Tom,
I own "4" 06's and totally agree with you. We live in a shooter's world nowadays where "new caliber of the day" seems to have taken over a good bit. Many many times, a great deal of these newbie's hype is to say it is comparable to...or in the same class as 30-06. So...Why not just buy a 30-06?!
Ragged hole, 100 yard groups are the norm with my bolt guns in all calibers I own. 30-03 Springfield will kill deer at (over) 600 yards and shoot straight. My longest kill shot (& there are guys on my lease that have shot deer much farther) is 680!
What more could you ask for?
Stay sharp, Capt. Chris
PS: So far as "scent" goes, that is one problem when you're shooting long distance that doesn't exist...CCS