So I've got this Model 70 classic action...

[bushgun]

...chambered in 30.06. It is a lightweight gun, that really beats you up after shooting it for a bit. So I bought a McMillan hunter stock and had originally planned to re-barrel it with a heavier 30.06 barrel. However, I've got a few 308s, and, after reading about the 6.5s, 7s and such here, I was thinking about a change. I'd like to be able to use it for not only deer hunting, but shooting steel throughout the year. Where I shoot, I have the ability to reach out to about 1200 yards. I also would like to use my .308 silencer with it as well. I recently purchased a Pacific Tool bottom metal which uses the 300 Win Mag AI mags.

So what caliber? Back to the 06, 280 AI, 6.5.06 or something else? I don't reload now, but intend to purchase a re-loader later this year.
So caliber would be a good fit?

 

[SA1000]

6.5x284 or the 280 AI

 

[Canadian Bushman]

284 win, 280 ai, or 6.5 - 284 would be my top three.
The 6.5-06 is a good choice as well

 

[LeddSlinger]

...chambered in 30.06. It is a lightweight gun, that really beats you up after shooting it for a bit. So I bought a McMillan hunter stock and had originally planned to re-barrel it with a heavier 30.06 barrel. However, I've got a few 308s, and, after reading about the 6.5s, 7s and such here, I was thinking about a change. I'd like to be able to use it for not only deer hunting, but shooting steel throughout the year. Where I shoot, I have the ability to reach out to about 1200 yards. I also would like to use my .308 silencer with it as well. I recently purchased a Pacific Tool bottom metal which uses the 300 Win Mag AI mags.

So what caliber? Back to the 06, 280 AI, 6.5.06 or something else? I don't reload now, but intend to purchase a re-loader later this year.
So caliber would be a good fit?

Many great cartridges out there that will do what you need. The 280 AI or the 6.5-06 that you listed seem to be the most logical choices because I'm sure you already have a bunch of 30-06 brass from which both of those wildcats can be formed.

For paper/steel punching and deer hunting, I would personally go with the lower recoil of the 6.5-06. The 280 AI is a very good long range cartridge, but it will kick every bit as hard as a 30-06, if not more when speeds are pushed to max. I can't tell much difference in recoil between a 7mm Rem Mag and a 280 AI

 

[bushgun]

Thanks for the feedback. I really like a lot of what I have read about the 280 AI, and if I understand correctly, the 280 Remington will feed in it as well. My only hesitation with the 6.5-06 is the lack of factory loadings, but I'm still reading up on it. The 6.5 x 55 Sweede also has some appeal since I can get some cheaper factory loads to practice with.
One other thing I forgot to mention is that I would like to keep the barrel length to 24." Any longer with a can starts to get a bit long.

 

[bushgun]

What's the barrel life like on the 6.5-06 and 280 AI?

 

[LeddSlinger]

What's the barrel life like on the 6.5-06 and 280 AI?

Just depends how fast you want to push heavy bullets and how hot you get your barrel shooting targets. Shooting 3 shot groups makes a barrel last much longer than shooting 10 shot groups. Either way, I wouldn't be concerned with barrel life on either of those rounds. Though with identical pressures, the edge would definitely go to the 280 AI for barrel life.

 

[Canadian Bushman]

The 6.5-06 is the most overbored and still uses the original 06 shoulder angle.
I would think out of the calibers in discussion, it would have the shortest barrel life.

The 6.5-284, 284, and 280 ai all use a sharper shoulder angle. Ive seen competition rifles in these calibers shoot sub 1/2moa for 1500+ rounds. Like drill dog stated, under different circumstances you will probally get more rounds than that.