The 30-06 will do most anything, but there is always something that will do it better.

1) Max Range-With a 150 grain pointed bullet or a 165 grain pspboat tail the trajectory is almost identical. A Three inches high grouping at 100 yards, with either bullet, both bullets will be aproximately 1/2" hight at 200 yards, and they'll be sighted in at 250 yards, At 300 yards you have toaim just 6" high. A skilled hunter who practices with the 30-06 can take a deer out to 400 to 500 yards. It takes one heck of a shot to kill beyond that.

2)Max power- Is has enough for everything except an irate grizzly.

3)Recoil- It kicks, but an average sized adult should be able to handle it, A limbsaver pad would a great addition to this gun.

4)Availability- Walmart has the in stock, Rem, Win, and Federal. You can't say that for many calibers except for the 30-30

Thanks guys everyone has a option on this one.

I have been the guy who had to have the newest round on the market and I will always have a soft spot for the 7mm-08. I have to say though that after 20 years I have slowly accepted what my father told me when I was ten. "If you can't do it with a 30-06 then you really don't need to do it." We have no large bears in La,so as usual he was right.

In the end just pick what your comfortable with and know what your rifle,and you,can do.

When you take the shot at your deer, you will neither feel the recoil nor really hear the shot.

Target shooting/tuning the 30-06 is fun...you know you are sending some serious power down range.

I realize that some people are more recoil sensative than others,but my 14 year old shoots a savage 30-06 with no issues.