New to hunting as well as Rokslide and hoping you guys can help me. I am a new hunter but have a good bit of experience skeet/trap shooting as well as competitive .22 shooting. I'm just getting into hunting and would like to make one rifle/scope purchase that will last a good 20+ years as I grow into the sport and different game.
Right now I'm looking at either a Tikka T3x Lite or Weatherby Vanguard in .270, .308, 6.5 CR, or .30-06. I'll primarily be hunting northeast whitetail on my friends farm but hope to get out west for elk down the road. My concern - I am 5' 11'' 150 lbs. I don't consider myself recoil sensitive (100+ 12GA shells are no problem) but would like to be as accurate as possible and maybe do some bench shooting with the gun as well. Would the T3x Lite in .30-06 be too much? .308? Any thoughts on the Vanguard synthetic stock with the rubberized material - will it break down over time?
I know 6.5 CR is controversial. Is it enough for elk?
Any rifle help would be appreciated along with scope recs! Thank you.
The universal western rifle, including elk, has traditionally started with the 270 as a minimum and goes up to the 300 mag. Today the 6.5 prc is well on its way to replace the 270 - very similar performance down range, and good selection of reloading components and loaded ammo. The prc is also blessed with chamber dimensions that make it more accurate on average.
There‘s nothing wrong with the 6.5 creedmoor, but it’s a little step down in performance from the 270 or 6.5 prc.
A step up from the 6.5 prc is either the 7 Rem mag or 7 prc. The prc has the accuracy advantage, but 7 Rem mag is probably more popular for now, but that might very well change in the coming years.
With the other options, 308 and 30-06 aren’t the most flat shooting, and much of the hunting out west is big open country.
Most western rifles have a scope close to a 3x9. Many guys use a rangefinder and dial up elevation for long ranges requiring a scope with easily accessible adjustments, but just as many don’t and choose a more compact scope.
There is no perfect rifle, or cartridge, or scope. You‘re preferences will change the more you do it - what you think is ideal now, won’t be 10 years from now, so don’t stress yourself out thinking this is like picking a wife.
The Tikka is a very nice design and while I’ve never owned one, it would be hard to beat for the price. It’s popularity all over the west says a lot. The Howa is a well machined action that has a long reputation as reliable and accurate.
My first big game rifle 45 years ago was a Remington 700 in 270 - that will probably be the rifle I’ll choose when my grandson is old enough to start hunting.
. 
