Because you consider future hunts for bear or elk would be reason enough to go with a .50 caliber. I personally feel the .50 caliber is a nice caliber for an all around rifle. If your shots were all out past 150 yards, then you might want to consider the .45 caliber but really how many of us took up muzzle loaders to shoot 200 yards. Another benifit of the .50 caliber is there is a lot more choice in projectiles, and they are easier to find. In fact they are becoming about the only thing I find in the little store around me, and I like .54 calibers. The .50 caliber is an all around rifle and I am sure you will not go wrong with one. Good luck in your choice of which one you want. There are a lot of them out there to choose from.