Sounds like what you really want is the new Ruger M77 Hawkeye Alaskan in the brand new 375 Ruger/Hornady cartridge. The specs say this will throw a 270 grain at 2,800 fps. I'm guessing that that velocity number comes from a longer pressure barrel. But I'd surely expect at least 2,700 fps with the 270 grain.
For your 400 yard ?!? shoots at Mule Deer you should be able to crank this up to almost 3,000 fps with the Woodleigh 235 grain. Then for those coastal bears you can switch over to a 300 grain from either Woodleigh or Swift. The 300 grain should still pop out at 2,600 fps a performance level ideal for 1000 pound plus Brownies.
This new cartridge is the most performance that can be packed in a '06 length action and the Hawkeye has controlled-feed and a Mauser-claw extractor.
If you were willing to restrict your shots at Mule Deer to 300 or 325 yards at the very most you could do just as well with the New Ruger Frontier II rifle in either 338 Federal or 358 Winchester. Both of which will also work against large bears if 250 grain bullets from Woodleigh, Swift or Nosler are driven at 2,400 fps. The speed that made the 416 Rigby famous. In the 338 Federal 210 grain bullets can be driven at 2,600, and in the 358 Winchester the 200 grain bullets will go at least 2,550 fps from the 16 1/2 barrel of the Frontier II. The awesome both eyes open shooting you can do with the scout scope configuration is just the ticket when shooting Bears at close range.
The later two calibers have the advantage of being about the best performance that can be cranked out of a short action.
Good luck and you really can make do with one if the 358 Winchester is your choice.
