There are mant new calibers out there right now but when all is said and done and many of the new ones have faded, the 30-06 will still be going strong. It has to many things going for it. Its about the max recoil that is acceptable to the AVERAGE rifleman, Its ammo is everywhere, Every action is chambered in it, It will kill all NA american big game with power to spare. It has a bullet made for every purpose and it just plain near perfect. Out to 400 yards it shoots plenty fast and plenty flat for shots that most hunters would or should take. It takes one of the Magnum cartridges to out pace it at the cost of to much recoil for the average shooter to enjoy shooting. I know quite a few hunters here that will not practice with the big kickers and end up shooting them two or three shots before season to see if they are still on. Thats it for thge year. They go back in the safe until next year. Thats not all magnum shooters but thats a good percentage of them. I have retired my 30-06 for now as its just way more gun than I need for Mule deer. Perhaps I will have a chance to bring it our for one more elk hunt.