Picking out my first rifle

[GBoyd]

So I've been thinking for a while about buying a rifle, after several years of carrying my grandpa's 30-30 during bear season and sticking to archery for deer and elk. I want a rifle that would allow shots out to 250-300 yards on deer, elk, and bear. I'm also looking for the smallest possible cartridge to do this with because my girlfriend is interested in hunting this year and I don't want to beat her up too badly. She's fine with the 30-30, but I'm not sure how much further I could push it.

My plan is to get a Ruger American in 30-06 with a Leupold VX2 3-9x40.

Does that sound reasonable to you?

[wadu1]

The 30-06 is fine, I would also look at a .308 or .270. 

[GBoyd]

Yeah, I've been looking at those. There are a lot of pretty nasty corners of the internet discussing whether .270 and .308 are appropriate for elk. My conclusion is that the gf should be able to just suck it up and shoot the 30-06. It's really not that tough of a round.

Maybe the ladies here can weigh in.

[Jolten]

I've had plenty of luck with little issues using my .243 for elk.

[Miles]

Depends on how recoil sensitive your girlfriend is.

[BULLBLASTER]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a 270 or 308 for any animal we can hunt in washington with the correct bullet choice. I would not feel undergunned at all with even a 25-06. 

[CAMPMEAT]

6.5 Creedmoor.

[Miles]

I wouldn't hesitate to hunt elk or moose with my 6.5 x 55 and the recoil is far less than a 30-06.   

[GBoyd]

Depends on how recoil sensitive your girlfriend is.

She's pretty tough. No complaints about the 30-30 or shooting clays with my 12 gauge.

[GBoyd]

I wouldn't hesitate to hunt elk or moose with my 6.5 x 55 and the recoil is far less than a 30-06.

I don't believe Ruger makes the American with that round. I would need a recommendation for a different budget rifle for that one.

[Jolten]

Savage axis

[Jolten]

Scratch that. That isn't available in an axis.

[bobcat]

If you get the Ruger American, I'd recommend going with the 270. That's a relatively light rifle and recoil will be pretty bad with the 30/06.

With the 270 you can go with a lighter 130 grain bullet, and it's plenty for elk, especially if you use good bullets like Nosler Accubonds or Barnes. 

[GBoyd]

If you get the Ruger American, I'd recommend going with the 270. That's a relatively light rifle and recoil will be pretty bad with the 30/06.

With the 270 you can go with a lighter 130 grain bullet, and it's plenty for elk, especially if you use good bullets like Nosler Accubonds or Barnes.

Yeah, I've been thinking about the .270. I'd like the ability to have lighter bullets for varmint hunting as well. I've never shot one though, so I wasn't sure how much different the recoil would be.

[SemperFidelis97]

Depending on her frame, and her tolerance for recoil, a 30-06 may be abit much for her.  My wife started with a .270 which she shot fine with, but she hated the recoil even with a sims recoil pad on it.  I bought her a little .243 tikka, and she loves it.  Sad part is I do too, now I am eyeballing them they weigh a hell of a lot less than my model 70.