The cheapest quality combo, IMO, would be a Stephens with a Nikon Pro Staff. Both provide great bang for your buck. When you consider the time and expense invested, especially in an elk hunt, I would not trust a cheap package scope. For a little more, a Savage 10/110 or Remington 700 ADL would be great choices. Both are easily capable of outstanding accuracy. As far as caliber, my first choice would be 30-06 followed by 270 or 308. If recoil is an issue, a good recoil pad is worth it's weight in gold.