Why in the world was your first purchase a .300 Winchester Magnum?

Once upon a time I had a friend who had dream of Black Bear hunting. He owned 2 rifles, a replica of the Springfield Armory 1873 Trapdoor Carbine in .45-70 and an abused war trophy 7.7 Arisaka. In this dream a friend would back him up with the Arisaka as he took the bear with the .45-70, as the .45-70 Trapdoor is a single shot weapon. I was elected to be the friend but I found the Arisaka to be junk and unsuitable to rapid aiming and firing necessary to back up such a hunt. I studied balistics tables and decided .300 Winchester Magnum shot very flat and had plenty of energy for eastern Black Bear. As would have it, A and P Arms (local gun shop of the day) had a Ruger Model 77 in the desired caliber of .300 Winchester Magnum. So I, being capable of such purchase at the time (several hundred dollars) bought it and took it home. A trip to Best Products added the Bushnel Banner riflescope 4-12 x50mm. Once we got it on the range and tweaked in, it shot postage stamp groups at 100yards. I still have that rifle and treasure it and the fact that it was the 1976 version stamped on the barrel "Made in the 200th year of American Liberty" makes it extra special. Oh, that bear hunt? We never did go. As it turned out I would much rather punch paper than shoot critters so in the long run that was for the best too.