not to change up to bad because i really like the 270 and 308 neither would be a bad choice that being said i recently bought a 25-06 barrel for my encore it shoots plenty flat is fairly econimical most are very accurate and i think that it would be the perfect caliber for the type hunting you are talking about doing use 100 gr for the lopes and the 85 balistic tips for varmits but the final decision is up to you good luck with what ever you decide on any of the calibers the others have mentioned would all work equally well by the way you can get into reloading for around $400 a be prety well set-up one word of advice though when you start rollin your own you never go back to factory