I have a 280 Rem. so if I was going to hunt caribou thats what I'd use. I don't think I'd be under gunned at all. If I didn't already own a rifle that I could use I would get either a 7mm Rem. Mag., a 7mm Rem. Ultra Mag., 300 WSM, or a 300 Win. Mag.. If I was planning on hunting out west I would get the 300 WSM or 300 Win. Mag. If your dad likes the 7mm Rem. Mag. and it works for him, it will work for you (and everyone else) as well. The Leupold VX-II scopes are basically last years Vari X-III scopes. They have just about all the samethings that the Vari X-III had for the cost of the old VX-II scopes. I don't think you will find a better "bang-for-the-buck" then a Leupold VX-II scope, Just my $.02!