Re: beanfield long range 30-06? 300wm??????
If you don't have the barrel yet, I'd go with a 1/10 twist personally. It will stabilize the heavier bullets better. Having said that if you already have the barrel, the 1/11.25 should do ok up to 200gr bullets.
I'm a fan of the .30-06. I think it has a bit better barrel life if you're going to be shooting alot (which I would assume you would be if you're going to get proficient at shooting longrange), and you can still reach out to some good distances to hunt the <span style="font-weight: bold">proper game</span>. However, it does have it's limitations.
The question of what range your comfortable with needs to be coupled with what bullet you're planning on using.
For example: a 210 berger has a minimum impact velocity of around 1800fps. A a .30-06 pushing the 210 berger at a speed of around 2700fps will have the bullet at around 1800fps somwhere between 500-600 yards. Maybe a little further, but not much.
Further than that you may not have reliable expansion on the bullet.
The 208 Amax has a minimum expansion velocity of around 1500fps. This will extend your range a little bit further with .30-06 to about 800 yards or so, maybe a little further. However, the 208 amax has a really thin jacket and supposedly is ok for medium thin skin game. Bone shots and game with thick skin really isn't an option for this bullet, at least not that I've seen.
If you're planing on shooting beyond those distances,or game bigger than deer or caribou then your .300 win mag is going to be the better choice. It simply can push heavier bullets faster than the .30-06.
You could use lighter bullets, but the heavies will buck the wind better and retain better down range energy.
Just remember, taking a long shot means you have to go that far and beyond to find it an bring it home
Optics..that's a whole thread in and of it self.
just my opinion...