You are off to a great start doing all the research that you are. I own both a 7mm rem mag and an 30-06 (also a 270 but these are your choices here) In the size that you currently are "5'3" make sure the recoil is something you really take the time to consider. It will make or break a shot at any yardage if you are not ready for the recoil of a 7mmalthough an 06 is not dramatically less, but it is less, (as is the 270 from the 06). I have shot the 7mm for 12 years and when I was your age is when I bought it and developed a flinch from the recoil. It is something that I still work to over come on occasion. I shoot reasonable shots that reach 400 yards, have shot some farther out, but if the animal is that far away part of hunting is the chase in my opinion, so get to sneakin' and get closer. I really like the speed of the 7mm over the 06 takes some of the guessing out on shooting moving targets. I also like the knock down power (energy) of it I have never shot a deer with my 7 that made it 10 steps. The 06 has taken many deer as well and will likely do a fine job it has for many others including myself. I think you are in the right mindset with the bigger bore, the 25's don't have the knock down neccessary in my opinion to take large deer, althogh I am sure I will get argued with on that one. I have seen many good not great but good shots that have killed deer with the 06 and 7 that have (and I have been there) resulted in hours of tracking wounded deer with a .243. Just my opinion. I like the lesser recoil of the 06, and it is as accurate as my 7 without a doubt just does not hit as hard or as fast. I agree with the bolt as the way to go my 7is a winchester model 70 and my 06 is the benelli R1. I use the 06 mostly with accelerator bullets for coyotes where you shoot more than one at a time.Otherwise I would still just be shooting my 7mm, but that taresthem up somethingterrible. Hope some of this babble helped ya. Good luck.

Josh