For deer, the 30-06 and 308 are essentially equal! If you didn't know it, the 308 was created from the 30/06 by simply shortening the case 1/2" so the cart would fit in a short action rifle. The only "slightly measurable" difference occurs when you are talking about bullets over 180 grains and for perhaps game over 500#. The 06 can sling 180-200-220+ grain bullets a little faster than the 308 because of it's longer case capacity. That being said, a 180grn prem bullet like a Barnes in a 308 will out penetrate most 200grn and even 220grn bullets of standard cup & core design so even that difference is essentially negated anymore.

Yes the 06 is THE universal cartridge on this side of the Atlantic so if any store sells ammo REST ASSURED they WILL have 06 before anything else! I have 2 06s and love them both, yes one of them was my very first rifle I got for Christmas as a 13yr old back in 1984. With it, yes I've killed more deer than can be counted and I still love the 06. There is an old saying, "If the 06 isn't the answer then it's a mighty stupid question!"

Personally, I'm PERFECTLY CONTENT to carry either an 06 or a 308, either with a 165grn TSX Barnes and feel COMPLETELY confident for ANYTHING on this continent except perhaps the griz/brown bears/polar bears and truth be told, more of those bears have been killed with an 06 than the rest of the carts combined! (I'd just prefer something a lil bigger and stouter were I to go specifically for the big bears, like a 338WM or even the 375H&H)

As for "heavier bullets having more power" that's not really the case. Tissue destruction and penetration is what incapacitates game animals. Many years ago when bullet technology was very elementary, yes you likely needed 180-200+grn pills in a 30 cal to get satisfactory penetration and bone breaking ability on larger game. Not so anymore tho with todays "wonder bullets" like the various monolithic solids (Barnes, Nosler Etips, Hornady GMX etc...) and even the "super bonded" bullets out there. Like I said, I just really don't think there's much need to go any heavier than 180grns today in a 30cal for ANYTHING that you are going to be shooting a 30cal at in the first place. There really aren't any tradeoffs yet you do get benefits due to lighter bullets yielding higher velocities which result in better trajectory. (The old "having your cake AND eating it to!)

Now I'm a rifle nut, I have over 15 big game rifles so I'm NOT one to ask if you are the "one gun for anything" kinda guy. I just like em ALL. My latest "thought/desire/prolly will get" will be a lightweight bolt gun for deer here in my swamp in west TN. I prefer my Marlin leverguns first and foremost for the cypress swamp. (A 336RC in 35Rem and a Guide Gun in 45-70) But I must confess I've been lusting for a carbine bolt gun in 308 (OR really one of it's spawns like the 338 Federal or the 358 Win) and at the top of that list is the new Adirondack from Kimber or the simple, rugged Ruger American Compact. Either topped by a quality 2x7 or similar glass, and I can't think of a better, quicker, lighter bolt gun for the deer woods. (Here I must admit, one of my 06s will likely soon be bored to 35 Whelen and the barrel cut back to 20". That likewise will make a great "swamp hammer" for my 220# swamp bucks!)

It's ALL good, the good Lord says we must live with ONE woman. He NEVER SAID ANYTHING about one gun, one boat, one truck, one home etc...
HL