Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?

[acnewman55]

Just curious to see what others are using on the ar15 pattern.

I have an AR in .223 wylde but I'm looking into building up an AR10 pattern .308 rifle for bear hunting... Just thought I'd see if anyone is doing it from the smaller format AR15 pattern.

[actionshooter]

I don't think there is a caliber in the AR15 I would hunt bear with.....MAYBE Blackout from a bait,treestand but that would be about it.

[sled]

Took my spring bear last year with my Springfield socom.  I'm my avatar.  It is 308 cal.  Not an AR, but proven cal.

[Biggerhammer]

I would shoot WA Black Bear with a 6.5 Grendel and a 130gr Accubond all day long. Or a Hornady InterLock just the same.

[CAMPMEAT]

Maybe my Rock River 458 SOCOM this year if I get drawn for spring bear....

[Biggerhammer]

Maybe my Rock River 458 SOCOM this year if I get drawn for spring bear....

The SOCOM or the .450 Bushmaster would be a good choice.

[grundy53]

I use my .450 Bushmaster when I'm calling for bears. It puts big holes in things.

[grundy53]

I would shoot WA Black Bear with a 6.5 Grendel and a 130gr Accubond all day long. Or a Hornady InterLock just the same.

[Ripper]

I haven't but I would with a 308, not a 223 though.

[Jonathan_S]

Not me.  I'd rather used a long barrel and bolt action any day of the week for bear hunting.  Seems like most bear hunting is medium-long range especially in Spring.

Unless I was stand hunting in short visibility

[CAMPMEAT]

Maybe my Rock River 458 SOCOM this year if I get drawn for spring bear....

The SOCOM or the .450 Bushmaster would be a good choice.

................or my Tikka 300 WSSM 

[Rob]

I'd have to reread the regs, but doesn't the 24 cal min apply to bears?

[tonymiller7]

I'd have to reread the regs, but doesn't the 24 cal min apply to bears?

Yes, all big game, except cougars

[Machias]

You don't need a big bore to bring down WA bears.  Of the 8 I have killed none ran further than 50 yards and most were around <40 yards.  But I don't shoot long range and I make dang sure I blow out both lungs.  I don't try and break down their shoulders or any of that stuff. Shot right behind the front shoulder and at a good angle and you'll have a dead bear inside of 50 yards.  Only one bear of the 8 was not shot behind the shoulder and that one was shot between the eyes at around 10 yards, he travelled straight down.  I think some guys have problems putting bears down because they shoot way out of their own effective range and they don't take good shots.  You take out both lungs and they will not travel far at all.  .30-.30, .308 .270, .30-06, plenty of gun for Washington state black bears.

[BULLBLASTER]

  machias.
Black bears arent bullet proof... a bullet in the lungs and down they go. Id use a 6-223 and not think twice if i had one.