Introduction
Polymer framed pistols are becoming more and more common every day. With so many options how can you tell which one to choose? Today we are going to dive into yet another new striker fired polymer framed gun so you can decide if it fits your needs. Today we are reviewing the Bear Creek Arsenal Grizzly 101 pistol, a 9mm handgun very similar to the popular Glock 17.
Specifications
| Color | Black |
| SKU | CGP101-91917SSWC2POLY |
| Weight (lbs) | 1.430000 |
| Magazine Capacity | 17 Round Magazine |
| Barrel Length | 5 |
| Twist | 1:16 |
| Barrel Finish | Stainless Steel |
| Material | 416R Stainless Steel |
| Thread Pitch | Non-Threaded |
| Caliber | 9MM |
| Flutes | Non-fluted |
| Gas System | Blow-Back |
History
It would seem that BCA has made at least one attempt at a 9mm pistol before. An all metal version that looks very similar to the Grizzly 101. Perhaps that didnāt go the way they wanted it to, because I see no sign of it on their website. If I had to guess, Iād say that a polymer frame turned out to be much more profitable and perhaps easier to make.
BCA seems to catch a lot of negative attention from the public, at least if you believe what you read on social media and internet forums. I might be lucky, as the only experience I have had with BCA has been a positive one. You can read about the BCA BC-8 Huntmaster here. The Grizzly is only my second exposure to a BCA firearm, and Iām glad you can come along to see how it goes.
Features
Bear Creek Arsenal is known for manufacturing a variety of AR type rifles in assorted different calibers and configurations. The Grizzly is a departure from what BCA commonly manufactures, this could be a good or bad thing depending on your perspective.
The Grizzly is built on a polymer frame similar in size as I mentioned to the Glock 17. This is a great idea as it allows the Grizzly to use many of the Glock 17ās support products, like magazines, and other accessories.
In addition to the commonality, there are some things that set the Grizzly apart from the gun that it appears to emulate. Some cuts to the slide expose the stainless steel barrel, and the slide comes pre-cut for RMR type red dots. Something I would be sure to look into.
Some pretty standard green sights round out the top of the slide which are perfectly useful. If we turn our attention to the frame, youāll find there is a nice texture molded into the grip. As well as some finger shelves alongside the top of the trigger guard.
No safety other than the trigger blade safety, which is fine by me. A nice undercut where the guard meets the grip makes the pistol comfortable in the hand. And the 17-round magazines are made by KCI.
Other models
The Grizzly 101 is available in a couple different options, mainly different barrel configurations. There are both threaded and unthreaded versions of the pistol. And you can select a couple different titanium nitrided colors of gold, copper and black. Iām no fortune teller, but Iād bet there are other options in the works that will also soon be available.
Bear Creek Arsenal Grizzly 101 Pistol review
Before shooting the Grizzly, I wanted to install a Trijicon RMR. It was easy enough and fit perfectly. Some red dots have a cutout to allow the use of the iron sights, the RMR sits high enough that you can almost see the iron sights but not quite. But with the RMR installed I was ready to hit the range.
Iād brought a couple boxes of ammo from Federal and AAC, and MWLP Trailforger. All were 115 grain FMJ. I started stuffing them into magazines in preparation, loading 17-rounds into the KCI magazines.
Shootability
My very first impressions of shooting the Grizzly were that it seemed a touch spicier than I expected. It’s a full size 9mm pistol, so I expected it to be fairly mild. I also noticed rather quickly that the grip seems a little more square than others. Some folks may find that preferable, but for me it felt just a touch less comfortable.
The Grizzly texture is definitely helpful in getting a good grip on the pistol. And I really like the two finger shelves above the trigger, it allows your thumbs a place to engage. The trigger feels like a striker pistol, I don’t mean that as a bad thing either, it feels just like every other similar gun Iāve used. Reloads were easy using the slide release, I often feel a great variation between different Glock type pistols. I was happy to see this one was easy to feel and press.
The Grizzly green sights were perfectly suitable, but the Trijicon RMR was more my style.
Reliability
During the course of my shooting, the closest thing to a malfunction I experienced was a failure to lock back. It seemed to follow the magazines, so I think it’s fair to put the blame there. I also used a Fab Defense 18-round magazine, which worked flawlessly. I was also able to shoot the Grizzly with a Glock magazine that also worked great.
Other than that the pistol chugged along through everything I threw at it.
Extraction and ejection were just as Iād expect, throwing spent cases clear. The controls were all smooth and never skipped a beat.
Ergonomics
I mentioned the square-ish feeling grip, which might just be my preference showing through. Other than that the gun felt very comfortable in my hand. The undercut trigger guard kept your fingers comfortable while gripping, and the angle of the grip was familiar and pointed well.
The Grizzly has a very similar profile to the Glock 17, but it wouldnāt fit proper in any of my Safariland Glock 17 holsters. So there must be enough difference to matter, though I expect it is likely due to the slide cuts.
Accuracy
Accuracy from the Grizzly was also as I expected, I guess it should come as no surprise that a Glock clone shoots like a Glock. Particularly when shooting with the RMR installed it was pretty easy to keep shots on target. At 10 yards groups would average between 2-4 inches depending on cadence and ammo. To put it bluntly, I felt just as accurate with this gun as with any other G17 styled pistol.
Value
Despite being a pretty close copy of the Glock, I was quite surprised by the low price of this pistol. But as I mentioned at the top, copies of these popular pistols are becoming more and more popular. So I shouldn’t be surprised that the cost keeps coming down.
The Grizzly is listed for $295.00 on the Bear Creek website, which is a pretty agreeable price. Obviously this pistol is priced there for a reason, and you can tell by looking at the gun that it is going to cost less than its cousins. What I mean by that is there are some features on the gun that suggest a less refined process. For example, the stainless steel barrel functions flawlessly but also appears slightly unfinished. Non-chamfered edges on the muzzle look just a tad raw for my taste. The conspicuous BEAR CREEK ARSENAL down the side is a little over the top for me as well, the logo alone should be enough. The machining and molding look good, and to be honest Iām surprised you can make any money on a gun at this price point.
I guess that means I think this gun is a good buy, and if it stands up to round count and use it probably will certainly be a good buy. Time will tell.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very affordable
- Compatible with a variety of aftermarket accessories
- Optics ready for RMR footprint
- Good grip texture
Cons
- Inexpensive suggests cheap
- Doesnāt fit my safariland holsters
- Slightly unfinished look
Report Card
Shootability (B) shoots well but seems to lack some refinement
Reliability (A-) Only malfunctions seemed related to magazine
Accuracy (B) Nothing fancy, does what you need
Ergonomics (B) Feels good, but also feels sort of like a first try
Value (A) If the Grizzly stands up to use, it seems like a great value
Ammunition Preference
The Grizzly didnāt seem to show a preference for any of the ammo I shot through it. Both 115 and 124 grain loads worked great. I used Federal Premium 115 with great results as well as AAC 115 grain ammunition.
Accessory Upgrades
Because it’s already cut for it, I would highly recommend adding a red dot. I used the Trijicon RMR which cost more than the gun itself. So perhaps something a little more comparable in price would be something like the Gideon Alpha red dot.Ā A good weapon light like the Surefire X300 pictured would also make a good companion.
Final Thoughts
After shooting with the BCA Grizzly 101 for a while now, I can say I definitely like it. I wouldnāt be trading it for any of my other pistols, but it certainly has a home in my collection. I intend on shooting it a lot more, perhaps it can be my loaner pistol. That way I can see how it stacks up over time and higher round count. Follow me to see how that goes.
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