Best "One Rifle" Caliber?

[AZ_Hunter]

I'm about to pull the trigger on one of the Bass exclusive threaded T3X Superlites in 30-06 but have been waffling on if that's the caliber to go with after digging through the forums. This will be my one hunting rifle for the next 2 years (roughly).

The more I read on Rokslide, it seems like the 30-06 just has a lot of negatives (esp if you don't reload) and I should maybe get a 6.5 PRC (or another modern caliber) since it does much of the same with much lower recoil and less wind drift / drop (i.e., more margin for error). I don't reload right now.

I currently use a CTR chambered in 308 but don't want to carry a heavy barrel around for no reason any more / wanted more flexibility in the cartridge.

My rationale for the 30-06 was primarily barrel life, ammo cost, and ammo availability. I know barrel life isn't typically something people consider on this forum, but I've been training a lot this year since I started late in life and swapping out a barrel is pretty close to the same price as a new rifle. Doing that every 1000-1500 rounds is pretty brutal (probably every 6 months for me at this point) but I can deal with it if 6.5 PRC or another cartridge really is that much better/more forgiving. I thought about .270 but barrel life is pretty much the same as 6.5 PRC with less performance.

Use case-wise, I've been primarily been hunting mule deer and boar but have a bear tag this year and am planning a cow elk hunt in NM this January as well. I weekend warrior so 5-8 mile hike-in and 1-2 nights per trip - fairly mountainous.

Would you buy a 30-06 over a 6.5 PRC (or other cartridge) as a do-it-all?

A tikka superlight 30-06 is going to be a handful and a half. I have one. Suppressed helps, but it’s still a handful. It’s not unshootable, just know the rifle moves when fired.