Which caliber for general woods use and wildlife protection

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G.Mitchell

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I know this has been hashed out ad nauseam on many many forums... However here goes...

With the new "AR" style and compatible receiver sets coming to market I have renewed interest in building and carrying a black rifle in the wilds of northern Alberta.

I am looking for a caliber that would serve me well for general wilderness carry, possibly just for plinking, maybe hunting if the opportunity arose, for dealing with predators on my property, and worst case dealing with a bear if confronted by an aggressive animal.

I know that is a lot to ask of one caliber. Staying within the size requirements to fit an AR mag and run in an AR15 sized platform what would you folks suggest?

There are many many options in the US but not all those parts are available to us in Canada. I would prefer a caliber that will fit and function with a LAR15 mag for max mag capacity.

I would prefer to stay away from the big big bore cartridges like .50, .458, .450, etc to keep recoil down to allow for follow up shots and to gain some additional long(er) range.

I do not want to step up to the AR10 sized platform since part of the appeal of the AR15 sized rifle is that once trained my wife and older children can also use the rifle in a pinch.

I know this has been debated and discussed many times, just looking for a fresh take from the members here who might have some experience converting other non restricted black rifles into solid woods use rifles.

Thanks
 
You could tacticool up an sks

Just buy the tactical version of the VZ58 or 858.

7.62x39 should take care of your needs just fine.
 
Gnome75 said:
You could tacticool up an sks

Just buy the tactical version of the VZ58 or 858.

7.62x39 should take care of your needs just fine.
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Thanks for the suggestion, I had a done up VZ58, but sold it. After all the work I had done it still didn't meet my needs. Great gun but hard to mount a traditional scope on it when wanted/needed.
 
I've seen and been around what lurks in the Crown land woods, out here.

I respectfully think that you may be lightweight going AR15, but I am not familiar enough with the platform to know what has the punch you need. My BCL 102 is with me, anytime I am out and about in these woods.

Tagging in to see what options are provided to you, by those who know the AR15 platform better than I.
 
Which caliber for general woods use and wildlife protection
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Good old .303 British soft points in a handy dandy No. 5 jungle carbine. It will put down anything in the woods that might harm you.
 
I've got other rifles and shotguns for woods protection, what I'm wondering is if one could make a woods use capable rifle out of a non restricted "AR15 like" rifle. I know other guns are better suited however my taste in firearms leans heavily towards modern sporting rifles.
 
G.Mitchell said:
I've got other rifles and shotguns for woods protection, what I'm wondering is if one could make a woods use capable rifle out of a non restricted "AR15 like" rifle. I know other guns are better suited however my taste in firearms leans heavily towards modern sporting rifles.
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Maybe a modern varminter or Mccabee in 6.5 grendel 120 grain minimum that should give you slightly better punch than a 30-30 without the ballistic impediment
 
If magazine capacity is a major issue for you, the 6.5 / 6.8 options will be a significant compromise over the 300 Blackout (and other .223-parent cartridges).

Do LAR mags even feed the 6.5 / 6.8?
 
If you're serious about bears, then small, light bullets are generally not great for penetration. The 6.5 / 6.8 options have similar close-in performance to a 30/30 with light bullets, which would be a very poor choice if bears are around.

Unless you go to a specialized large-bore upper (e.g. 458 SOCOM), it seems like a BIG stretch. Then it seems like you might as well go to the AR-10, and then you lose the magazine capacity advantage, right?
 
I really like 6.8 but I'm not sure it's a knock down cartridge if you're including grizzly on your bump in the night list. An AR 10 pattern rifle may be more appropriate with all the 6.5 and 7.62 options out there. Pencil/carbon barrel and lightweight furniture would make for a nice feather weight woods rifle.
 
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