So I picked up a savage axis in 30-06 for my wife to use this year. I mainly want to make it into a do-all gun for her/ the family. It will mostly be used for deer,hogs and other varmints but would also like to be able to take it to the range and step out a little further if we should want to.

I started out the build with a
Used savage axis 30-06 for $150
Egw 20 Moa base $32
Vortex 3-9x50 scope. $160
Used rings that came with gun $0
The claw sling $25
Boyd's thumb hole stock. $117
Sold the factory scope -$50
Total. $434

Now my question is for barrel and caliber. Would like something with less recoil for her but still plenty of knock down power. Looking at the E.R. Shaw barrels in .243 would this be a decent barrel and what twist.

Here it is as it sits until the stock arrives.