For the yardages you are shooting, you may want to consider a 25-06. Yes it is a long action chamber, but you still can feed the round in a SA rifle. The only problem you may have is taking out a loaded round. On that note... there is the 257 Roberts, 284 Win, 6.5X284, 6.5X55 Sweed, and the can't go wrong 260. For three hundred or less, you could even consider the 22-250 shooting the 68 to 75 grain bullets in a ballistic tip or soft point. I know we have killed quite a few deer with out 22-250 using Nosler ballistic tips.
Not sure why you are counting out the 243, but that is what I have chosen to use this year for my mountain rifle. I have it loaded with a 95grn Hornady SST. Shoots very good and is more than capable of taking a deer at those ranges.
I too considered the 7mm-08 but you really don't gain much over the .308 in that particular cartridge. When you get into the magnums is where the 7mm really begins to shine. For short actions, you can't beat the BC benefits you gain with the 6.5mm projectiles. You have the ability to keep the energy up and velocities really taking advantage of the weight of the bullet. The 7mm-08 and 308 will definitely do the job, but to really get good performance you are limited to lower BC bullets, and lower velocities. If you learn to shoot them well, then it is not and issue, but just some food for thought. The 6.5mm really shine in this area.
If you want the full benefit of the 7mm in a short action, then you should consider the 284 Winchester. It will give you the speeds to really make the 7mm projectile come to light. It fatter than the 243, 7mm-08, and 308, but has a rebated rim allowing it to be used on the 470 bolt head. You will be able to load it with the lightest of 7mm's to the heaviest and get beautiful performance at all ranges. The 162 A-max is the ticket, but if you want a true hunting bullet then the Berger hunting bullets, or the Accubond will fill the bill.
Tank
