RE: Sons first elk hunt
The 30-06 will work great.
As for the Vangaurd,try looking towars Howa.I like the howa better than the WTHBY.The ones I shot were in 243 win.
But the 30-06 is my min for elk,IMHO if you can handle a 270 or 7mm-08 you can shoot a 30-06.
BBJ