I'm with the crowd that recommends the 270 Winchester cartridge. It's hard to do better than that at the ranges you're talking about. Also worth mention would be the 280, the 25-06, the 260 and the 7-08 (and plenty of others). I am not a particular fan of the 243, but that's just me. I'd rather have a 250 Savage or 257 Roberts than a 243. As for the rifle, the Savage will do just fine, but I personally would rather have a rifle that's accurate and a bit easier on the eyes. It's a lot like a girlfriend, in that if she's going to be with you all the time, being pretty is a big positive. Therefore...Tikka, Sako, Winchester, Remington, Weatherby, Howa, and Browning (and others) should at least get a good look.