I don't know why sconnyhunter is being bashed for shot placement? I would suggest either the 7mm Rem Mag or the 300 Win Mag but if you cannot handle the recoil at the range or the higher prices of ammo then I would go with the famed 30.06. The first two are flatter shooting however and pack a little more puch then the last. That being said I owned all three. Started out with the 30.06, next went to the 7, and finally graduated to the 300. Now my plan is to keep the 300 and add a .308 and a .243.

I feel comfortable with my 300 Win Mag in a BIG bear situation or even a deadly Lion situation but if I were to hunt either of those I would opt to get a 350 Rem Mag. But since you stated for anything in NA disregard anything bigger than a 300 Win Mag.

Cheers