RE: First Rifle
I dont know why a 7mm mag is not a good cal. for westerners. Hell I am about as far west as you can get, and there are quite a few peaple here that like a flat shooting cal. with the same ballis. as the 30-06.
You could say that I am one of them. I personally would not use a 270 out West for Elk. The average shoot herein NM and West Texasis around 300 yards.It is my fav. deer cal. when I hunt in Arkansas or Oklahoma, but not for anything heavier, BUT THAT IS MY OPINION.
Go with a 30-06 or bigger.
Good luck
hunter338