the best all around rifle caliber?

I’ve own a 30-06 since I was 14 and would never hesitate on a 300+ yard shot on an elk if it was an ethical shot. A bonded bullet at 165 to 180 grains is more than enough for moose,elk and deer. It is plenty for black bear, but I might like something a little stiffer if I was after Alaskan Browns or Grizzlies. The -06 would work, but I would like a little margin when dealing with something that might want to hurt me back. A 308 is basically a shorter 30-06 and is nearly as effective. The advantage the 30-06 has is the longer neck lets you load 220 grain bullets for those bigger bears if you want to. the extra powder in the 06 gives you @ 120-180 more FPS in same weight bullets. The 270 is a necked down 30-06, so it just uses a smaller bullet, but will kill elk and anything else just as effectively with good bullet placement. Any of these cartridges is effective within an ethical hunting envelope. I like the 30-06 because I grew up with them, it could have been a 270 just as easily. My Browning A-Bolt is a joy to shoot still, and since I reload I can shoot it a lot. I can cover a 5 shot group with a quarter when I’m having a good day. I also have an A-Bolt SS in 300 WSM, not a bad recoil, but is a little stronger and a lot quicker it seems. I load both with 165 bonded bullets, and will try to get my Barnes bullets to group a little better.
One of the best hunting tips I’ve ever gotten is read “The Perfect Shot” for N. American and African animals. Real good resource.

I consider the .308 Winchester to be a nearly perfect all-around cartridge for general hunting. I do not include the really big stuff like Alaskan Brown Bear, or large African game. A .308 will do about anything a .30-’06 will do and it will use less powder and produce slightly less recoil. The .308 Win is also one of the world’s premier long range target cartridges.

I am not trying to take any laurels from the .30-’06, but I prefer short action cartridges to the ’06 length cartridges.

Doc

.270 winchester from 90 grain bullet to 180 grain

All of them are very capable of taking bear, I took one with .270 at 295lbs and my brother took one with a .308. As far as caliber versatility, the .30 cal is more versatile then the .270. For the .270 130 grain for deer and 150 for bear. The .308 168 grain match hollow point is the tightest shooter which you can hunt with or 165 Nosler.

My choice is a Garand rifle Caliber .308 fine tuned to zero the ten ring from 500 yards,