OK...I've been shopping for a similar rifle/scope combo for about a month now. My final take on this: If you like high-powered scopes, get a 7mm Rem Mag...it will be able to take some of those tempting longer shots just a bit better than an '06.

Also, get a rifle with a 24" barrel as opposed to 26"...the resulting tiny loss in velocity is nothing but lugging around a longer rifle sure is something to think about.

Lastly, elk hunting isn't always done in open country like your Eastern Montana deer hunting will be, so a scope that starts with 4.5x magnification may not be your best choice. I'd take a look at some 3-10s like the Weaver Grand Slam...or there are a few really nice 3-12s out there, like the Sightron SII and the Burris Signature Select. At 3x, you should be fine even in thick woods, and 10x-12x is more than adequate for shots at any distance you should be shooting at game.

For a great deal, I'd go with a Ruger All-Weather in 7mm Rem Mag ($500)with a Sightron SII 3-12x42mm ($299) or a Weaver Grand Slam 3-10x40mm ($269). Rings come with the Ruger, so no more expense would be incurred.

You can play with the Ruger a bit down the road, like having a good gunsmith work the trigger, free-float the barrel, etc. You may not need to, but it sure is fun to tinker a bit!