Bit by the Hunting Bug...

[Johneracer]

For shoulder issues, get a 308. It will serve your purpose per what you said you need. I have a sako 300 win mag and really like it. See if you can find an older sako online in 308. It will be cheaper and generally the consensus is that those guns were made better. Tikka is a good rifle but to me felt really cheap. I love the look of wood so I went with sako finnbear. Weatherby makes a great rifle and if you can find one in 308 get it.

[duckman1]

.270 Win. IMO light recoil and extensive bullet selection. Large enough for anything you want to hunt in N. America.

[MongooseV8]

I'd get a 270 Tikka T3 add a Limbsaver pad and get a decent brake installed. You can be scoped and loaded under 8lbs and it will be a great shooter.

[Sutcliffe]

Stick to a milder cartridge

The 6.5 Swede is well known for it's effect on big game. It is also super easy to shoot well because of the mild recoil.

[ar15barrels]

This is my first year hunting since I was a boy over 30 years ago. Since that time I've served over 11 years in the military & had multiple surgeries including 3 rotator cuff repairs in both shoulders & now overdue one.

This weekend was my 3rd hunting trip this year. I have an M1A & after hours of lugging that beast around combind with the strap sawing into my shoulder I felt a pain like never before.
I'm shopping for a nice lightweight bolt action. I've narrowed it down between SAKO & Browning X Bolt. In addition I'm unsure in what caliber (30-06, 300 win mag, 25-06, 6.5 Creedmoor & 270 win mag). I like to hunt wild pig but plan for Deer, Elk, Bighorn Sheep & etc... I'm not hunting anything beyond 300 yards but may look into long range target shooting one day.
Any suggestions?

Either of those choices in 30-06 would serve you well.
A lightweight hunting rifle will NEVER make a GOOD choice for longrange target shooting.
When you want to get into longrange target shooting, build a more appropriate gun for that.

[SoCalPI]

Take a look at the new Browning X Bolt Hells Canyon Speed....

http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/x-bolt/x-bolt-hells-canyon-speed.html

[tanks]

As others have said .270 or .308 is the way to go for your requirements.

[BillyGoatMachine]

Since you mentioned you plan on hunting Big Horn Sheep, I'm assuming you have an unlimited budget. Skip the factory offerings and go custom. Call up a smith of your choice and let them guide you in your decision.

[k1dude]

With bad shoulders I vote with the 7mm-08 crowd for low recoil.

If you want a recoil comparison, check out Chuck Hawks Rifle Recoil Comparison page.

The .270 Winchester has about 40% more recoil than the 7mm-08.

[njineermike]

With bad shoulders I vote with the 7mm-08 crowd for low recoil.

If you want a recoil comparison, check out Chuck Hawks Rifle Recoil Comparison page.

The .270 Winchester is about 40% more recoil than the 7mm-08.

That's a handy chart. Good find.

[ElvenSoul]

7-30 waters in Rem 7

[TMB 1]

Browning - 25-06

[tanks]

One other thing is that the stock of the rifle makes a huge difference in recoil management. Bedding and fit being the two important factors. So, a heavy caliber well fitted rifle can have "felt" recoil of much smaller caliber factory rifles.

Seeing that you are looking at factory rifles one thing you can do is to put a one inch Pachmayar or Limbsaver pad on the rifle.

[ar15barrels]

7-30 waters in Rem 7

Not likely to work due to the rimmed case.
Also, what mags are going to feed it?

Now a 7BR in a model 7 would be sweet.

[roostersgt]

I'd look on gun broker for a pre '64 Win Mdl 70 Featherweight in 270 Win. A fine rifle can be had for around $700 that is better than just about anything listed above. It will also never lose value, if you keep it cleaned and oiled.