It sounds like a 7mm/08 would do you just fine on all your White Tails Hunting needs, Recoils like a 243 and hits like a 270.

If I were a one-rifle hunter, it would be the .308 Winchester if I was not a handloader and a .280 Remington if I were a handloader. I hunted everything from coyotes to deer to elk with a .308 Win for many years.

Also, someone above said that this will not be your only firearm purchase. That is so true. Don't feel that you have to do everything with one gun because you end up compromising. If the majority of your hunting will be whitetail get a whitetail rifle. If you are fortunate enough to hunt elk in the future deal with that then. I like the fact that you want to practice and target shoot, contrary to OHH's comments you will shoot a lot of ammo and if you do that with a rifle that kicks (30-06 or .300 Win Mag) you will feel it. I practice with a soft recoiling rifle like a 22-250 or .308 and hunt with a .270, 308 or 30-06.

I have posted this link before and I hope it helps.
www.deer30outdoors.com/caliber-selection-for-whitetail-deer/

30-06 is what you want. I shot thirteen elk, more than sixty deer, and six moose with that caliber. Where I hunted elk there were always abundant deer in the area and I was always ready for either one.

I'd go with a .308. It a great deer round and will work for elk if you understand the distance limitations.

OK~OK Pmacc60 The 7mm/08 is a 270 in Short Pants.
+ 1 4-U

Njb123 - You have made the right decision. Congratulations and good luck.

I would go around and shoot some different calibers, folks at your local gun range will love to help you. From shooting each caliber, you should have a better idea what you want. Its like trying on a pair of jeans. Over all, I think the 30-06 Springfield is a great choice.

Pmacc60 is spot on recommending the 708. You can shoot a good 140 grain bullet for your whitetails, then when you step up to elk, it can push a 160 slug fast enough to be effective out to 200-250 yards. It kicks less than the 270, and will shoot just as flat.

Njb123,
You have a broad spectrum of rifles and cartridge choices that would satisfy your need, but I think a bolt action .257 Roberts or .25-06 would serve you well. The 6.5x55mm, 7x57mm, 7mm-08 would also be fine choices. The .308 is a very versatile cartridge that is well-suited to a medium-length action and doesn't give up much to the .30-'06, which requires a standard-length action (as does the .25-'06). Have you had an opportunity to try several cartridges, and is there a rifle/cartridge combo that has appealed to you?

Some consideration needs to be given to wastage. I was with my buddy when he shot his buck with 25-06 this fall and the lighter bullet made a mess of it! Really was a shame. Many years ago I was also pretty disgusted with the damage and poor "knock down" performance of 165 grain 30-06 used on mule deer and I dropped that bullet weight after half a box. Went back to 180 grains for both deer and elk. I WILL NOT shoot at deer or elk at 300-400 yards. We have been down the road about the reasons for that enough on here. If you feel you might need to be shooting at elk out at that distance (which I don't recommend in any event) then the 300 Win would be the gun for that. But it is heavier and kicks hard so you'll pay the price. A .308 WOULD NOT be the gun for that kind of hunting (doesn't reach and not enough power left at the end of its range) and no one should be shooting at elk with a 25-06. Period. The SKIN on the back of big bulls like the ones in my profile album can be an inch thick! It's still pretty thick over their shoulders. Forget all the blabber about shot placement. There's too many things you can't control when placing a shot with marginal bullets: big bones, wind factor, skin thickness, unexpected movement of animal or shooter, where the bullet will travel after impact, etc., etc. Get the caliber you KNOW will do the job without blowing up the meat or your shoulder. Or letting an animal walk away buggered up.

I can never understand all this wimping about recoil anyway. Really, I can't remember when the last time was I shot more than a half dozen rounds in the field during a season. If you do, something is very wrong! With you, not the gun. If you like playing at the range, then buy another light recoil gun for that purpose (maybe something in black plastic, which seems to be all the rage on the range these days).

Also, it sounds to me like this fella is deer hunting in the east which usually precludes any of the mountain top to mountain top or cross-prairie long shot hunting we are familiar with out west. He's likely going to be doing MOST of his hunting in brushy situations and not long shots. A 25-06 would not be a good choice in that situation and neither would hopped up lightweight bullet larger calibers. Poor performance in heavy cover. A 180 gr 30-06 would be perfect. I suspect he's also blind/stand hunting so a heavier long action rifle isn't going to be an issue since he's not going to be carrying it around all day. If he's worried about recoil the extra weight will be a blessing. Sounds like he will be growing into a big gun anyway.

I would say a .30-06 also, there are many around that are used but in great shape, also so many weights and bullet styles available it would make a fantastic first rifle, a good all-round caliber that you can shoot forever, you may get new rifles in the future, but you will never outgrow a .30-06!

Njb123, there is lots of good advice here. I would second the guys who recommended a .308 or 7mm-08. I also like the .270 as an all around cartidge and I have used mine on elk with good results. Any of the three will give good service. Someone posted above about trying different calibers out first and if you can swing it I promise you will be glad you did. When doing so make sure you factor in the wieght of the rifle you are shooting in evaluating recoil. It makes a big difference.
I am going to respectfully disagree with Panfry in that I think you should practice with your rifle as much as humanly/financially possible especially as a new shooter. It will pay off in the field. Also do not just shoot from the bench. Try sticks, kneeling, etc. Good luck and enjoy whatever you get!

When the first time I shot a 30-06 I think I was twelve or thirteen I was expecting way more recoil, but it was less than 12ga turkey mags. It's not a whole lot more than a 30-30. If I could only have on caliber it would be the 30-06.
What Rifle and model do you have in mind?