Tykempster,
To answer your ? about a good long range gun, I would suggest the .30-06. The '06 has a wide range of uses for big game(predators to Grizzlies)and seems to have a good reputation among hunters, with the ability to reach longer yardages(anything over 150 yards)with enough down range energy alongwith a well placed vitals shot to kill any North American big game. The range of available loads is pretty large, I have seen 110 grain loads and as heavy as 220 grains which was marked as Dangerous game ie African. Hope this helps out

Kpatte26