Well, one of these days I am going to actually have to go buy a rifle.

I'm still stuck on this. Right now I am waffling between just going over to Academy Sports here in town and buying an A-Bolt Hunter with a wood stock and a matte blue barrel for $599 + $49 sales tax for a total of $648 and ordering a A-Bolt Stainless Stalker in 7mm Mag for $763 + $25 shipping and $25 FFL transfer fee for a total of $813.

I did somemore research on ballistics and Federal makes a 180 gr Nosler Accubond that gives the .30-06 plenty of punch out to 400 yards (1,658 ft lbs) with a drop of 24 inches. I think that would be enough for elk and 400 yards is probably the edge of where I feel I would be willing to take a shot at a deer or elk anyway. The 7mm Mag does outperform it (1,777 ft lbs pushing a 160 gr Accubond and a drop of 20 inches at 400 yards) but not sure if it is enough to really make a difference. In reality I will be shooting most shots at 300 yards or less and at 300 yards or less there is very little difference in the calibers.

When looking at other calibers one that suprised me was the old .270 winchester. It actually outperforms the .30-06 throwing the same bullet in most cases. It is tempting to get one, but there just isn't a factory load for the .270 that I would be comfortable shooting at an elk with.

Right now I'm leaning toward the .30-06. It will be easy to just go pick it up and walk out with it the same day. No messing with shipping and FFL transfers and fun stuff like that. The $165 difference in cost isn't much but I could put that toward a range finder or a nice pair of binoculars and be farther ahead than the difference between the 7mm Mag and the .30-06.

I was going to update the post saying that I have for sure decided on the .30-06 with the wood stock and matte blue barrel for $648 including sales tax at Academy but I figure I'll givemyself one more week to think on it.

Thanks again for all the input.

Nathan