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Bit different for me as I'm in the UK, but for what it's worthin this country (or indeed any shooting visitor to these shores) I'd recommend theoutfit that I use, and would stick with itif I had to drop everything else.
Tikka T3 Lite syntheticin .25-06, 117g Federal Premium and a fixed 8x Scmidt scope. Sweet to use, ultra reliable, pin-sharp accuracy every time. And with all our little fields and fences the removeable Mag is useful for quickly making the weapon safe. Downside is it's a bit of a banger! So a moderator is sometimes useful to have if you're hunting around the urban fringe. Recoil is much less than you'd think too, although a long day at the rangewould get to you!
If you'reat the shores of Loch Lomond or climbing Ben "something-or-other" in Scotland,hand over foot after Red's, then the reduced weight is also a blessing.
Probably the main thing though is that due to our pain-in-the-arse gun laws here (namely disarm the law abiding civilians whilst the criminals all get "tooled-up"), it's one of the few calibres that satisfiesour Law for both Deer and Fox/Vermincontrol in both England AND Scotland, so a great all-rounder for the UK. Generally flatter shooting than a .243butwith similar punch to the .308's and 6.5x55's it carries lots of energy out to the more traditional "American" longer range shots that I think you guys take. For example I couldsight up a big Red during the "Rut" at over 250 yds. without any concerns over being humane or not. It wouldn't be sporting but it would be humane.
In this country we reckon the average Doe shot in woodland to be around 70-90 yds and closer if we're any good! On the hills, say in Scotland, a shot on a Red out to maybe 150-160 yds is still considered to be sporting. Also, we never evertake "running shots" here. However, the professional keepers do all sorts of things!