I have hunted for many years with a lever action 308 and you can belive me when I say it is more than enough for any deer, elk , or black bear. How ever I would not recomend this gun for brown bear. I reload and using bullets in the 150-165 it is just as potent as a 30.06 and the cartage is shorter than the 06 and it uses less powder, in other words it is the perfect gun for whiteails!
Happy hunting!