Nomercy448 said it pretty much the same way I would...


1. You'll be hard pressed to find a rifle that will serve you well as both "bear medicine" and a target rifle...apples and oranges.

2. Semi-auto and bear defense? Bad idea....I spend a lot of time every year in Alaska fishing and always carry "bear medicine"...usually a 454 Cassul or a 12g...I'd never consider a long-rifle, especially an auto, as my "bear medicine" and no one else I know up there does...

3. If you are looking for a happy medium (compromise) to do both marginally, a lever action rifle (guide style...shorter barrel...Marlin is the best option here) in 45/70, 450 Marlin and 444 Marlin will preform well on bear as well as deer and moose out to ranges of +/- 200 yards if you spend the time to become proficient...avoid putting a scope on it, as it then becomes useless as a bear defense weapon.

It sounds to me that you need two new additions...a short barreled 12g for bear medicine ($250 new...Mossberg 500A, Remington 870 or Winchester Defender) and a nice new target rifle (avoid auto-loaders for target type rifles...they preform less proficiently than a good solid bolt action rifle like the Savage Model 10, Browning A-Bolt, Remington 700 or Tikka T3 when it comes to long distance accuracy target shooting...$600 - $1000 plus glass)

Happy hunting!