For me it was a .243, only centerfire I have owned since 1980...Works just fine for deer and black bears...

I figure if I ever go elk hunting, I can borrow or buy and elk rifle...In the mean time a .243 is also great for groundhogs, crows, wild dogs, wild hogs, coyotes, deer, etc...

The key to becoming an excellent shot is to shoot, plain and simple...The cost of 7mm-08 and .260 ammo is a bit high for the average person to shoot a lot...

Another chunk of advice ... late though it be. If toting weight is a big deal, don't overlook the Ruger Compact. One of my hunting buds brought one to camp. We all, to a man, were questioning what in the heck had he wasted his hard earned $$$ on !!!

But ... this short barrel honey of a rifle shot lights out at the range and he has taken deer cleanly out to well over 250 yards. His is in 308 Win. He has a compact Leupold Vari-X III on it ... I think 1.75-6x32 mm or something like that.

Mojo speaks truth.
My second favorite rifle, which serves as primary whitetail killer and backup on everything else including elk, is a Rem model 7 in 7mm-08. It's got a 20 inch barrel and feels like a Daisy BB gun in my hands. It's a true MOA shooter and that thin 20 inch tube is no handicap at all. Nor is the round it shoots.