IfI was begining hunting again, I would have chosen some of the milder cartridges. Not only are they easier to manage when it comes to recoil, it allows you to take a peak around your local gunshopsfor some true relics. (old timers guns) And the more I learned about guns and grew to love them, I learned that mild cartridges and relics can go hand and hand. They also have an abundance of history behind them. History that shows they were very effective on large game pursued in those days of old. The history lessons learned from these guns taught me many things but one of the most important lessionsI learned was the fact that " THE GUNS BACK THEN KILLED LARGE GAME....SO THOSE SAME GUNS CAN KILL THE SAME LARGE GAME TODAY." And you don't have to kill your shoulders either.

I started with a 12 gauge and a 30-06 (which is my favorite all AMERICAN cartidge by the way). I could handle the recoil ....no problem..... but it wasn't untilI shot my first .243, 257 roberts, 250 savage, 300 savage.....ect ect ect thatI realized that I was missing something VERY special.

Instead of walking into deercamp on opening day witha remington 700 or a savage 110. I would have felt pretty darn good toowalking into camp with a savage model 99 chambered in 30-30, 250 savage or 300 savage. And have all the freinds MY AGE sit up in their seats and say.... "WHAT THE HECK GUN IS THAT? And the old timer in the corner stands stands up with his cane in his hand and says......I rember my first rifle was a savage 99.....and I killed over 100 deer with that thing.

To each his own....but there is alot more to hunting than trying to find the biggest gun possible to hunt a certain type of game. Heck, you could use a 505 gibbs for whitetail and nobody would say much about it.....But you shoulddo what you think is best for you and what you are comfortable to shoot with. But dont ever second guess some of those mild "OLDIE" cartridges either.

243, 6mm, 250 savage, 257 roberts, 7mm -08, 7-30 waters 300 savage, 30-30...ect ect.
other GREAT suggestions....if ya dont mind a BIT more recoil ( just a bit)are

25-06, 264, 270, 280, 308, 30-06. Some of these offer a bit more recoil but are excellent choices for most big game in america.

GOOD LUCK MY FREIND, BECAUSE YOU GOT ALOT OF CHOICES OUT THERE.