ToFar...One thing you need to consider...

Currituck County has quite a few bears...Now, I grew up in Gates County and have used a .243 since 1980 and do well with it, in fact, I have killed 6 black bears with it...But...I'm not sure, knowing your area like I do that I would recommend a .243 for someone not familiar with bears and their habits...
Plus...I'm a hellofashot and pretty decent woodsman...

I'd look at either a 7mm-08 or a .270...Frankly, once you get much larger than these, most guys start to flinch in anticipation of recoil, so their accuracy goes out the window...