I like the 06 for a variety of reasons, but the most important one is availability of ammo & components. Ballistically, it's not a long range laser, but it does everything a hunter needs within an ethical hunting distance and it does it well.
If you are sold on the 7mm caliber, then I think the 7mm-08 and 280 are the best choices for mass-produced cartridges with effectively the same footprint as an '06 with slightly better long range ballistics.
The PRC's, etc are all fine rounds, but a rifle should be more than just a personalized statement. It should be a legacy that you hand down to your offspring and as someone who has far more obsolete and eccentric cartridges than I know what to do with, the ability to grab 100 rounds off a shelf 50- years from now is not to be underrated.
But honestly, the terminal end of any of the major cartridges based off the 06 or 308 cases are going to be similar.
Get what you want. Make the gun fit you and if it were me, I'd get a boring, functional cartridge that has lasting power so when someone picks that gun up after your gone, they smile because they know they can feed it inexpensively, and they'll be taking you out into the field with them.
