Here along the Upper Yukon, we have been using ARs, mini-14s, and basically old military guns for many years. Sks's, M1s, Vietnam surplus M-14s brought in from Canada, on and on. I have a few AR-15s and a couple mini-14s which we used for caribou,wolves, and bear for many years; just not winchester Q3131 fmjs. Then around 5-6 years back got a 6.8 stag and no turning back. Have killed loads of bou, over a dozen blk bear, wolves, lynx,ect with 110 ttsx's, 28.5 grains H-322, ssa brass. Every bear only went 20 yards, let out his bawl. Have a 338 fed AR10 Armalite, 210 nos parts. Got 3 bulls with that one gun a couple years back, it put every moose down. My new huntin gun is a 308 Scar, load 43 grains TAC, 168 TTSX & also A-frames. Got several caribou last month with the Scar and nephew got a grizz.
I luv Acogs, red dot / ghost ring. have a couple 3.5X35s and a 4x32 on the 6.8. I originally had a 1x4 vortex with CQB reticle 9on Scar)with Larue mount, but I had a run of bad luck, missed a couple caribou and a bear, so I put the Acog back on and my luck went back to normal. Vortex is a great scope, good glass, but I'm so used to that acog reticle I couldn't get use to the Vortex reticle. So the Vortex and that super nice Larue Mount sits on my bench.
I've killed bou out to 550 yards with acogs, but the horseshoe really gets big out that far, all ya need is 20-30 long shots of practice and you'll hit game 4-5 hundred yards also. Most my shots are 100-250 yards though.
I've posted picts before from past years. Posted that grizz pict with Scar a couple weeks back.
I like the semis for the magazines, when I miss from time to time, I always come home with fresh meat and that's what it's all about to me most the time. We also hunt off snowmachines & atvs often enough, Short barrel, collapsible stock ARs with 10 rounds in the mag is how I like to hunt.