Thanks all for the great input. I glad I'm not the only guy who's decisions can be affected by emotion. My Dad is 84 now and due to lung issues, hasn't been able to hunt for about ten years. The .257 he had was Mod 70 his dad bought for him before the war. Unfortunately it and all his other guns were destroyed when my grandparents ranch house burned down in 1957.
And Gibbs you're right a lighter, milder shooting rifle will be welcome when I hunt areas where Elk are out of the question. I used to get all hung up a more velocity and comparing cartridges based on an inch less fall at 300 yards, now I know that what matters most is how well you shoot that partiqular rifle in real hunting situations.
