thinking about building.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Funny that there are responses for long action cartridges.
 
6.5mm-08 Ackley Improved would be my choice if I felt I wanted to play with another caliber. But fireforming brass is a necessity. There's also the 260rem that would be nice for some long range shooting and is a very good deer round.  Just rebarreling to a target/heavy barrel in 308win could still be something to play with.   I also like the 358win short barrel suggestion.
 
-Steve

[b23]

IMO, the 260Remington would be the best choice. 

It may not be as fast as some of the other 6.5's but if you have someone that's built a lot of 260Rem's like Travis W/RBros or Shawn Carlock W/Defensive Edge build it you will have yourself a fine shooting rifle that will last forever, be easy to load for, and won't cost you much to shoot.  Put a good brake on it and it will be like shooting a pop gun.

[drysideshooter]

7x57 would be my choice...
I have a two of them and they have both taken a lot of elk and deer.

Amen!  I think this is especially true if there may be youngsters in your life that you may be introducing to shooting/hunting.  7x57 is extremely versatile and with mild recoiling loads capable of taking a lot of game.  I grew up in Alaska and my first big game rifle was a 7x57 given to me by my dad and I still own it and I have used it to start both of my kids on larger rifles.   The first animal I took with mine was a mountain goat, and it was used on almost countless moose, sheep and caribou hunts after that.

Though I am a huge 30-06 advocate, the 7x57 will always be another favorite, and like the 06 is rarely a bad choice.

[MountainWalk]

Iv'e always wanted a trim little 7 Mauser, loaded with 175gr partitions.

[ribka]

I have a6.5 swede and love it

Pondering a build in 6.5 AI and this cartridge caught my attention. And no fire forming brass

http://6mmar.com/65_SuperLR.php

[Simcoe hunter]

All I want for Christmas is a .250 Savage.  You want want to shoot another rifle in your life.  The performance from this one is a great bang for the buck.

[high country]

You need to decide what you want to do with it, what it shall weigh and your budget.

[YellowDog]

I'm impressed with the good suggestions given so far.  I like the 260 Remington, 358 Winchester, and 7x57 the best out of the options given but that may have something to do with the fact that I want the first two and my dad just built me a 7x57 on an onld Springfield action I had that needed a new barrel and I wanted something a little different. 

[Biggerhammer]

I'm very fond of the 7x57, my father handed one down to me that he recieved as a Christmas gift from his father when he was 15 in 1957. I have taken my share of game with it and it has always performed well. Recoil is mild and I have always kept it in its original condition other than swapping out optics.

[coachcw]

If your gonna stay with your short action I'd go with the .260 . if you build a 6.5x284 it would essentally be a single shot. A good bet would be to sell the308 and pick up a long action , just a better platform if your looking for a hot rod.

[rbros]

Keep the short action, have it trued up and turn it into a .260 and run a 24"-26" 8 twist barrel.  Extremely easy to load for and very accurate if built correctly.  Brass is plentiful and inexpensive as well.  H4350 works the best with the 130-142gr bullets. Recoil isn't bad without a brake, but with a brake its like shooting a 22LR.