titleist 03:

The .300 RUM will be a fine choice. Good luck.

Original from titleist 03
"I don't own a rifle. The only use for it in Illinois is varmint hunting. I hope to be able to make it out west for all of the animals listed above at some point in my life. I don't think I will go after the big bears."


Since this will be your first rifle by all means go for the 30/06.
If you learn to handload the world (or a huge chunk of it) will be your oyster! Availability of affordable ammo and loading components make it a slam dunk for someone that doesn't yet have a single center fire to his name.
Now make and style is up to you cuz EVERYBODY makes a rifle in 30/06 ....EVERYBODY!

While I love my 7mm, for a first Rifle for hunting what you listed, there just is no beating a 30/06. It does everything you need and ammo is cheap.

If you want to be a little different for whatever reason, the 7mm Rem. Mag or 270 Win are nearly the same in all ways. I went with 7mm since one of my main hunting partners shoots the same so I figured I'd get the same caliber as him for all the normal reasons (sharing shells if one runs out, same balistics, same performance).

I do have a 30/06 my Dad just handed down to me. Crappy scope and doesn't shoot as well as my Tikka but I should try to hunt with it some. My wife uses a 270, and while a great round, she's only had medium luck with it (somewhat due to bad shot placements, she has a new Bushnell Elite 3200 that Santa just got her, hopefully that'll help some). Still, for most guys that can handle a heavier gun and more recoil, I think they are better served with bigger than the 270.

For deer to moose I would fire a 300WSM. I love my traditional 270win ans 30-06 but I've fallin in love with a non-traditional belted magnum case of the Short Magsand the short bolt action of my new 300WSM in a model 70 Super Grade Classic.

I'm going to throw my $0.02 in for a .308 or .30-06, especially since you've ruled out the big bears.

If you want a 7mm rem mag get it as the recoil between it and a similar style 3006 is not a lot. Nothing wrong with a 3006, it just you expressed interest in the 7mm rem mag. I know from personal experience settling on something else b/c somebody said it might be better doesn't make the itch go away..go with your gut and enjoy!

Like mentioned just buy the rifle that fits you and recoil will be tamed A LOT right out of the box!

As far as recoil being bad onthe likes of the:3006 or 7mm rem mag, if you can handle a 12 ga. shotgun with 3" shells either should be well within tolerable ranges in report.

The .308 win is not bad either, though IMHO I'd rather have a .270 win, loaded with a 150gr Nosler Part, Barnes, etc.I have used both of these carts for larger then deer, BTW.

Being your first CF the 300 wm/wsm might be a bit much to start out andforget the 300RUM itfor sure isn'ta starter cartridge in the Big Game Rifle world.

Good Luck

Remington model 700 cdl 7mm Rem Mag is on its way along with a Leupold VX2 scope. Thanks for the help!

Excellent choice, you should be very happy with that setup. Congrats!

IMHO, that clears the bar.... decent choices.... very good.

Born and raised in Alaska. My dad and my Father in law both used nothing but the 30-06 for taking moose, caribou, and bear.
I have my father in laws gun now. The same Winchester model 70 30-06 he bought brand new in 1968, and I have taken game in Al, Fl, Tn, and Alaska with it.
The good old 30-06 is a very versatile caliber, ...you can plink with it or go after North American big game depending on the load.
I have only had one caliber of deer rifle (excluding muzzleloaders) and see no reason to switch.