Your caliber selection is perfect. Any of the .30 caliber loads will do and there is a lot of choices for loads. Just remeber choose your caliber based on range and size of your quary. As far as stock you cant beat synthetic for weather protection. I like the look of wood myself and I am ordering a new laminated thumbhole for my Ruger MKII .30-06 in a couple of weeks. Put good glass on your rifle. Burris, Leupold, Nikkon are the best for the money. Zeiss and Swarovski have the best glass but the price is way too high. The cheapies like Bushnell and Tasco have lesser quality glass but in order to compete they have accepted the lifetime warranty concept like other companies. You can score a nice rifle for under $700 easily. Nice glass and nice rifle might be pushn' it.