.257 Roberts would get my vote

What? I said 6.5mm or 7mm. That's between.

I think I am leaning towards 25-06 at this point.

Who is Wiseman?

Opps, sorry. I misread. And was thinking you were in College Station, not Austin.

Bill Wiseman is a 'smith of some repute located in College Station. But screwing a 25/06 barrel on a M700 30/06 could be done by any decent gunsmith.

McBride's in Austin could probably recommend someone locally who could do it for you.

The .25 makes sense because that's about as small you want to take the caliber with an '06 case, unless you just wanna mess with the 6mm-06. The .25 will probably live a while longer and is not as persnickety. There's not a thing wrong with .280, .270, or 6.5-06 but I'd be looking for more spread---as you seem to indicate. At least for general hunting purposes. I understand JG's perspective in suggesting a 6.5, it would definitely make a better long range rig on account of the bullets available but it's pretty much a hand loading proposition and factory ammo would be more difficult to find.

Good advice.

Well done!

I just got done checking available factory loadings for the 6.5x55. Today the 6.5x55 doesn't have to take a backseat to the 257 Roberts or the 7mm Mauser. AAmmunition is available loaded with the Accubond, SST, and GMX premium bullets. Loadings with 130-140 grain bullets are most common the lightest is a 93 gr MatchKing from Ferderal.

Got another take on this deal to think about before you start spending Franklins...

You now have 2, two, Dos, Zwei, a pair of 30'06's right? So the 1st Question to ask your self is which one of these redundant 30'06's is going to get the makeover...the older one or the new 700 ADL. Then HOW your answers to that question stack up will determine which gun goes to the Beauty Parlor. So, I'd ask myself ...
Which gun has more sentimental value to you?
Which gun shoots 30'06 factory ammo the best, since you don't reload...yet.
Which gun is "prettier" or "has more character scars from adventues in the field"
Which gun will benefit most from a total Makeover
&
Which gun makes your heart go pitterpat with supreme confidence in it's ability to provide DRT performance on demand when you pick it up and shoulder it, that puts a smile on your face. Some guns of mine have had it, most don't and I look at them simply as tools to use for the moment and am not emotionally invested in them. or...AKA potential Trade Bait to turn a profit with at some point in the future.

Again a subject for discussion with your trusted advisor/'s & the 'smith you've chosen for the work.

"Who is Wiseman"? Google Bill Wiseman College Station Texas.
Go look at several different reloading manuals and see who built the guns being used for the testing and I think you'll find Bill's name in a few places of note.

I met Bill Wiseman in 1983 at the NRA Show in Phoenix as the Gunsmith of Record who was building my company's SAKO recievers into the revolutionary PPC target rifles initially for Ferris Pindel & Dr Lou Pamasino, that helped get SAKO involved with producing the calibers, 22PPC & 6PPC as a Factory rifle. Lots of good to great gunsmiths around, but Bill Wiseman is or was among the very best in the world in my time IMO.
JMHO & YMMV
Ron

I had that exact same situation come up. Here's what I opted for, including pricing.

1. 25 CAL. Douglas stainless, air gauge barrel, 1 in 10 twist, including shipping, $365.43
2. Timney trigger, 2.5lb pull, $125.00, including installation
3. Pacific Research composite stock, $414.99, including shipping
4. Inlet stock, glass/float, $175.00
5. True model 700 action and lap locking lugs, $125.00
6. Thread, chamber to 25.06 CAL, cut to 25 1/2 inches, crown at 11 degrees, $185.00
7. Solid scope base, with rings, $55, including mounting
8. Convert to BDL, hinged floor plate- trigger guard, follower, spring, and magazine box, $139.98, including installation

Topped it off with a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x44 Z-800.

Yeah, it will shoot.

I'd do a 280 Rem. but then again I'm a 7mm slut.

6.5-284 would be a nice one too.

Jason, your suggestions were spot on as usual. I was refering to the 8mm-06, 338-06, 35 Wheelen...

Yeah, sorry. Was thinking me, not the OP.

Not much thinking required on my part to decide that I'd go with the 25-06. And Bill Wiseman tuned up my Sako 270 and boy howdy that thing shoots great. Plus, I think he was a Marine, and that's one more thing to like.

Yeah, those don't fit between.

My slutiness for ballistic coefficient knows no bounds.

25-06

Well after giving it a little thought I think I may just sell this gun and pick up a Tikka. It's a lot more economical and I really don't want to shell out the cash for a premium barrel right now.

Not an unusal thought once you understand the parameters of the project. Tikka is not a bad choice IF a T3 fits your needs & IMO the best of the lot in the $6-$800 range, 'cause there are some upgrades available there too that I find desirable...and I am on my 3rd Tikka, a T3 SS/syn 270 Lite that shoots my handloads into bugholes when I do my part.

Here are some resource references you might want to peruse at a tad higher investment than a T3 SS Lite, starting around a $1,000/$1200 msrp*, if you want to look at some more options in a hand finished product that supposedly are better than the average American made Bigbox Retail deer shooter and better understand +/-'s of what's out there. I favor the M70 clones but then I have always liked M70's & Ruger 77's that are clones off the Oberndorff Mauser design that FN made the benchmark of bolt actons rifles IMO. These are in no particular order for price or my opinion of them.
www.ershawbarrels.com,
www.cooperfirearms.com, *Start around $15-$1600
KimberAmerica.com
& MontanaRifleCo.com.
Cheers
Ron

Not a bad choice. I'm looking at those as we speak, I just sold a Ruger GSR, and am thinking VERY hard on getting a T3 in either .308 Win. or 7mm-08. Just having a hard time deciding on which one since I already have a 700 in 7mm-08 and a Mod 7 in the same cal. Getting rid of the GSR taps me out on 308 Win, so the choice may seem obvious. Dunno yet.

I think I am leaning towards a 243 myself.

I wouldn't mind having a Tikka in 22250 or 243. Who is cheapest on them?

No idea let me know if you find somebody.

TOutlaw, see if you can find a SAKO A7 - not a Tecomate! tooo spendy!- but a a plain Sako A7 that should be mebbe $100 higher than a Tikka T3 in same finish's. Same barrel, same adjustable trigger as far as I know, little different stock shape, better ?? who knows, but for sure a better safety and steel lipped drop magazine. The safety has a button bypass like my Model 85 SAKO so that you can open the bolt to unload the chamber with the trigger locked and a round chambered...ummm like the middle position on a Wincehster/Ruger 3 position wing safety.

Good call on potential of a smaller caliber, although I am not a big fan of deer shooters in lighter than 120gr'ers especially at longer +300 yard distances. Good Bullet placement becomes more of an issue.
Have Fun !
Ron

Thanks for all your help Ron. I will look into the Sakos.

243 will be primarily for pigs/varmints, so I am not too worried about WT performance - although it will definitely see a few deer hunts.

I would sell the gun and buy one in the caliber you want.