As i said in my post i haven't heard much bad at all about them, also this a rifle that will be used once a year to bear hunt, if i am even able to go more than once. I'll end up using it as a yote killer so i don't want to pay a ton of money for a rifle that's gonna be used every once in a while.

As previously said a magnum isnt needed. Personally I use my 338-06butabout 75% of the people I hunt with use a 308 and almost all the rest use a 30-06. Either of those would be my top choice based on the information you've posted.

I'd steer clear of the Mossberg and get a Stevens 200.

For shooting bears, I'd also pick something like a 270, 308, 30-06, etc.

If you go with a lever, 44, 45-70 would be at the top of my list.

Thanks for the suggestion on the Stevens, looks like an awesome rifle and frokm what i've read a very good rifle. Also it isn't as expensive as i thought it was.

Good Gear sells itself and cheap gear needs replacing.

No such thing as a rifle that's needed only a time or two a year wheremost bear hunters areat.

To each his own tho', I'd guess...

Maybe more better info will come from the "thinkers" and not the "doers", to coddleyoursenses.........

Ridge runner - apparently you haven't shot too many bear. They can move pretty good with 3 legs. I even watched my cousin bust a brown bear's shoulder with a 375 H&H and then the other shoulder when it turned to run and finally a 3rd shot to anchor it while it was plowing down the beach.
I only ever shot one blackie in the shoulder with a 300 WM and had to anchor him with another round. I don't care for the shoulder shot and found it better to slide the bullet behind the shoulder and into the vitals. They may run but they don't go too far - 50 yds at the most.
A shoulder shot will slow them down - but it won't stop them immediately.

I havetwo friends with mossberg rifles all in 30-06 they both love them. For black bears I would get the 30-06 in the atr of the 4x4.

378 Weatherby since its only blackies. 460 if we were talking brownies..[:@]

For what you will be doing get the 30-06. Lots of ammo choices, economic to shoot, can buy ammo anywhere. Top it with a straight 4 or a 3x9, you want low power for quick shots on bear, and I am guessing you won't be in an area where you will be shooting over 200 yards. Load the 30-06 with a 180gr premium bullet that will hold together and penetrate, zero and practice with a couple boxes of ammo, and go kill your bear.

3006 will kill anything. Load it w/ a 220 grain core lokt and you will stop a train!