ORIGINAL: Ron Duval
If you need more punch than you can get with the wonderful .30-06 (or .280), I would go to a .300 magnum of some sort. The 7mm Rem Mag does not signifigantly beat the .30-06 with the heavier bullets. The .30-06 gets about the same velocity from a 180 gr bullet as the 7mm Rem Mag does with the 175. The.284" does have a better ballistic coefficient and sectional density than the .308", but at most reasonable distances the difference in trajectory is small.
The .300 Win Mag will throw a 180 gr pill 150 fps faster than a .30-06. If you handload you can make a .300 Win Magbehave the same as a .30-06 easily. Load it hot for elk, load it mild for deer.
Ask your gunsmith for some advice on chambering. I have never met one that did not have strong informed opinions.
Mostly because of that reason right there, the 300 Win Mag. But I don't see any reason why a 7mm Rem Mag can't be a happy median between the 30 O6' and the 300 Win Mag..... JMO
I had a 30 O6' and liked it. I had a 7mm Rem Mag and loved it. I have a 300 Win Mag and love it.