Actually the big deer show up when I have my 45-70 ruger #1, and I have killed the majority of my big deer with it.

I can't see how you can go wrong with 260 Rem., 7/08 or the 308. All work well, and the preceived recoil from the 260. & 7/08 are easier on most than any 30 cal.
Then again my daughter has never failed to kill a deer with the Sako action, Pacific Research stocked, Douglas barreled, Leupold 4 X scoped rifle that I built her many years ago. She shoots the Federal 100 grain and the deer fall down.
It is really nit picking when you start at 260 Rem. and try, 7/08 or 308. Just get the one you think will work for you and I bet it will.
We shoot all of these except the 308 (have five 3/06 and two 9.3x62 instead) but I can not tell the difference in dead between the one 260 or the two 7/08's we use shooting game at our ranches in west Texas.
If I were to build daughter a gun all over again I would now build the 260 or the 7/08 instead of the 243 as I would feel more comfortable if she wanted to try something elk size or use it in Africa.
In my retail store I sold a number of children and ladies (guys too) the 7/08 and none ever came back mad at me. I sold far more 7/08's than 308 or 260. Matter of fact, sales wise, the 308 was a poor seller compared to the other 3 cartridges in the 308 length action range.
My wife took her male gemsbok in Namibia with a Browning Lever 7/08. The gemsbok never asked what killed him! I took the female with my '06.
Now my bride has her own Mod. 70 in 7/08 and I will admit I borrow it or son's 260 Browning A Bolt often to whack a whitetail or two at the ranch.
80+ whitetail were taken last year off of one of my ranches by using a 260 Rem. No losses.
Good bullet construction, proper bullet placement, good triggers and less recoil make for dead critters and a smile on your face.

It sure is fun to talk about all this but I doubt you will be wrong in buying either.
Better tomorrows!

Harry, were you ever a NASCAR driver. When you were describing your daughters gun, I thought you were listing your sponsors! I do agree with all you say, and most likely that little .260 would work for 99% of all I will ever hunt. It will be a great gun for a kid to grow up with.

I can tell you ...you can't load a heavy Berger VLD in the 7-08 and get enough powder in it to get the FPS Tyler states in the above unless you load through the top...i.e. to long.

Doesn't 7mm-08 just sound soooo much cooler. It's a heck of a caliber, and most who own one highly recommend it.

This is like picking between two sisters. Some guys will take the younger blond, while others will prefer the slightly thicker brunette. As grandpa used to say, "If everyone liked the same thing, everyone would be on top of grandma."

Well if you're trying to shove a 180 Berger deep enough in such a small case to feed through the magazine then of course it's gonna eat lots of powder room!

You can angst about what each one "can't" do all you want to but if you've got a .308 that you like, you'd be kinda dumb to sell it to get a 7-08 and the reverse it certainly true. But if you're just starting out, IMO, the 7-08 is the slightly better choice.
Think of it as the old .270/30-06 argument.

7-08, 308... flip a coin. Either work and both recoil noticeably less than their bigger brothers (280, 30-06).

Push to shove, the 308 is more widely available, makes a slightly bigger hole and is the most eager to please cartridge I've ever worked with.

If you like TSX bullets for your hunt you get the best BC in 7mm