Wow I did not expect so many responses in such s short period of time.
There are some thing that I need to add. I do want to use it as a backpack hunting rifle. As the hunting bug bit me I realized that life is to short so I want to try western hunting and backpack hunting in particular even though I have not done it before.
In VA the use of a gun is very limited, I hunt in Northern VA on small chunks of private land or county parks. 99% of my hunts is bownunting. I also do urban archery to reduce deer herd.
min a rear occasion I will hunt public land and this is there I take my slug gun.
I managed to save up for swarovski binoculars and I love the glass. Every time I Glass I actually enjoy it. No headaches, my eyes are not tired.
Higher end scope is one of the reasons I set my budget to 2k.
as far as the calibers go, I want an easy to find round. In case I loose the ammoor semething else happens I can get if from the big box store or the gas station or whatever.
The biggest animal I plan to Hunt is elk and basically I want the gun to be catered for elk hunting then anything else.
i believe the same cartridge will handle a black bear as well.
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How much experience with a rifle do you have? If minimal, I'd suggest buying a .22 (or borrowing one) and putting a couple hundred rounds through it. Then borrow a 22-250, .243 or something, working your way up in power and recoil. I understand an easily accessible range is probably a problem up there.
All of my deer hunting has been done in the Virginias with a .270 or 30-06. I read a blog from an Elk Guide out west who likes either one for elk. I'll also add that my .270 is a synthetic stocked Remington 700, it has more recoil than either of my 30-06s (walnut stocks).
I was told by a hunter I respect to never have better binoculars than your scope.
JFC.
