Commentary on a bear gun

[yoteassasin]

The question is, are they using 5.56 or something more substantial?

If I were packing an AR (don't even own one) I wouldn't be packing a 5.56. Something at least on the level of .44mag (around the .458 SOCOM area, give or take... I think) but I would far rather pack a slim levergun or shotgun.

.308 never is a bad option. I think I can smell another Saiga coming up. However, REALLY want a 7.62x54R Saiga, that would just be killer!

yes they are using 5.56. He (your buddy) needs to figure out what he is doing. If he is hunting he will probably have his hunting rifle in hand most of the time, and if this rifle is trusted to bring down and elk or monster montana mule it will also be the best for bear defense and a nice hefty wheel gun on his hip is his best choice for secondary protection, 44 mag,45lc+p(my fav) ,454 and up.
it would be very impractical to carry a hunting rifle and an AR
Now if he is say fly fishing and wants to have some bear protection a 12ga over the back would be my choice but a lever gun and an AR (223,6.8,458,50beo) and a 308 saiga are also appropriate choices
yess a 7.62X54r saiga would be bad i might even buy one

[yellowfin]

If you can have your pick, I'd say a .45-70 in a lever gun would be tops.

[k1dude]

I thought I read somewhere that the Inuit's favor the 5.56 over all other calibers for bear. I also read that gas piston AR's don't have the low temp operating problems that DI AR's have up there. I remember reading a story where a Polar Bear wandered into one of the little towns up there. An old dude tracked it and took it out with 5 shots of .223 from his AR when it charged him.

I suspect if I were confronted by an attacking bear, I think I might find more comfort in being able to put 30 rounds of 5.56 quickly and on target rather than dealing with 2 or 3 rounds of 45-70 with the heavy recoil and lever cycling while in a panic. I think I'd be using heavy 75 to 80 gr SP's for maximum damage in a 1:7 AR if I were in bear country.

But what do I know? I've never been in that situation and hope I never am.