caliber is up to you....me i vote for the 30-06...but as far as the gun goes.....get a remington sps...they come with a limbsaver recoil pad and i have one in 300 win. mag. i swear to you it shoots like my wifes 243. get a 30-06 in that model gun ...which will run you around 400...i got mine for a little less, and with that type pad a 30-06 will be a ***** cat.