RE: looking at getting a rifle
For what you described you'd be using the gun for, I think a .30-06 would be ideal. I was recently shopping for one myself, and ended up with a Tikka T3, but I like the Remington 700 BDL/CDL rifles a lot, and the Browning A-bolt but I think they are way overpriced. It's your decision, so go to a gunshop and pick them all up, see what you like.