Opinion
In the modern world of gun ownership, no example of the extremes of handgun pricing is more evident than what is occurring now. Shooters have never had it so good — if you want to spend over a thousand dollars on a custom-made competition pistol, they’re out there. There are many pistols and revolvers priced between $500 and $1000, to be sure. They tend to be well-made and reliable.
But what if you can’t swing spending that much on a gun? You want something for personal or home protection, or something to ventilate the odd tin can with, now and then. You would prefer it to be a striker-fired pistol with no safety lever (but safe nonetheless, with a trigger safety), and in 9mm since ammo is plentiful – plus, the caliber is easy on the shooter. What do you do?
Fortunately, you’re covered. Many companies now make some nice handguns at lower price points. One of those companies is Bear Creek Arsenal in Sanford, North Carolina, and the specific pistol is their P-101 Grizzly 9mm.
Bear Creek Arsenal Grizzly 9mm – A Pistol?
Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA) is known for its AR platform rifles, carbines, and pistols. They sell complete rifles, uppers, lowers, and all kinds of other stuff. They were not known for making a 9mm striker-fired handgun until recently. The original Grizzly was a well-made, inexpensive pistol introduced earlier this year in April. After a couple of months, BCA changed a few things about the pistol and that is the version we have before us. If you look at the BCA Grizzly website, you’ll see two different pistols as of this writing. The one on the left has a polished barrel hood, while the one on the right has a hood that is black. I think that is the quickest way to distinguish between the two. I have the latter, black-hooded one. It is a doozy of a pistol.
One thing I noticed about the gun and its box was its branding.
This has nothing to do with the gun’s function, but it speaks volumes about the company and its presence in the marketplace. I was in sales many years — sold pianos and organs and later computers — and I recognize good marketing when I see it. There is no doubt who made, or sent, the pistol you’re holding.
Full-Size Or Compact?
If you want a full, duty-sized pistol (17-plus round capacity, 5-inch barrel), this is your huckleberry. I have also reviewed compact (15-round capacity) budget pistols… they are out there. I used to think that the compact was the way to go for concealed carry, but my thinking has evolved to the point where I like the larger-framed gun over the smaller one. Even with my less-than-svelte body shape, it doesn’t take much more to conceal a full-size pistol over a compact one.
Those of you with larger hands may want to consider sticking to the full-size frame. Our oldest son has hands that won’t quite fit around a basketball, but… they are pretty big. The compacts just don’t fit him… he went with a full-size, 18+1, 9mm when he recently acquired a new pistol. My hands can go either way, so I went with the larger grip and capacity of the Grizzly. I truly like this pistol.
Specs
What with all the poly-framed striker-fired 9s out there, you’d think that specs would be fairly standard across the frame sizes. To a point, this is true but every model is a bit different. Here are the specs for the Grizzly. The weight, sights, and trigger pull are from my measurements and observations.
- Caliber: 9mm
- Weight: 23.4 oz.
- Magazine Capacity: 17; Two KCI mags included
- Barrel Length: 5″, non-threaded
- Twist: 1:16
- Barrel Finish: Black Nitride
- Material: 4150 Chrome Moly Vanadium
- Flutes: Bear Claw
- Trigger Pull Weight: 5 lbs, 5 oz.
- Sights: Photo-luminescent blue dot
- MSRP: $295
Live Inventory Price Checker
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Bear Creek Arsenal Universal Pistol Cleaning Kit | Bear Creek Arsenal | $ 43.99 |
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Bear Creek Arsenal 9MM PATRIOT SERIES(R) PISTOL CLEANING KIT | Bear Creek Arsenal | $ 22.99 |
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Bear Creek Arsenal Bear Claw Decal | Bear Creek Arsenal | $ 1.00 |
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Bear Creek Arsenal Ballistic Rangefinder | Up to 1500 Yards | Bear Creek Arsenal | $ 399.99 |
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So, we see a duty-size pistol that weighs about as much as other compacts. It is light, carries well, and sits very nicely in the hand. It also costs a little more than half of several other full-size 9mms. Sometimes, that low cost can usher in some undesirable traits, but in this case, that hasn’t happened. I was impressed with its construction.
