I built the first gun I ever killed a deer with in '76 into a .338/06. Still have the take off barrel (MkX Mauser). I missed the '06 so much, I traded for another, but sold it off (Parker-Hale). Not having an '06 was so bad, I bought a Colt Lt. Rifle. It's a "winner". Most accurate big-game rifle I own (only a Rem. M700 in .22-250 bests it). I "inherited" my older brothers M-1 National match (it wasn't "born" that way, but he bought it already converted with a BlueSky barrel, ect. He won the Sharpshooters class with it in the 1988 Montana state championship).
I still prefer it ('06) over all others I've owned. The .257wbymag shoots flatter, as does the .270 (but only a little), but neither have the put-down of the .30cal. Given the bullet selection of the .30cal, I'll always have one.