Amazing that the .257's and .264's get no love, as versatile as the '06 is in the mid to large big game calibers.. is as versatile as the .25-06 is in the small to mid sized big game calibers, find some good bullets for the larger game and you'll be fine, more weight and frontal diameter than the .243, little less umph than the .270, which is still a good option, but light bullets won't perform as well as in the .25. The .25-06 is great for anything below a heavy boned elk (which you have the barrel for already, so play around) and up when properly matched for game to bullet.