Okay, so if I consider the .280 how easy is it to find ammo, and for that matter how common is the gun to find?

The 30-06 I am familiar with a little bit. Is a 300 yd. shot pretty typical for even an experienced shooter in a hunting situation? The fellows I work with talk about commonly taking 500 yd or longer shots in the field. Now I know that I will be taking close shots until I am proficient, but what about later. I have heard that a 30-06 drops like a rock. I was also told that a woman is built differently than a man and cannot judge the recoil on a rifle unless it is built specifically for her.