Hmmm, actually the question is what is a bit wishy washy. The question governs the answer. Kinda leaves me guessing what is really wanted, but if you insist.... " best rifles" .....

For the guy - Winchester Model 70
For the teenager - Winchester Model 70
For the woman - Winchester Model 70

If money is no issue, then substitute Weatherby Mark V.

Sincerely, I would be glad to discuss chamberings and cartridges with a little more to go on though. Hopefully, the effort and/or the expense required to enter a supplemental post in exchange for a well thought out and well intentioned response (my best answer) will not be too prohibitive.

I do not believe that I am the first in this thread to point out the non-specific nature of the question. Simply fabricating a " shoot from the hip" response based upon elk hunting the way we do it and then thrusting it upon his/their situation without trying to get a grip on the details seems wanton and haphazard.

Good Hunting
EKM