I'd start out with a stainless .308win. purely for practicalities sake until I could fill in the rest of the gaps.
That's about where I'd begin too. Maybe not stainless and must be stocked in "nice" wood. My first "real" rifle was $88 new, the second $200 new, .308 & .270 respectively. If $ was no object I'd probably take a hard look at a Dakota but when I came to my senses I'd go with a Kimber. It might take me days to decide 308/30-06..... but I do like a .308. Considering inflation I think a good solid rifle is actually cheaper now than back in the day.