Pros:
- Full-size 9mm with two high-capacity magazines
- Optics-ready
- Very well made – no machining marks or other production anomalies
- Larger magazines compatible
- Reliable – no stoppages when I shot it
- Accurate with the right ammo
- Sights are photo-luminescent
- Very affordable
Cons
- Internal metal surfaces could be polished a little more
Texturing
The texturing is interesting… BCA calls it “Bear Fur”. I’ve shown the pistol to several shooters, and each one commented on the texturing. They like it because it is just enough to keep your grip solid — not too abrasive, not too smooth. They put it all around the grip – sides, front, and back. They also put a texture pad where your trigger finger should rest when it’s not on the trigger. Luckily for lefties like me, the pads are on both sides of the gun. The last comment usually made about the “fur” is that it looks good, better than stippling. Judge for yourself from the photos.
Other Features
Frame
The frame has a 20-degree grip angle, within a couple of degrees to that of a 1911. It is comfortable in my hand.
And, just as above, the left and right sides of the slide – lots of machining here, with lightening cuts on the sides and top. All the better to see the barrel’s “Bear Claw Flutes…
Above, you can see the optics cut cover plate – BCA calls it a “window cut”. RMR-footprint optics will fit it without adapter plates. Bear Creek Arsenal sells optics… check it out here.
And, under the slide:
The frame’s top:
Sights
The barrel and its fluting…
And, something to guide those magazines into the pistol…
Taking The Grizzly Apart
I won’t go into too much detail here — the Griz comes apart like about 90% of striker-fired pistols out there.
Make sure the gun is empty and pull the takedown tabs down. Pull the slide off the frame and separate the barrel and captive, flat-wound spring. Clean as needed and put it back together. One thing to pay attention to: make sure the spring is fully seated under the barrel, in the second detent. Otherwise, you can’t get the slide on the frame.
How Does It Shoot?
This wasn’t my first rodeo with the Grizzly. I had reviewed it before and found that it really liked certain Fiocchi ammo. Sadly, I did not see this on their website recently but I’m sure they’ll have something similar to it in a different box. They make good ammo that won’t break your shooting budget. They show 17 9mm loads, for all purposes. I would imagine a 115-grain load from their Classic line would fill the bill here.
Anyway, the gun is fun to shoot. A 5-inch, full-size 9mm will not show much recoil and this gun is no exception.
Here are three 25-yard targets. I shot what I had on hand, three factory practice loads. None of the groups are earth-shaking, but this is training ammo and, as such, is sufficient for the purpose.
Barnaul steel-cased ammo was, once upon a time when prices were lower, the go-to for practice ammo. I had some, so I tried it… yawn… My Garmin Xero C1 Pro tells me that this load averages 1099 f.p.s with a Standard Deviation of 7.4 f.p.s. – that’s an impressive SD number.
Another yawn. excepting the two shots in almost one hole. The Blazer load wasn’t the best of the three. It, like most of the others, shot high. I’ll have to use a 6:00 hold. It was good for 1177 f.p.s. with a Standard Deviation of 16.1 f.p.s.
Fiocchi’s Training Dynamics was (barely) the best of the three. At least it shot closer to point-of-aim. The average velocity was 1119 f.p.s. with a Standard Deviation of 13.9 f.p.s.
I did not set the shooting world on fire with these groups. The search for accurate 9mm ammo continues. My past experience with the Grizzly has shown that it can be very accurate, given the right ammo. I shoot what I have or have access to… those with a more varied ammo locker should experience better results.
To Sum Up
If you’re in the market for a full-size 9mm with a 17+1 capacity, the Grizzly is definitely worth a look. I’ve reviewed several budget-friendly 9mm pistols, and the Grizzly stands out as my favorite. It’s not going back—I’m keeping it.
Built from quality materials and assembled with care, the Grizzly feels solid in hand. Whether you’re heading out for a hike or just want a dependable sidearm, this is the one I find myself reaching for. Its generous capacity, reliable build, and comfortable ergonomics earned it a place in my holster. Maybe it’ll earn a spot in yours, too.
Its real-world price of around $250 doesn’t hurt, either. Check it out!
Bear Creek Arsenal SIDE CHARGING 7.62×39 Rifle, One Handy Rifle!
About Mike Hardesty
With experience spanning over 45 years, Mike Hardesty has long enjoyed shooting and reloading. An inveterate reloader, he casts bullets and reloads for a diverse array of firearms, each handled with long-practiced precision. Living in rural Indiana, his homestead boasts a personal 100-yard range where he shares his love for guns to his four sons, their wives, and eleven grandchildren. As a recognized author, his writings have been featured in notable platforms like Sniper Country, Bear Creek Arsenal Blog, Pew Pew Tactical, TTAG, Dillon Precision’s Blue Press, and Gun Made, revealing his ongoing passion for firearms at the age of 72.
