How about a 7.62 X54r Mosin Nagant? Basically the same as a .308 with not quite as much punch. Ammo is about average price and surplus guns are about $100.

 

this one is very nice!http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=148630418
that might be a winner. how is ammo to get. I know wolf makes some but it has a full metal jacket so it wont mushroom like a hunting load.

 

you can find hunting ammo for 7.62 X54r Mosin Nagant rifles.


Just one example:
Sellier & Bellot Bulk 7.62x54R Ammo : Cabela's

 

I would say .243 I got my wife A savage youth model .243 It makes a nice pack gun and is nice and short and lightweight to pack and has brought down alot of elk and deer as well, shooting through willows, brush ect think this would be a good gun for what you are wanting it for. Here is a link for an example of one a little bit more than what you were wanting but this one is scoped and has synthetic stock and sling. When I bought my wifes i think it was around the $300 range. So i think you could still find one for about that much.
Guns for Sale

 

I would go with a New England Arms Handie rifle good shooting little guns priced decent and alot of cal.s to chose from and you can buy driff. cal. barrels if you want for small game or coyotes,deer or elk just they are single shots but it only takes one to killem

 

I am quite fond of my 444 marlin. I have it in the lever action, but it is chambered in the handi-rifle. Just put it on the sholder and pull the trigger, deer just drop! it's awsome

 

I got one years ago for $35 great gun.

How bout a sks? Very short, very tough, semi auto. Shoots 7.62x39 very short 308. Ammo is cheap and can be found in soft point. And it comes with a bayonet

 

30-30, 30-06, 308, 243, 270, 35, 300win mag, 270WSM, 300WSM, 7mm mag, 44mag.... any of those should do, and and decent gun store should have all of the above in stock.

 

X2 on the SKS, AK variants. Ammo is cheap and so are the guns. You can find surplus ammo pretty cheap.

 

as far as the sks. I had one very fun gun to shoot. ammois cheap if you buy the wolf or equivelent. but those are not hunting rounds. the soft points are about the same price as other ammo of the same caliber.
I will keep it an option but I was thinking more in the lines of a bolt or lever action. the semis dont hold the patterns the bolts do.

thanks everyone. the mosin nagant looks interesting.
anyone ever buy a used gun off of a site like gunbroker.com? If I buy one off of there it says I have to ship it to a licensed FFL dealer. I am not sure the local sport shop would want to get a gun shipped to them if it wasnt purchased through them.