It may be the particular rifle.

I say this because I used to shoot skeet a lot and have had several 12 gauge over/unders. You would think that if took a half dozen over/under shotguns that all weighed about the same that they would all kick the same. That didn't seem to be the case.

A Ruger O/U seemed to be a stomper compared to some of the other comparable O/U shotguns.

How far are you shooting. If you aren't striving for a 500+ shots, I don't think you are gonna miss the little extra umph. Price out the gun, and the ammo, and make a decision based on money. the 06 will push the bullet a little faster, but the 308 case is more efficient with the powder.

With the new 30-06 loads, it has revitalized the life of the 30-06. I just bought mine last year. It does have alot of kick but not so bad with the newer reciol pads being made today. Mine is light and shots very tight groups. I choose it over other cal.'s because it is concidered the best all around load. If you can only have one rifle for everything. At least that is what most pro's say. IMO find one that fits you well and is comfortible to hold. If you can shoot on target your not going to have to shoot it a ton of times anyway. And lets face it if you don't get the deer on the first shot you most likely won't get another. Most people can handle one to two shots with any gun at a time.

.308 for over 20 years.

There are more handloading options in 30-06 if you like to play around but none that will give you better hunting outcomes against anything that you shouldn't already be using a magnum caliber for, anbyway.

haha, that is the best quote I've heard on this forum!!!
Now i have to find a way to use that somewhere.

My vote is for the 30-06. No good reason other than I have one and never let me down. I can't claim I have shot all sorts of rifles in different calibers. Just like many other things for me, once I like something I stick to it and don't look around for mush else.

I'm with you on the weird recoil problems. I hunted with a 30-06 for years with no problem with any loads, but I had a Marlin 30-30 that kicked so hard I got rid of it. Go figure. I think it may have to somethig to do with stock configuration.

I agree with the stock config.

I agree. I have both the .308 and 30-06 barrels for my Sig shr 970 and shooting the same wt. bullet (150gr. light mag), you can't tell the difference. This rifle weighs right at 8 lbs. But the Steyr I hunt with weighs in @ just over 13lbs. and feels to me like shooting an AR .223 with the same 150gr. bullet.

I own both and end up picking up my 06 most of the time over the 308 unless I'm doing a spot n stalk or in very tight quarters (hunting in a small box blind). The guns weight within 1 lb of each other so there's no noticeable difference in felt recoil. Ballistics are not much different until you get into the larger weight bullets or the light mag cartridges and then the 06 gains a whole new dimension. I got rid of my 7mm Mag after using the 30-06 Hornaday Light Mag ammo on a couple of elk hunts.

Not much difference unless you handload, then the .30-06 will leap ahead some, but with factory ammo not much more then 130 +/-fps and a 200ft.lbs +/-. of differnce and thats with a 180 grain pill. Even less with 150 grain!! Of course one is short action while the other is a long. Longs tend to be little heavier, while the shorts are a little lighter!! Flip a coin you will be happy with either!! I shoot a .308 winchester, but my rifle/scope/mounts/sling/four rounds of ammo weigh 6lbs 8 oz!!

I shoot 270, 308, and 30-06. My bull barreled Remington 700 in 308 with a US Optics 10x scope, and a Harris Bipod must weigh 14 plus pounds. It has almost no recoil. Many folks who shoot 308 also shoot heavy guns. A 300 Mag on a 14 pound gun will not have much recoil as well. Just something to keep in mind.

I have shot them all. 270 is the sweetest of them all. I still shoot my 7Mag that they say kicks the crap out of other people, but since i only shoot deer not targets i never feel it.
i think a 7mm-08 would give you everything you are looking for. a 7mm in a 300 casing, or something to that effect. this gun feels like a 22 with tons of distance and knock down.
i hunted for years and people always got mad because i always took out the shoulder and not behind. but in 33 years the only deer that ran more than 20 yards was a heart shot with a 7Mag, but i always take the shoulder, yes i lose a little meat, but not deer.