Have you asked him if he wants another rifle? Maybe he’s good with what he has and might want say, a shotgun, or a dedicated varmint or target rifle. Might not be a bad idea to feel him out a bit on what HE wants to do.
Out of the three pages of replies this is the best one. You are forecasting buying him a rifle for something that you, or he, may never do. If what he is using works for him then don't change what's not broke just because "you think" he may need something different. Something that he likes and is comfortable with more than makes up for the extra power of the 30-06.
Oh by the way - there are a lot of elk killed with the 243 around my part of the country, and this is elk country, so when it comes to elk or bear what the 243 does the 257 will do just as well.
drover
