RE: First Rifle
When buying my first rifle, I spent months researching to make sure I got the right one, thinking I would only own one rifle. It came down to the .270 and .30-06. Most magazine columnists and ammunition manufactures recommended the .30 caliber bullet over the 7mm / .270 for elk.
15 years later, I was still happy with my choice, but I envied the flat trajectory of the 7mm mag. This past spring I bought the best of both worlds - a Rem Model 700 in .300 WSM. It shoots the same .30 cal bullet as the 30-06 but delivers more energy and better trajectory then the 7mm mag. Topped with a Ziess 4.5-14, It is a GREAT long range rig.
If you don't handle recoil well, I'd go with the .30-06. Otherwise I'd recommend the .300 WSM or .300 Win Mag.