RE: what caliber do i want?
The winchester featherweight is a fine rifle, but I' d opt for a 30-06 over the 308. The 30-06 does everything the 308 does only better, and there' s not been the person invented who could tell the difference in recoil between the two. If short actions get you giddy then get a 300 WSM, it' s a 30-06 on steroids.