I shot water buffalo with 223s, does that count???
Back to topic, I lived in Alaska for 22 years, was a cop in Anchorage for 20 of those. Yeah you get a lot of bear and moose calls, hanging around yards and school bus stops. I haven't shot any bears on duty but I have shot several moose with my Model 28 Service Pistol. But I wouldnt take a 357 moose hunting.
Normaly, unless its an emergency, Fish and Game are called to handle problem bears, Even on the military Bases, (Ft Richardson & Elemdorf). They, the Military Police have their own Fish and Game personal, but We, the civilian police had joint juristriction on bases, if its a problem, the Military Fish and game call in the AK Trooper (fish cops), unless its an emergency of course.
Alaska or not, I wouldnt want to get in a hassle of shooting critters in my yard if I lived on Base, not in todays enviorment. If I remember right, the Sec of Defence just changed the rules for off duty guns on base, normaly that was left to the post commander, its differant now.
While I was in Alaska I was also with the Alaska National Guard, I spent a lot of time with the natives as a Company Commander in the Nome, area. I've seen these guys shoot, they arnt really that good, yeah they use 223s (swipped Guard ammo) but they shoot lots not good. I did see a guy kill a Polar bear in Gambell with a 220 Swift, (right in the Village) I also saw them to shoot at seals, if not hit right they sink and are lost, They lost a lot of seals.
I had one Sgt that was a senior boat captain, I was in Brevic mission when he brought in a Whale, I asked him how many times He shot it, He replied "box and a half of 458, two and a half boxes of 222", and there were 6 other guys in the boat shooting as well, Like I said, they shoot lots, not good. There are exceptions, I've taken a lot of native (guardsman) to the Wilson Matches (National Guard Championships), and I've had several that were outstanding shooters in my sniper schools.
Yeah, people hunt with all types of guns, but that dosnt mean they are the best for the job. To me 223s are for varments or NRA High Power shooting, For hunting I like a good bolt gun and a round that is humane, But thats just me, to each his own.