[Head416]

I have every intention of adding a .30-06 to my battery... someday.

Right now I'm looking for rifle #1 (well, in addition to my 10/22). My wife is interested in shooting, so I want something she won't shy away from. Her parents hunt elk, so ideally I'm thinking deer/elk cartridge on the smaller end. I was planning on a .270 until she shot it and didn't like the recoil. That means she won't want to shoot it enough to get proficient.

I gave up on the elk angle and had my eyes on the .243, but then a Pelican recommend the 7mm-08 and it seems a deer/elk cartridge may be back on the table. That's the thought process that's gotten to where I am right now. Being new to shooting, the 7mm-08 isn't something I'd ever heard of before, so I'm just trying to gather as much information as I can. I plan on going with the more "common" cartridges for numerous reasons.

Funny you mention the .375 H&H... my 80 year old neighbor that got me into shooting trap has a 375 H&H rifle that he bought in Rhodesia in the 60s. His son isn't interested in shooting and he's made comments that he "might as well leave it to [me]". I don't know if it would really happen but that is something I would treasure forever. He's a neat guy. It's kinda like hanging out with grandpa, which is something I never really did. Anyway, I've been intimidated about how that sucker would kick, so it's good to hear it's relatively gentle!