Just a broad comment to come back to this, and planning for the future (with your kids).

With advances in bullet, powder, manufacturing, and scope technology since we were younger...I am more and more convinced that less is better. The .223 is a formidable round for most animals...308 if you need to tackle elk, etc. Both can be highly accurized, and paired with a scope that enables extremely accurate kill shots at distance.

Anyways, just food for thought. Some people like simple...and the idea that with a 7mmMag they don't have adjust dope between 100-300 (give or take a few inches).

Hope you find what you're looking for.

PS - Did I mention Aimpoint T-1?