One thing that people need to realize is that within 300 yards almost all of the big game cartridges are pretty much the same.

What's happened is, ammuntion manufacturers have hung their hat on certain cartridges and loaded the piss out of them *ahem* .308 *ahem*. There are plenty of cartridges that aren't in the mainstream (like the .280) that are actually better performers it's just that Federal and other companies have their "pet" calibers that they develop agressively.

If cost means more than performance then I guess the '06 is the way to go for you.