that cost at least three times as much.

Customization: 3/5

Since it shares a common parentage with the AR, most AR-compatible accessories work. This opens up a lot of avenues for attachments and upgrades.

Value: 5/5

It’s less than $500-$600! In this economy! This guy won’t break the bank.

Overall: 4/5

Upgrades & Accessories

The Sig ROMEO MSR Gen 2 is one of the best budget optics on the market. It’s just a hair over $100 and provides a tough, bright, and easy-to-mount red dot. It’s ready to go out of the box and provides an affordable optic for an affordable firearm.

The SB Tactical TF1913 triangle brace looks fantastic on the BC-9, blending AK vibes with the AR feel. It easily wraps around your arm, allowing you to support the little gun a little more easily.

Meet the Experts

Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike wrote this article. Travis spent a lifetime shooting as a kid and later joined the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. His experience as a machinegunner, recreational shooter, and hunter has given him unique insight into various weapon platforms. Additionally, Travis has thousands of articles to his name with a variety of publications, and has tested countless guns and other firearm accessories.

Editing and adding to this article is Pew Pew Tactical Editor, Wyatt Sloan. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor and also has experience with competition shooting and hunting. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. He has over a dozen shotguns himself and definitely has big love for scatterguns.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Verdict: Bear Creek Arsenal BC-9

The BC-9 was a gentle surprise from a budget company. I expected it to be functional, but I didn’t expect it to perform at this level

All in all, I really enjoy this little gun. If you’re looking for something fairly inexpensive and absurdly fun, check out the BC-9 from Bear Creek Arsenal.

What are your thoughts on the BCA BC-9? Do you have a favorite PCC/PDW? Let us know in the comments below! Interested in similar guns? Check out our article on the Best Pistol Caliber Carbines!