Have an Academy Special Stevens 200 .270 that shoots alright but is too thin to thread. Thinking about re-barreling but curious what you would suggest on caliber. Would want something to compliment an 18" .308 I already have.

If it was strictly for deer hunting and a once every 10 year shot at an Aoudad, and not currently reloading, which way would you go? Anything interesting with a 16" barrel?

I have one of the "Academy Specials" that was 270 win and over the years have changed the barrel several times. First change was a 257 Roberts, then a 6.5x55 Swede, currently its a 6.5CM. Being its long action, there are a bunch of choices available. 35 Whelen would be interesting.

I think a 280ai would be an awesome upgrade.

Not loading it seems like it would be extremely difficult to run down ammo.

Only have a .30 cal can so would have to be .30 or less.

How horrible/dumb would a shorter 7mm rem mag be?

Finding ammo would not be tough.

280 ai ammo

Finding enough money to buy said ammo would be tough. Geez!! looks like 280ai is definitely a reloader's round.

7 mag won’t work with a 270 bolt. I wouldn’t bother swapping barrels on a Stevens 200. The 18” 308 will do everything mentioned easily.

Perfect time to start reloading then. Barrel swapping and reloading go hand in hand.

I sold all my equipment when I couldn’t out perform federal gold medal match. Then it wasn’t long after the big first round of Obama scare hit and haven’t seen powders and primers readily available sense.

Well with a .470 bolt face in a long action, you have quite a few options under .30 cal

220 Swift
6mm Remington
257 Roberts
25-06 Remington
6.5x55 Swedish
270 Winchester
7x57 Mauser
7x64 Brenneke
280 Remington
280 AI

You could use the following short action calibers too, some say don’t put short action cartridges in a long receiver but it can be done

22/250 Remington
243 Winchester
250 Savage
260 Remington
6.5 Creedmoor
6.5/284 Norma
7/08 Remington
284 Winchester

Probably missing some cartridges in that list
I don’t really use short barrel rifles, so I don't have much experience with them, but if I wanted a short barrel, didn’t reload and already had a .308, I would say with those stipulations I would go 6.5 Creedmoor

30-06

.284 Winchester

Why not a 22 Creedmoor or 6mm Creedmoor? Both will be a deer killing machine in a 16-18" barrel for sure. The 6mm is a sweet round that just does the job.