Model 70 said, "Lately i've been wanting something bigger than faster if ya know what i mean."
Yup, I surely do.
Have you considered a .35 Whelen? There's more to the round than what Remington loads. By that, I mean it's useful to at least 300 yards properly loaded and sighted in. I believe remington is making a bolt, pump and semi-auto in the Whelen now. I would stick with factory level ammo in the semi and maybe the pump, but the bolt will take hotter loads. Recoil is a bit more than a 30-06 but isn't all that bad. Ruger may still be making rifles in the Whelen as well.
Don't need all that much thump? How about a .358 Winchester. browning is making the BLR in that caliber. I can't say anything about the new ones, but my original all steel BLR is a tackdriver, surpisingly so for a two piece stocked lever action. Ruger may still be making that one as well, but I don't know.
The nice thing about both rounds is, if the factoried stop making them, brass can be made from .308 Win. and 30-06 wehich should be around forever.
I have rifles chambered to both rounds and I really do like them.
Paul B.