[Chuckster]

It has to be light, weather resistant and reliable. I would prefer something harder hitting (We have large brown bears here) but Herself says I will be carrying the 12 ga so she does not need the extra weight of the .308 and will not consider a bolt action.

[USMCPOP]

Lever action .30-30 or an SKS. Fairly simple, reliable, hit reasonably hard, light.

[JoeProBono]

Saiga IZ 240 AK 74 Rifle imported ,545 x 39 semi auto AK 74 Hunting Rifles. $499.00

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/component/virtuemart/shipping-rifles/saiga-iz-240-ak-74-rifle-detail.html?Itemid=0

[meadsjn]

Mini-14 accuracy is not acceptable; +/- 3 to 4 inches in all directions at 100 yards. I'd be willing to trade three of them for one decent AR-15.

They're probably just fine for a ten-yard gun against -- what? Too inaccurate to hit something little, and not suitable to shoot something big enough to hit. Great for making noise; not for target shooting or hunting.

I stick with a .30-06 or .308 for hunting. YMMV

[Renegade]

You can pick up a Century AK N-Pap m70 (7.62x39) for about 500 bucks.Ammo is available at $225.00/1000 rnds.30 round mags and a hoot to shoot

[mouser]

Another great choice would be a stainless steel lever in 45-70

If bears a worry plenty of power can be had in 18 inch to 24 inch barrel

Proving and easy to use

[Vaquero]

A mini 30 might be better than a .223 especially in AK where you really should have ENOUGH GUN. Neither the .223. Nor the 7.62x39 is really enough for AK except for 2 legged varmints.

How about a Marlin Guide Gun. Lever action in .450 marlin or .45-70 if you reload. A pump or semi auto 12 gauge loaded with sabot slugs would be a good short range bear stopped.

[Hammerhead]

AR-15 with 1/7 twist (i.e., Colt)

you can load up to 77 gr. bullet with no problem in accuracy. A 75+ gr. hollow point will do some serious damage.

[ßuddaßudd]

aaaa kaaayyy four T seven
boo ya

[pallis]

I had a friend from Homer who used a 22-250 to keep his freezer full of moose meat. If you can brain pan em’ it is doable, but I wouldn’t want to irritate brown bears with a .223, not to mention the fact that mini-14s aren’t exactly known for their accuracy. If I planned on spending time in brown bear country, a 338 Win mag in stainless bolt action would be my minimum choice. The wife would have to get educated on the virtues of dependable bolt guns and dangerous game. You might also look into some of the AR-10 type rifles. Some of them are very accurate. I’m pretty sure you can get a Browning, BAR, in 300 win mag, and maybe 338. That would be a good choice. A Remington 7400 might be another, and a 44 carbine wouldn’t be bad for close up work. Never underestimate the virtue of big holes. Talk to Alaskans who spend a lot of time hunting and in the company of big bears.

[Georgia Girl 2]

You can pick up a Wyndham AR 15 HBC for about $900. We have one ands its extremely accurate as well as lighter than the Bushmaster.

I would think in Brown Bear country the Mini 14 would be to use on yourself in case you are attacked. :-)

[unixman9627]

I bought a Mini-30 about a year ago and love it. Recommend it to anyone.

[vetvetdoug]

My late wife carried a .308 short barrel M1-A with a synthetic stock fitted with a scope and laser pointer. She was 5-2 and 125#.

[familyop]

An AR type would likely be more accurate and certainly more versatile and easy for a woman to fire.

[familyop]

If you want better terminal ballistics for larger critters, look at 6.8 SPC (Stag arms, good with 16” barrel).

[CodeToad]

NOTHIGN in 223 is good for shooting bears. A powerful handgun is a better choice than a weak rifle.

[MasterGunner01]

Do not buy a Mini-14 (or any derivative of this rifle. Why, because Ruger will not sell you certain spare parts such as: 1) firing pin, 2) extractor, 3) ejector, 4) trigger housing group parts. The Mini-14 is very similar (bolt assembly and trigger housing group) to the M1 Garand and M14 rifles. These rifles were designed for part replacement by operators of parts in either of these assemblies. Ruger says you as a shooter are too ignorant to work on these highly technical mechanisms and that only skilled union factory labor are qualified. have a worn or broken part in either the bolt assembly or trigger housing group and it goes to the factory for repairs.

I don't know if Ruger’s policy applies to its AR-15 clone called the SR556, but there are many guns of this type as good as or better than the Ruger product.

Recommendations: Steer clear of Rugers and Colts (different reasons for the Colts). Go with these guys for quality, Mil-Spec AR-15 rifles or carbines (in no particular order): 1) ArmaLite, 2) Bushmaster, 3)DPMS (Panther Arms), 4) Les Baer, 5) Lewis Machine & Tool, 6) Olympic Arms, 7) POF-USA, 9) Rock River Arms, 9) Remington Arms, 10) Smith & Wesson, 11) Stag Arms, 12) Model 1 Sales, 13) Wilson Combat.

[makersmk2013]

Consider a black rifle in 6.5 grendel.It has less recoil and will shoot with the 308 out to 1000 yards.At 100 yds the 308 has 2290 ft lbs,the 6.5 is 1867,at 600 yds they are 1079 and 1046.The 6.5 actually loses energy and drops less than the 308 both done with 24” barrel.You can build your own for less than $650 if you are so inclined.