New rifle recommendations

New .308 I would stick with the standard and you cant go wrong, just get a new one and then you dont have to buy another caliber of ammo.

Just get what calibers you already have.

I'd stick with .308
That's a good caliber and you already have it. Lots of great options chambered in 308, and lots of great ammo available.

30-30, my eyes saw 30-06. . 30-06 or 6.5 would both be a great choice. Seems like 6.5 creedmore is what all the cool kids are getting today.

If you don’t mind getting different ammo, I guess it does not matter.

My dad use to hunt deer in New York with a lever action 35. Back in the late 60s and early 70s.

Good luck with what ever you get, keep us updated.

Check out the Remington model 783. Nice rifle at a reasonable cost in many different calibers.

I also vote .308. Its tried and true, you know it. What are you trying to improve on? What more do you really need?

Ha! Always an excuse for something new. I truely understand. Ive been sick like that for years. Same with guns as it is with bikes. Im rich in toys and poor in cash and would have it no other way!

My dad's gun was a 30-06 for deer in the ANF near Tionesta. Looks like the 30-06 only buys you about 150fps vs the .308 and a bit heavier round. Sounds like you want to try out the Creedmoor, so get that and see how it shoots. I'm stuck in shotgun slug land so I don't have much experience hunting with larger rifles, I just shoot a couple hundred yards across the field once or twice a year with the hand me down rifles.

Stick with .308, there’s so much data and components out there for them.

That being said, if you go with a different cartridge I highly recommend 7mm rem magnum.

You already have a .308, get a new gun and a new caliber. The 6.5 CM and 7mm-08 are both excellent with the right ammo, specifically the Hornady ELDX round. I have shot and dropped Whitetail, Mule Deer, Elk and Hog without fail with my 6.5. I have several rifles and the 6.5 had been the most versatile gun I've used. The farthest kill shot was nearly 400 yards on an Elk. It's a fun gun to Target shoot and hunt with, minimum recoil and accurate.

I’m looking at getting a Bergara B14 Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor.

They will shoot Sub Moa at 100 yards, talked to a few guys that said they will shoot much better than that with hand loads.

They run about $700-$900 depending on which model you choose.

I could be here all day about this.

Just get what you want. The 6.5 is great. .308, great, .270 will do everything you need.
The only reason I would own another 30.06 is ammo availability.
6.5 is harder to find than. 308 or .270, and pricier here.
Unless you intend to go "downrange", and do 500s and stuff, man I'd go with a good available round.

We shoot quite a bit at 500, and the. 308 is fine.
Is the 6.5 better? It is in my estimation, but I don't think that unless you just want one, you need one.
It's flatter, but less whack than the. 308, or even the. 270 with commercial loads.

I have an AR in 6.8 SPC that is a hog machine. Texas whitetail whacker too.
6.8 is a carbined. 270.

Ammo is expensive though.

If you're not limited to bolt action, an AR-10 in 6.5 Creed would make for a fine multi purpose rifle.

Another vote for a 6.5. They’re scary accurate and really pleasant to shoot overall. The Swedes have used 6.5x55 for over a hundred years to take everything from small dear to large caribou and moose. If you want a little more charge than the creedmore, .260 Remington is a widely available munition and .264 Winchester mag is a hard hitting round.

"260 Remington is a widely available munition"

You thinking. 270 REM?

Good round. Similar to the 30.06 with perhaps a little better ballistics.

If you are still thinking about a 6.5 you could just pick up one of these to do the hunting for you.
https://sworddefense.com/spur/

I dont live there but isn't that because the AR platform is typically .223 and 22 isn't allowed for deer? So an AR chambered in a larger round would be ok.

AR's are not allowed for deer in PA because they are semi-auto. PA does not permit semi-auto rifles for big game.

I like to hunt with my grandpa's 30-40 Kraig with 220 grain so I get what you are talking about by hunting with hand me down guns. That thing will really flip a deer and honestly not damage it to bad. I am not a fan of .308 at all. My preferred caliber is a 30-06. I assume you have killed a few deer with the .308. Shoot one with a 30-06 and you will see they are really not that close in comparison. My Dad hunts with a 270 and it is nice. If you have 2 guns of different calibers in the same hunting camp I wouldn't suggest it being a 270 and 30-06. They are to close and we have messed our shells up more than a time or 2 by leaving shells in a hunting vest. You would run into the same problem with your 243 if you got a 6mm. I wouldn't suggest owning both.
I like the 30-06 over the 270 because I like 30 calibers and a heavier round. A 300 magnum or a 7mm magnum are just to much. You don't need that to kill a deer. I think 30-06 is on the strong side and as strong as I'd go for deer and they will shoot plenty far. So I don't see the need for 270 myself but they are nice. If I was wanting to shoot stupid far, I don't think I'd go bigger. I'd go smaller like a 22/250. I shot a doe one time at around 300 yards with a 7mm mag and there wasn't enough to pick up the pieces. It was looking at me and I shot it in the chest. I took out both front shoulders, the loin and 1 hind quarter. Honestly, I cut off the only good piece of meat which was one hind quarter and half of one loin. Unbelievable the power of those things.

If you are going with a bolt action both Remington and Winchester are nice. I have a BDL and I like it but it is on the big and heavy side. My favorite deer rifle I own is a Ruger M77 Mark II in 30-06. It is smaller and lighter than a BDL and the action is very similar to a 700 action. It fits me well and I have never had any problem with it. I actually like it better because it will fire if the lever is not all the way down and I can put it on safety even if it is not cocked. I also like the safety on it because it is a 3 point safety. So you really don't have to worry about knocking it off safety when carrying it. You can also walk with your thumb on the safety and flip it quickly (even while on your shoulder) if you are doing any close stalking. It is not a popular gun in mainstream but I like and prefer it over a BDL.