Ok, I have to weigh in.
I started shooting 30-06 mil surplus. Like them, lot of fun.
I wanted a Heavy Barrel (HB) 30-06 to see what I could do with it.
Some laugh at me, why 30-06? Because it appeals to me. Its only for punching holes, 300 yds at most likely. But there are so many calibers so much better? So? This is my fun and that's what I want.
What I found eventually was that you can do a Savage fairly easily as it has a nut holding the barrel in place (AR like, or more accurately 50 cal machine gun) - easy to head space. About $150 in tools for first change, after than just barel cost (well just is $300 plus but the tools work forever)
I also have a 308, same HB setup.
Some days I shoot the 308 good, some days the 30-06, some days neither one. For an average shooter (me) you will never tell the difference.
We used to have a guy name of Bart B, 308 is vastly superior (well it is if you are into the .2 group sizes. Otherwise the 30-06 does 1000 better as you have a lot of case capaicyt to work with to keep the speed up out there.
Barrels: Two types.
Cut Rifled: These are the best for the best. Wasted on me.
BUtton Rifled: Range from good (Shilen) to accepail (ER Shaw).
If its a one time barrel, go Cut, gun smith costs are too high to switch around.
Keep in mind, barrels wear out, target barrels wear out all to fast, if you want it to last, check your calibers carefully if you go with other than 06.
Long action you can shoot anything single loading, short action it 308 and under.
308 is easy on barrels. 30-06 is, 260 is good on barrels. 243 eats them up fast. Some of the 6 and 6.5 are barrel burners and some are good (I think 6mm BR is one of the very best long lived ones)
Still something like 5000 rounds it starts to drop off a good shooter, by 8k they are all gone.
So long term, you have to decide if the skill level warrants the investment.
I decided not, so went with the Savage. It will always shoot better than I can so I don't have to worry.
Model 70 according to Bart B is one of the best actions for this, its very rigid. Downside is gun smith costs.