300 win. mag, Stainless synthetic. Tikka, Remington, or Ruger (you could spend more if you want, but you'll just be beating up an expensive gun). .300 win ammo can be found almost any where, hunt with 180gr or a good 150gr for flatter shooting option where range may be an issue. Elk country is rough country, so stainless sythetic is a must, lighter the rifle the better, leave the varmint scope at home, get a good 3-9 or maybe 4-14 (Leupold, Burris) a multiple aiming point recticle is a big help if you learn how to use it and practice. I have many friends who punish them selves with the new Ultra Magnums, and friends who have a hard time finding ammo for their short magnums, and both are usually more expensive to shoot unless you reload. Almost every mom and pop store in elk country has some 300 win ammo, and the 300 has consistanly dropped elk in their tracks for me.