If your not going to go to an area where you will have a long shot and need the HP of a mag to get the bullet there.
30-06 or 308 are basically the same round in performance.
I know some of you are going to argue but if you reload you can get the speed out of the two cases with the same bullets. the 06 has an advantage when you get into the heavier bullets 190 and above. Do not see you loading 220 round nose soft point lion loads for deer.
Since you reload. 165 grain spbt round will do everything for you. Also since you reload you could use the same bullet for an 06 or .308 for your 30-30. Just only load two rounds total in your rifle. 1 in chamber +1 in Mag so you do not have the recoil possibly set off the round in front of it under recoil.
I'm guessing you want to mount a scope on it. So look at the Weaver 3-9X38 scopes. They are crisp and clear. Some say 100+% quality of the Leupold with 80% price tag. You will be very happy
As far as a bolt rifle. You said wood or laminate stock no plastic or composite. So what are you thinking of as a make? Better question is what do you want to spend? I would look in the local shops in the used racks. You may make a great find. Most used rifles are just pre owned and not really used. Ask the gun shop owner about the gun and who brought it in and why.
One of my local shops we have a guy that buys a new rifle mounts a scope on it, usually a Weaver, buys 200 -300 rounds of ammo and will shoot most of the ammo. Break in the rifle like all the books tell you and then it's back in the shop in the used rack and he is on to another project. The rifle is in the rack for about 95% of new price with a high end Weaver mounted to it and all sighted in. I own three guns from him.
If your looking for new.
The new Ruger Hawkeye in .308 would be great. Or even .338 Federal if you want a medium bore do do triple duty of deer, black bear, and other large game. The standard M77 are also great.
Remington makes a number of the 700 models in wood from plain to fancy and the 798's have a laminate stock for the line.
Also look at the CZ 550. They make a number of models that have laminate stocks as well as wood.
They do make a 6.5X55 Swede, but all of the 550 actions are long actions (30-06) size so you may want to look at a cartridge in that base. The website is
www.cz-usa.com What about a 7.62X39 in a short Carbine? Look at the 527 rifles.
The cool thing about the CZ rifles are the single set trigger. You push forward on the trigger with your thumb till it clicks and you now have a set trigger.
