I've read through hundreds of posts here; although this has been alluded to, I haven't seen it directly addressed -- so bear with me.

I need a hunting rifle (or 2 or 3). I've only got one gun now. Since I recently moved from slug-country Minnesota, you can probably guess what it is -- 870 Express.

Now I'm in South Dakota, and last year I went after muleys. I tagged my buck with a buddy's 7mm Mag.

Now I need to get my own stuff. I've taken billions of rabbits and prairie dogs in the past with 22LR open sight and small scopes.

I want to hunt everything now, including prairie dog, coyote, deer, elk, hopefully moose and maybe game goats/sheep. (Oh, and of course pheasant, grouse, duck goose, but a bit off-topic.)

So, I know I'm gonna get something like a 22-250 in the next year of so. And someday, depending on what tags I draw and/or hunting trips I get to take, I might buy something like a 300 WSM. But right now I need a mule deer rifle. I plan to hunt the same area; it's pretty open -- grasslands, prairie and hills with fairly sparse brushy cover. Last year shots were a bit long, so a 200 yard rifle is probably really the minimum -- a predictable range of 300 yards is more like it. And no, I won't take any crazy 500 yard, shoot-hard-and-pray shots.

My buddy say's get a 7mm mag like his. I'm a U.S. "medium" -- e.g. 190 - 200 lbs and and I'm not a flincher. I didn't real mind the recoil of the 7mm mag. At the same time I would like to carry something lighter, but I don't want it to get squirrely. And, a bit less recoil would be just fine. So I was thinking 270 -- but that seems a bit short on predictable range. 270 WSM seems to have very similar ballistics to the 7mm mag, albeit you can't get quite as big a projectile on the top end. I think I could save a pound or so with a shorter action 270 WSM. My buddy, however, says if I go 7mm mag I will be able to easily load up to elk and even moose so I might not ever need a bigger gun.

Other factors:

I plan ahead, so ready availibility of ammo at the nearest mom-and-pop isn't a huge deal to me. I won't go through 100's of rounds a year (like I will with a 22-250) so modest increases in per cartridge cost isn't all that big a deal -- and I'll probably choose a "premium" load in any of these calibers, so the differences won't be as big -- plus, maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like 270 WSM is catching on so availibility might go up and costs might come closer together. FWIW, I have no plans to get into reloading.

I've looked at and and handled nearly every maker's guns. I'm leaning towards a Sako 75 Stainless Synthetic if I go 7mm mag, or maybe the Finnlight model if I go 270 or 270 WSM. I'd consider a Remington 700 series -- probably BDL SS DM if I go 7mm mag or maybe a mountain or even titanium if I went 270. I might consider a Tikka just because it seems like such a good value, but I prefer the Sako.

I'm 98% sure it will have a Zeiss Conquest in either 3-9x40 (probably) or 3.5-10x44 (maybe) sitting on top of it.

So, first, if anyone has read through all this -- WOW, thanks!

And so, the big question:

Which one should I buy -- 270, 270 WSM or 7mm Mag?

P.S. I'm really not trying to drag everyone into a which gun is best/which cartridge is best thread -- I've gone through hundreds already -- I really just have one question. But any thing you want to add is ok with me!