Bear Creek Arsenal’s Kustom Kote Review: Your Custom AR Awaits

We’ve had our fair share of Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA) firearms cross our desks for reviews over the years. The one that has seen the most range time is a BC-15 chambered in .223 Wylde, which we’ve been using as a host for optic reviews and ammo testing.

It has even become the lucky recipient of my first-ever rattle-can paint job to make it a little more custom. Looking back, I could have just waited and had BCA handle it because they now offer their Kustom Kote Cerakote options!

Caption: FDE and black make a great color combination.

I’m a sucker for two-tone builds, so naturally, we had to check out one of BCA’s new FDE Cerakote rifles. Before we dive in, I’d like to send a huge shoutout to the team for sending us a 16-inch BC-15 in Flat Dark Earth (FDE) to join our testing fleet!  

Caption: My other BC-15 definitely didn’t turn out how I envisioned.

Getting a complete rifle from the factory with a Cerakote finish of your choice for under $600 is a soli deal if you ask me.

Even though I’ve had great luck with previous BCA firearms, I kept my expectations in check when it came to the quality of the Cerakote finish since they were just rolling out the service.

Caption: For a budget optic to go along with it, check out the Swampfox Raider.

I’m very happy to say that my expectations were exceeded. The Cerakote was applied extremely evenly, with no thin spots or blotches, except for the smallest area on the inside of the upper receiver. You wouldn’t even notice it unless you had the bolt held open and looked inside the receiver.

Caption: Side-charging takes some getting used to.

Every other nook and cranny was covered, with the exact same shade. Believe it or not, I’ve seen some Cerakote jobs where even though the entire receiver or firearm was supposed to be a “single color,” it had varying shades of that color. This was not the case here.

All of the other components outside of the upper and lower receiver are your standard black. From the barrel and muzzle device to the controls and furniture, the black accents look great.

Caption: An FDE flash hider would just get dirtier quicker!

Aside from looking tacti-cool, there are other advantages to Cerakoting your firearms. The biggest draw is the increased durability. Think of it as a protective shell in a sense, that provides enhanced corrosion and abrasion resistance to your gun.

While it does have the potential to scratch and chip like any other coating would, it will at least help mitigate the scratching of your actual firearm. And let’s be honest, that first benefit of looking cool is a big selling feature within itself.

At the time of writing this article, BCA has plenty of AR-15 and AR-10 receivers and complete rifles to choose from in all sorts of colors that include: FDE, OD Green, Tungsten, and Midnight Bronze. There are even some camouflage patterns available in limited configurations.

Caption: Make the green a little more subtle and I’m down. Source

There is a note on the site that future customization and color options are coming, and since BCA has a catalog of over 24 calibers, I’m guessing we’ll have more options than we know what to do with before the end of the year.

Getting your custom Cerakote rifle from Bear Creek Arsenal is super easy.

Just go to their Kustom Kote page, pick the rifle or parts you want, and choose your favorite Cerakote color, like FDE, OD Green, Tungsten, and more.

Once you’ve got your setup the way you like it, check out like you would on any other website. That’s it! You’ll get a rifle that not only looks awesome but has added protection, too—without the high price tag of a custom shop.

As we do with every firearm, we hit the range almost immediately and put it through its paces. After all, it doesn’t really matter how your firearm looks if it can’t perform.

While I haven’t had this particular rifle for very long, I have managed to put a quick 300 rounds through it and have had zero malfunctions.

Caption: This might be my new “testing” gun.

I don’t have any reservations about it continuing to perform reliably, but only time will truly tell.

If you’re in the market for a new AR-15 or AR-10 and are on a tight budget, consider adding Bear Creek Arsenal to your list of potential options.

At least in my experience, its rifles have been reliable, accurate, and leave you with extra money for ammo and accessories.

As always, be safe, train hard, and have fun!