If you are talking big game up to deer, then any centerfire in the 243, 257, 25-06, would be more than adequate. Mossberg makes a great bolt action rifle or you could get any number of good used ones by Remington, Winchester, Savage, etc that would not be a budget breaker. Of great importance to me is one's ability to shoot them and while the 30-06 with a 200+ grain bullet will handle most any North American game, it is not an easy shooter recoil wise. The same can be said of any rifle at or above the 270 unless in a heavy gun.