If you're hunting from a stand, "short and handy" is less important. You have more choices, but my personal preference would be a bolt-action. If you walk and stalk, you're maybe gonna take snap-shots, so short and handy gets to be more important, and a semi-auto or pump would be quite rational.
Bear and boar seem to justify more "Oomph" than most of the sub-30-calibers.
.308, .30-'06, 8mm Mauser...Any of them will do; I'd go toward the heavier bullets.
For hunting inside 100 yards, I don't know of any rifle that won't be plenty accurate. Good-used is generally as good as brand-new. Rifle, scope, mounts; I'd be surprised at needing more than $400-$500, including scope, mounts and sling. And a box of ammo...
Within the above BS, I tend to go by "feel". Whatever just feels best when you hold it, when you put it to your shoulder. A rifle with "feel" makes it easier for you to become skillful. "Awkward" is a handicap...
Hang around; more folks will chime in with good words. And wander some gun shops and gun shows. Don't be in a hurry.
Hope this helps, Art
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