I would recommend a straight 338/06, from my personal experience with the AI versions of several calibers, I do not think you will gain much, in an 06 based cartidge, for the extra steps involved.

Thanks for all the responses, I am going to go ahead and make the 338-06 AI.

338-06

.338-06 is a great choice and i salivated for a long time between it and the .35 whelen.
the ackley version, i was told, will show a decent increase in the .338-06 ( seriously can get close to .338mag velocities with the lighter bullets), but the main reason for blowing the case out was born out of concerns about the shoulder not being big enough for reliable headspacing. much of that concern was generated by people who chambered the round improperly. properly done, both the standard .338 and the whelen have plenty of shoulder.

Why did you decide to go with the AI version? I have a .338-06 AI and love it. Some people say you get next to no increase with the AI, some say you get a real good increase. The most consistent answer I have heard is around 100 to 150 fps over the standard. I don't have a chronograph so I don't know how it is in my rifle.

I went with the AI version since I was building the rifle and chambering it in a nearly wildcat anyway so I might as well go for the real deal. (I know A-Square standardized it, but refuse to pay $60 or more for loaded ammo when I can make my own from .30-06 brass)

Congrats and good luck.