groberts said:
I read a story where a kid killed a grizzly with a 22. The bear got up on his hind legs, just like grizzlies do, and when he roared the kid shot him in the mouth. Right into the brain.
A 223 will work just fine if you know how to shoot. The problem is most people think 223s are only for ARs and are meant to be shot dozens of times as fast as possible.
I would take that story with a large grain of salt.... first, if the bear is on his hind legs, he ain't coming after you (yet) - he's just trying to get a better look to decide what you are, and if he's far enough that he hasn't decided what you are,
he's too far to shoot with a .22.
Second, unless you're a world-class 3-gun shooter or something similar, that shot is nothing more than pure dumb luck.
I shoot my .223 very slowly and deliberately - it's not an AR, it's a bull-barreled Savage bolt action. Best shot so far is a coyote at 440 yards across a square surveyed 40 acre field - woodline to woodline.