I think B-Lot Banga explained this best. I did not know the OP was looking to buy a new gun. In this case buy a rifle chambered in a crtrage that will shoot heavy bullets. Make sure the barrel ofsaid rifle is rifled to stabilize heavy for caliber bullets and have fun. Always remember you can't kill your game to dead. In most cases a heavy bullet kills better but damages less meat. What chambering are you looking at for your new rifle.
I've gone around and around with this. I bought a Ultra7 suppressor, but wont have that for 4-14 months. My plan for the next gun was to have it suppressed with a 18-18.5" barrel, so that barrel+suppressor was 25-26"
First I decided on a 30-06 and bought a Tikka T3x chambered in 30-06 because of factory load bullet weight choices and I heard that 308 did really well with shorter barrels, so i figured the 30-06 would be more likely to overcome the reduction in barrel as its longer case than 308, but then i read the extra powder is just wasted and it really doesn't help as much. Maybe a faster burning powder will help (but then i'd have to get into hand loading).
Then I started reading about 277 Fury, 6.5PRC, 6.8western, 280AI, 270wsm........
I ordered a Vortex LHT 3.5x15-42 with MOA reticle.
So I think what i'm going to do is setup the 30-06 with my new scope, once ammunition is more available, i'll find a round it likes to shoot (thinking either 165gr or 180gr) and then experiment with chopping the barrel 1" at a time and using a chronograph to obtain muzzle velocity numbers as well as changes in grouping down to 18". At that time maybe the 277fury is out, or I decide to rebarrel the tikka in 280AI, or I just rock the 18" 30-06 as is.
I realize i'm very new to modifying guns, bullets, calibers, ect. I like to tinker, and i like a challenge. I'm no longer into wrenching on cars, so I need to find another outlet for fun.
I'm sure the eyes are rolling by some. "a 18" 30-06 will shoot like ****", "muzzle blast will be amazing", "louder than hell".......Who knows. The gun was only $587 and i can't find any real data on somebody that's chopped a 30-06. Maybe i destroy a perfectly fine barrel. Haven't heard a gun person ever say you can have too many guns.
I do thank all of you for posting on my thread trying to help me out. I am new, but promise to keep an open mind.