There really is nothing new under the SUN.
Bolt action 30/06 or 270 with a 3x9 scope is still the best rifle value.
30.06 in ether 165 or 180 grn or 270 in ether the classic 130 or 150 grn will reliable kill any north American game animal cleanly out to 400 yards with proper shot placement. This distance is greater than most ethical hunters will shoot at game.
As for recoil and weight,,,,, a standard sized rifle with a 22" barrel and scope is not hard to carry or shoot in 30-06 or 270. A rifle that is 8.5 to 10 lbs fully dressed is well with in the means of a healthy person to carry. Remember Newton's laws still rule.
Find the bolt action rifle you like then buy the best glass you can afford.
After that just practice. What ever distance you can regularly hit a 1 gallon milk jug at is your max range. For most folks in the real world of hunting that will be under 300 yards. ( that distance is not shooting from a bench on a sunny still day !)
The 308, 7-08, 260 rem, 25-06, are great guns but they really don't do anything that the old tried and true twins have been doing for over 75-100 years now.
For the record my hunting 30.06 was made in the mid 1950s it is a Remington 721b converted to LH with a 20" barrel and a 2x7 Burris. It is loud, fast to the shoulder and shoot well.
As Colombo would say..
Just one more thing...
While I have and hunt with magnums, 257 wby, 300win, 338win, and 375H&H I only do so because my penis is so very small. Not because I need the extra range or knock down power.