For deer and pigs, you simply don't need anything other than a good 30-06, 308 Win., 303, 318, 404, etc.

With that said, I do consider the 338 Win. Mag. to be even more versatile than the 30-06 is, and the 338 has become my favorite all-around cartridge. It'll do all that the 30-06 will do, shoot just as flat as the '06 does, yet take in a lot more territory at the large end of the big game scale as a bonus.

I've take a great many Texas whitetails and hogs with the 210 Nosler out of my 338 Win. Mag., and by no means is it too big for the job. It fact, the kills have been instantaneous, and the meat damage minimal. And when I hunt elk here in Oregon, the 338 Win. Mag. has put those bulls down with a lot more authority that the 30-06 has. The only downside to the 338 versus the '06 is recoil.

But you Australians are a hardy race, and I doubt the difference in recoil will make any difference to you.......