Because someone knows everything......an AR exercise....

[h20hunter]

Here's the deal. A guy I know.....a good friend.....doesn't know nada about ar's. I know little more when it comes down to it. He knows his way around salmon, prawns, some 'butt.....and a few dive bars in Sitka. Since it's established he knows jack about scary blacks guns he needs his hand held. Knowing he hunts deer, but tromps grizz territory and would likely find himself with the possibility of snacking a blackie......what should he do for an upper on a S&W M&P, AR 15 Scout 2.

What uppers with mags are plug and play? Heavy bullets vs smaller and faster copper penetrators like barnes? Suggestions should revolve around commercially available ammo. What, if you were a boat capt would you do to have the best bang for your buck/bear so to speak?

[Dan-o]

If i was worried about bears, 458 SOCOM is the ballistic equivalent of a 45/70, and you can do it in AR-15.
a semi-auto "45/70" would be fairly potent.


If I wanted to reach out a bit for a Sitka Blacktail, I'd go 6.5 Grendel.  20" barrels, or longer, are available fairly inexpensively for ARs.

Commercial ammo is available for both.

[Caseknife]

450 Bushmaster has quite a thump.  I shoot the 250 gr Barnes XPB at 2200fps, don't think you can get solid copper in factory loads.  Do need to put a different follower in the pmag, other than that it is plug and play.

[ctwiggs1]

You can pop a 458 upper on to an AR lower?  I’ve got a finished lower I never did anything with... that could be fun.

[CP]

He can find what he needs here

https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/upper-assemblies?spec_caliber=346

[dreadi]

You can pop a 458 upper on to an AR lower?  I’ve got a finished lower I never did anything with... that could be fun.

Yes, you can. And if you’re within range with the right load, even take a bull.

I agree with Dan-o.

[carpsniperg2]

450 bushmaster all day long.
Underwood ammo has some sold copper options that would have no problem smoking a grizz if needed. Also great for close range blacktails! 200 and under would be my choice.

[HAGEMANIAC]

You can pop a 458 upper on to an AR lower?  I’ve got a finished lower I never did anything with... that could be fun.

Absolutely!! I believe it even uses 5.56 mags, extra bonus.

[Skillet]

This sounds like a really cool guy!   

As a bit more info, I think your friend probably won't have a shot over 150 yards while calling blacktails in the jungle during the rut.  Later in the season, he'd probably like to switch back to 223 for beach hunting after the bears have gone to bed.  Those can be longer shots at times.

[grundy53]

.450 Bushmaster, .458 Socom, or .50 Beowulf. One note if you reload, the Bushmaster takes .452 bullets whereas the Socom takes .458

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[grundy53]

I have a .450 bushmaster and would be comfortable with it in bear country.

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[Blacklab]

If i was worried about bears, 458 SOCOM is the ballistic equivalent of a 45/70, and you can do it in AR-15.
a semi-auto "45/70" would be fairly potent.


If I wanted to reach out a bit for a Sitka Blacktail, I'd go 6.5 Grendel.  20" barrels, or longer, are available fairly inexpensively for ARs.

Commercial ammo is available for both.

Exactly what my  would give 😉🥃🇺🇸

[Yondering]

He can find what he needs here

https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/upper-assemblies?spec_caliber=346

Sure, if you want the cheapest junk possible that may or may not work well.

Guys, if you're just starting out with an AR and don't know much about them or how to tell if your parts are built right, don't buy cheap junk like Bear Creek. You don't have to go high end like Daniel Defense, but at least stick with something middle of the road that has a reasonable reputation for working well.

[HAGEMANIAC]

He can find what he needs here

https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/upper-assemblies?spec_caliber=346

Sure, if you want the cheapest junk possible that may or may not work well.

Guys, if you're just starting out with an AR and don't know much about them or how to tell if your parts are built right, don't buy cheap junk like Bear Creek. You don't have to go high end like Daniel Defense, but at least stick with something middle of the road that has a reasonable reputation for working well.

PSA? I’m a novice here, too.

[dreadi]

You can pop a 458 upper on to an AR lower?  I’ve got a finished lower I never did anything with... that could be fun.

Absolutely!! I believe it even uses 5.56 mags, extra bonus.

They do. Some people swear by using followers designed for the caliber and/or Lancer mags only. However, factory 20rd 5.56 Colt mags and regular 30rd 5.56 Pmags have been all I’ve tried out and they all have worked without any modifications.