Choosing a hunting rifle is usually done according two the type of game being hunted. In here most hunters use the calibers I mentioned before, not necessarily because being concerned about bears. I imagine that Canadians probably do the same. The fact is that any of these calibers is appropriate for moose hunting, all the way to bison (with the proper bullet, of course). Also, people tend to choose guns that are already the most widely used in the area, and ammo availability. The word of mouth goes a long way, "when something works, why changing it."
I have no use for any of the 6.5s, but some would be pretty nice to hunting wolves, and caribou in the interior of Alaska.
