Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: acnewman55 on March 09, 2015, 08:13:42 PM

Title: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: acnewman55 on March 09, 2015, 08:13:42 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: actionshooter on March 09, 2015, 08:15:57 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: sled on March 09, 2015, 08:16:04 PM: Took my spring bear last year with my Springfield socom. I'm my avatar. It is 308 cal. Not an AR, but proven cal.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: Biggerhammer on March 09, 2015, 09:21:26 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on March 09, 2015, 09:30:35 PM: Maybe my Rock River 458 SOCOM this year if I get drawn for spring bear....
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: Biggerhammer on March 09, 2015, 09:41:40 PM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on March 09, 2015, 09:30:35 PM
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.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: grundy53 on March 09, 2015, 09:53:32 PM: I use my .450 Bushmaster when I'm calling for bears. It puts big holes in things.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: grundy53 on March 09, 2015, 09:56:22 PM: Quote from: Biggerhammer on March 09, 2015, 09:21:26 PM
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.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: Ripper on March 10, 2015, 06:30:07 AM: I haven't but I would with a 308, not a 223 though.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: Jonathan_S on March 10, 2015, 06:41:27 AM: 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 :dunno:
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: CAMPMEAT on March 10, 2015, 06:52:43 AM: Quote from: Biggerhammer on March 09, 2015, 09:41:40 PM
Quote from: CAMPMEAT on March 09, 2015, 09:30:35 PM
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 :tup: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: Rob on March 10, 2015, 06:56:26 AM: I'd have to reread the regs, but doesn't the 24 cal min apply to bears?
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: tonymiller7 on March 10, 2015, 06:59:13 AM: Quote from: Rob on March 10, 2015, 06:56:26 AM
I'd have to reread the regs, but doesn't the 24 cal min apply to bears?

Yes, all big game, except cougars
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: Machias on March 11, 2015, 09:53:14 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: BULLBLASTER on March 11, 2015, 09:59:40 AM: :yeah: 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.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: 300rum on March 11, 2015, 10:02:42 AM: I have seen a bear shot by a 450 Bushmaster, it did a great job.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: buglebrush on March 11, 2015, 10:05:48 AM: .308 is plenty. I've killed all mine with my .270
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: jkononen on March 11, 2015, 10:10:12 AM: I've got a 450 bushmaster for sale if anybody is interested in trying an AR on a bear. Haha
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: tgomez on March 12, 2015, 03:24:49 PM: .308 will do just fine, and has already dropped plenty of bear in the past. Anything over a .270 will do the job, its all about shot placement. My recomindation is to take your AR out and test the accuracy at different ranges to assure maximum accuracy of your particular AR set-up.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: acnewman55 on March 12, 2015, 07:25:01 PM: Thanks for the feedback folks.

To be clear: was not talking about shooting a bear with 223!

I'm sure .308 is plenty, I'm just trying to decide if I want to build on the AR15 or AR10 platform of at all. I have a .308 bolt gun that will do the job.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 12, 2015, 07:31:58 PM: If you wanted to hunt with a AR 15 base type rifle. Build a 6.5 Grendel or 243 wssm. There is also some other calibers out there that I would have no problem with whacking a bear with.

In the AR 10 7mm-08/308 etc all will do fine on bear.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: jrebel on March 12, 2015, 07:54:10 PM: I am having a hard time deciding which medicine to give to my spring bear....45/70 (AKA Thumper), R25 .308, or old faithful Savage Model 114 .270???? Any thoughts? Maybe the super redhawk in 454 if it happens up close and personal. OH the decisions.....
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: Todd_ID on March 13, 2015, 03:51:18 PM: Quote from: jrebel on March 12, 2015, 07:54:10 PM
I am having a hard time deciding which medicine to give to my spring bear....45/70 (AKA Thumper), R25 .308, or old faithful Savage Model 114 .270???? Any thoughts? Maybe the super redhawk in 454 if it happens up close and personal. OH the decisions.....
I elected for the lever .45-70 last year and was happy with it. I wish I would have just taken my bow, but you only can carry so much in the backcountry.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: follow maggie on March 13, 2015, 04:24:20 PM: I vote 45-70 because it's cool. I'm thinking of getting one this year.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: grundy53 on March 16, 2015, 11:23:58 AM: The .450 Bushmaster is basically a semi auto 45/70. Ballistics wise.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: ivankom on March 24, 2015, 09:55:08 AM: legally you can hunt big game with caliber 24 and up
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: Wenatcheejay on April 03, 2015, 08:29:31 PM: AR 15 platforms have a vast array of calibers equal to a 30-30. Shot placement and bullet makeup makes all the difference. If that's not enough, there's always the beuwolf .50.
Title: Re: Anyone hunting WA black bears with an AR15?
Post by: Bucks2Ducks on April 03, 2015, 09:06:16 PM: I always wanted to hunt bear with an AR10, but they are so damn heavy. If I'm gonna pack a 10+lb rifle up a mountain it would be a 338 lapua.