Well, my deer rifle is a Savage 12 BVSS with a 3-12 x 50mm Burris XTR scope on it. It will make killing deer at well over 300 yards a piece of cake.
I went to it as a challenge gun. I was hunting deer and antelope with a 12 lb 30'06 with a fixed 4x scope. It worked fine to 300, and I could stretch to 400, but I was not confident shooting over 300 yards.
Now that I think about it, my money on a new rifle might have been better spent on a new scope for the old rifle, but the old rifle was my dad's rifle, so I needed my own.
This was all based on hunting in eastern MT, which looks alot like Kansas!
In OH, I have been hunting with pistols, but this year, I broke down and bought a slug gun! So, as you can see, I'm going the opposite way you have gone.
I also really fancy the 308 or 260 Rem. Whatever you do, get a good scope and shooting sling. Learn how to use them. Also don't shy away from a total weight of 10 - 13 lbs. 8lb scope and rifle combos feel nice in the store, but take a lot to hold on target in the field.