Currently I deer hunt in both Indiana and Kentucky. I use a 50 cal inline during firearm season in indiana and have been using a .243 handirifle during the kentucky situation.Afew things are making want a new rifle for my kentucky.

1. Though I would recommend the .243 as a deer cartridge with-in 200 yds, I've had this rifle for six year and cant even count the times when I've either decided not to shoot because I thought it was too far or had the opportunity to a second shot and had to reload and just not being able to fast enough.
2. I've been saving for afew months and finally have enough money to buy a decent rifle w/o my girl friend throughing an absolute fit.
3. I was recently talking to my father and he wants to possibly go after elk in the next two years
4. I just really wanna try a new gun

These four things considered, I've been frequently browsing the firearms section at the local gander mountain. The four cartridges most used in the big game rifles are .270, 30-06, 7mm rem mag, and 300 wsm. I'm looking for a cartridge that I will have plenty of knock down power out past 250 yds but would also have enough to possiblely go after elk in the near future. Any feed back you could give would be appreciated. Thanks.