Which AR-15

[OR_VARMINT_HUNTER]

Which ar-15 would do good for deer and maybe a bear?

I know an ar-10 would be perfect but there heavy want something a bit lighter

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[Dunerunner]

The AR-10 is Armalite's .308 platform, the AR-15 is 5.56 NATO or .223. I wouldn't want to go after black bear with a .223 and although you might be able to take a deer with the round, my feeling is that it is more intended for coyote, raccoon, prarie dogs and the like.

The AR .308 platform isn't much heavier than the AR-15 and would be a much better choice for what you have stated as the intended use.

 

[OR_VARMINT_HUNTER]

Ya but I know with the ar-15 u can get 30 rem ar upper 300aac 6.8spc 6.5grendal 450 bushmaster etc and I have a extra lower laying around so would rather buy an upper then a compete gun

 

[OR4X4]

This list is taken from another site after a quick google search:

AR-15, without bolt modification
.17 Remington
.17/223
.20 Tactical
.20 Practical
.20 Vartag
.204 Ruger
.221 Fireball
.222 Remington
.222 Remington Magnum
.223 Remington (5.56x45mm)
.223 Remington Ackley Improved
6x45mm
6mm TCU
6x47mm
6mm Whisper
.25x45mm
6.5mm Whisper
7mm Whisper
7mm TCU
.300 Whisper (.300/221, .300 Fireball)
.338 Whisper

AR-15, with bolt modification
223 WSSM
5.45x39mm (.21 Genghis)
243 WSSM
6mm PPC
6mm WOA
6mm BR Remington
6mm Hagar
6.5mm PPC
6.5 WSSM
6.5 WOA
6.5mm Grendel
25 WSSM
6.8x43mm SPC
.30 Herrett Rimless Tactical (6.8x43mm case trimmed to 41mm and necked up to .308; the 6.8mm version of the .300 Whisper)
7.62x25
7.62x39mm
.30 RAR
300 OSSM
.357 Auto
.35 Gremlin (necked up 6.5 Grendel to 358)
.358 WSSM (various names, but all are some form of a WSSM necked up to 35 caliber, some are shortened to make them big game legal in Indiana)
.458 SOCOM
.50 Action Express
.50 Beowulf

AR-15 using a simple blowback operation
.17 HMR
.22 LR
.22 WMR
9x19mm
9x21
9x23
30 Carbine
357 Sig
40S&W
400 Cor-Bon
41 Action Express
10mm Auto
45 GAP
45ACP
45 Super
45 Win Mag


Take your pick. Plenty of deer killing calibers in there. Grendel is an awesome caliber.

 

[Dunerunner]

Oh, now you want to be specific!

 

[OR_VARMINT_HUNTER]

Dang that's a good list now I have rounds to research anything good for a
Black bear? Do u happen to know?

 

[BANE]

That is great list! !!!

 

[svtrc51]

People seem to think you need a cannon to take down a black bear around here for some reason..... Yes they have thick skin and bleed out slow, so you have more room for error with a larger caliber (and more waste). Pick you caliber, keep within a decent range, shoot smart. I used to get laughed at for hunting with a 7mm-08. 4 out of 5 animals went down with one shot. The easiest was a bear....

 

[Snopczynski]

6.8 if you don't want to move to an AR10 platform.

 

[Mister_E]

6.8 if you don't want to move to an AR10 platform.

+1 the 6.8 SPC is a pretty good deer round, and would definitely bring down a black bear - as long as you aren't shooting at one that is Sasquatch size.

Or - move up to the .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, or .500 Beowulf - and still be in the AR15 platform. If you can't bring down whatever it is you are shooting with one of those - then you might consider Ma-Deuce