Take a deep dive with us as we closely examine the Bear Creek Arsenal Grizzly and whether or not it is a worthy Glock clone for it’s extremely low price point.
Bear Creek Arsenal has ambitious plans for their Grizzly line of pistols. The BC-101 Grizzly not only pays homage to the GLOCK 17, but also stands up as competition for the rest of the entry-level priced GLOCK clones. How does the BC-101 stand up to the reputation of one of the most widely adopted, tested, and vetted duty guns ever? We’ll sort out the Grizzly details in this BC-101 review.
Bear Creek Arsenal: A Bear Market
For those looking for adaptive firearms at competitive prices, Bear Creek is staple. They make AR rifles in multiple calibers and have a reputation of building functional, reliable guns in North Carolina. It is not a fashionable brand—but that’s part of the appeal. You aren’t paying for a brand name when you buy a Bear Creek. Fashion be damned.
Their handgun line upholds this tradition. If you want a functional handgun, one with some bling that’s not available on a stock GLOCK, Bear Creek’s Grizzly is there in a long list of other GLOCK clones that want your business. Seriously. The list is long. At last count, I had 23 companies knocking out GLOCK style pistols.
Bear Creek’s Grizzly may be the least expensive gun on that list. The line starts at $295.
Form and Function: Grizzly Style
Grizzlys stay true to their roots—mostly. They’re polymer-framed, striker-fired 9mm handguns that mirror the dimensions of a GLOCK. The BC-101 is comparable to a G17, while the BC-102 matches a G19. For this review, we’re focusing on the BC-101, which runs on 17-round GLOCK-pattern magazines. The barrel and grip lengths align closely with GLOCK’s, but the Grizzly adds roughly half an inch to the overall length.
If the Grizzly were just a low-priced GLOCK clone, buyers would still line up. With many of GLOCK’s early patents expired, other companies can legally duplicate older models. But Bear Creek has used that freedom as a foundation—not a finish line.
Design and Build Quality
More Than a Clone
The Grizzly adds flair where other budget pistols cut corners. Rather than removing features to reduce cost, Bear Creek enhances the design with subtle visual and functional upgrades.
Window Cut Slide
One of the most distinctive features is the Window Cut slide—a set of large openings in the slide that expose the barrel. These aren’t recoil ports; they’re cosmetic cuts that lighten the slide slightly and give the barrel a bold, stainless-steel contrast against the black finish.
While the weight reduction could marginally improve cycling speed, it’s more about style than measurable performance gain.
Optics and Mounting
RMR Footprint
The slide comes pre-cut for a Trijicon RMR footprint, making optic installation straightforward. Even for shooters who prefer iron sights (like those with astigmatism), the mounting option adds versatility. Bear Creek’s mounting system is notably easier to use than GLOCK’s plate system—a small but appreciated improvement.
Materials and Finishes
416R Stainless Steel
Both the barrel and slide are crafted from 416R stainless steel, known for its hardness, corrosion resistance, and ease of maintenance.
Finish Options
Buyers can choose between a black nitride finish for durability or a titanium nitride coating for enhanced protection and distinctive appearance. GLOCK guns have a proprietary rail design. While it isn’t hard to find accessories that fit, I appreciate when other companies use standard designs like the Picatinny rail. It is a little bonus, but one that makes attaching lights easier.
Grizzly Grip
“Bear Fur” Pattern
The frame’s “Bear Fur” texture combines aesthetic appeal with real function. The swirling pattern provides excellent grip, even when wet, without feeling abrasive. The grip remains comfortable when shooting gloved, provided the gloves don’t obstruct trigger access. The texture could extend slightly higher on the frame, but it’s still impressively secure.
Controls and Ergonomics: A Familiar Feel
If you’ve had any trigger time with a G17, the Grizzly will feel familiar. Everything is in the right place. The take-down lever, the slide stop, the mag release… they mirror the GLOCK placement and sizing. You won’t need to develop any new muscle memory.
I can easily drop the slide on an empty mag on a GLOCK 17 using the slide-stop lever. I find the Grizzly to be more stiff—harder to drop with my thumb. But that’s a very small thing.
BCA’s take on the mag release is a bit more generous. This button is marginally larger than that of a stock GLOCK. Buttons this size are a happy medium; there’s very little chance of you hitting it accidentally when manipulating or shooting. It’s a similar intuitive position like with most pistols when you need to drop an empty mag.
While the gun feels very similar to a GLOCK 17 in the hand, there’s a subtle difference. Your middle finger can ride higher beneath the under-cut trigger guard. This effectively lowers the bore axis. Even though we’re talking a fraction of an inch, it changes the recoil impulse and allows for better control of muzzle flip. Recoil energy drives back into the hand, rather than back and up against the wrist.
Range Experience: A Surprisingly Refined Shooter
This improved recoil management makes shooting quickly more effective. Pay attention to it. Train with it. Shoot strings of two or three shots and transition these drills between targets and you’ll soon see improvements (especially if you time yourself).
I don’t think of guns in this price range having solid benefits for those who want to train for speed or precision, but the ability to get a high-hand grip and work with a decent trigger with a short rest will allow you to hone skills that will translate well to much more expensive guns.
I’ve had this gun in rotation for more than a year now, so I’ve got nothing but good things to report. I’ve yet to have any failures with the Grizzly. Magazines drop free cleanly. I’d expected to have hiccups with it—or to have to defend some kind of break in period, but that’s not the case.
Even the sights, a place where GLOCK saves money, are an upgrade. The Grizzly feature a photo-luminescent front site which gives a glow. While they’re not as tall as I prefer, they are not on my immediate to-be-replaced list.
Ammo: Feeding the Grizzly
Head-to-head: The BC-101 Versus the GLOCK 17
Why choose a Grizzly over a GLOCK? There are answers that can swing both ways. If you are on a tight budget, this gun is an easy choice. When I began working with the BCA, I thought I’d have to list out all of the sacrifices you’d make to save money, but I’m not seeing them. Instead, I can list the aesthetic improvements and ergonomic wins for the Grizzly line.
It may come down to general longevity. The Grizzly is unproven. Is it odd that I’m saying that right after writing about how reliable it has been? I don’t think so. Not when you consider the alternative. There are millions of GLOCK 17s in the field because they are a proven platform. Bear Creek simply hasn’t been around long enough to stand the test of time.
Another place where GLOCK wins, for exactly the same numerical reasons, is aftermarket support. The Grizzly, however does have some issues when it comes to accessories. While it will fit in GLOCK 17 holsters that have generous tolerances, most retention holsters will pose a problem.
My final take: we need more bears
The Grizzly is one of those rare guns that just makes sense. Over the past year, I’ve introduced several friends to it, and explaining its appeal has never been difficult. It’s absurdly affordable—but never feels cheap, stripped down, or compromised.
That’s what makes it interesting. In a market where many guns are priced like collectibles, people end up locking them away. I carry daily, and carry guns take a beating. They get scratched, dropped, and dirty. That’s their job. And it’s a lot easier to accept that wear when you don’t have a small fortune tied up in your sidearm.
Bear Creek’s Grizzly costs $295. Even the threaded-barrel version—still $295. That price alone makes the decision for most people.
Have you shot one yet? If not, why not?