I don't know what you went with or your shooting ability.
I just purchased a 7mm Mauser(close to the 7mm-08) for my daughter to hunt elk/deer with.It will be more than adequate for elk under 300 yds.We also looked at the 6.5 x55 sweed,260,280,30-06,308 and many others.
Now my daughter has shot several guns 243,25-06,308, 22-250 and other shotguns.She is very sound shy,as for kick the .308 was more than enough for her.
Now my wife hunted elk for the 5 years with a 30-378 wby of her dads,she has no fuss about my .338 Ulta mag or .300 WBY.What I can tell ya is when I gave her a 270 her groups went form 3 inches at 100 to 1/2 at 100.
She has killed 5 elk shooting 150 gr Federal blue box.
So I guess what I'm saying is go out and shoot a few and see what you like.
BBJ