I would go with a 6.5 creedmoor with the 120 grain GMX superformance factory load. I shoot it in my Kimber Hunter and it get just over 3000fps in the 22 inch barrel.
Recoil is very light in my 6 pound rifle. In a 8 pound Ruger M77 with a laminated stock,it would be very mild.
As far as performance,a 6.5 monometal of 120 grains will penetrate as well as most lead core 180 grain bullets.
Lots of bears were shot in the old days with rifles like 30-30s that have less power than the 6.5 Creedmoor.
