LAST EDITED ON Mar-13-13 AT 08:43AM (MST)[p]" I want an all arround caliber that she could hunt anything from deer to elk. A rifle with a shorter stock would probably fit her better."
You know, my wife has taken elk with a .270, .308, and 30-06. She isn't a big person either.
To stay on topic, she doesn't shoot alot but favors that .270. Loaded up medium to heavy; its an excellent cartridge for elk/deer. Loaded down, you can shoot yotes all day long.
With that said, look up the load data for a 30-06. It is such a versatile round. Folks use them for jackrabbits to moose. They have been around since the early 1900's. Reloading these would be a bit more manageable because there are so many powders and bullet combos that are available. In these days of shortage, brass, bullets and powder may be easier to get.
Amazing amounts of load data on the .270, too. You can load from yotes to elk on that as well. Heard of people using them on moose as well. Jack O'Connor was a well-respected gun writer who really favored that round.
Hear good things about 7mm-08, & I don't have a 300 win mag which is a phenomenal round as well, but the only calibers I see on the shelves with any regularity these days is .270 and 30-06. Ammo seems to be available for these calibers where others are not.
Just my observation. Good luck.