To the OP, "are bears a consideration..." Depends on the level of baranoia you have. Personally, I want a rifle that I feal can easily kill a bear if I have less than perfect shot opportunity, or need to put a second one in as they charge off into the bush. Depends on where you're hunting though... bears up north are not costal bears, there are on occasion some huge bears killed up north, but by and large I'd guess that the interior bears are maybe 300-400 pound tops. There is a big difference IMO, between hunting and killing a bear, and having to stop a wounded pissed off bear. Don't F up the first shot and you don't have to worry about the later. Doubtful that it really matters what you have in your hand if you need to stop a charging bear. There is little to no evidence that supports the theory that bigger will save your life. Every situation is different, and encounters are extremely rare.
If you haven't heard of this book "The Alaska Wolf Man" pick up a copy and read it. It will give you a sense of what hunting is about using state of the art weaponry in the 1930s +/- and the results. You will likely be surprised and entertained. Its an excellent book, and once you get a better lay of the land up here, and spend some time walking in Frank's footsteps, you will appreciate it that much more.
As I mentioned, there is no right or wrong answer, only you can make that choice after gathering all the information, and deciding for yourself. I have a number of bigger bore rifles, but rarely pack them. I have a number of rifles that I feel are "best" for a given circumstance/hunt. Hunting moose in the thick brushed swamp is different than hunting them in open terrain in the mountains where shots could be far. Our of the dozen or so moose I'm intimately familiar with, all shots were less than 100 yards with exception of 1, that was about 300. Same with Caribou, out of a couple dozen, shots where maybe 150 yards on average, many closer, and a couple a bit farther. I think the farthest was about 300. Sheep average about 250 yards. Bears have been similar to moose, etc. Shoots are not crazy far, and there is almost always a way to get closer.
Here is a list of big game rifles I hunt with up here... Some are blue/wood (gasp), some are SS. I don't dick around with multiple weights of bullets, I go for what I feel is optimum for case capacity/velocity/accuracy at typical hunting ranges, and roll one load and be done with it. They all have a purpose, and all are capable for any animal, but I let my mind dictate at the moment of truth when the safe opens... I wouldn't take some to hunt near salt water, nor would some get packed on a 10-day sheep hunt, or a float hunt, etc. The ones with * usually get to ride along for long trips, where maintenance could be a problem (i.e. long backpack trips). If I was hunting moose in thick bush, I'd probably take the 325/375, if there was a chance at caribou and distances may be farther, I'd take the 325, or 300, etc, etc. As I said, mental gymnastics, and the reason I don't own just one rifle. I couldn't do it... haha Could I get by with just one? Sure... I could also get by with an 8wt fly rod, and a 7 iron, but I like tripping over 2 dozen rods in the garage for 10 months out of the year, and I like improving my golf game.
260 - blue/plastic - caribou, deer, black bears, predators (have lighter rifles for mountain hunting, and I think there are better options for bigger critters, with a bit more room for error/recovery shots)
270 blue/wood - sheep, goats caribou, deer, black bears (similar to the 260, effective, but better options for bigger animals)
280 blue/wood - sheep, goats, caribou, deer, bears, moose
*308 - SS/syn - sheep, goats, caribou, deer, bears, moose
30/06 blue/wood - caribou, deer, bears, moose (have lighter rifles for mountain hunts)
300 WSM ss/syn - caribou, deer, bears, moose (have lighter rifles for mountain hunts)
*325 WSM ss/syn - caribou, deer, bears, moose (have lighter rifles for mountain hunts)
338-06AI blue/wood - caribou, deer, bears, moose (have lighter rifles for mountain hunts)
35 B/W blue/wood - sheep, goats, caribou, deer, bears, moose (7lb rifle, with brutal recoil, but fun to shoot)
*375 H&H blue/ss/syn - caribou, deer, bears, moose, and mastodons (have lighter rifles for mountain hunts)
).
They know that you can’t “sneak” one out! memtb
