I have a 30-06 and a 270 wsm and to be honest with you I can't tell much difference in recoil between the two. The 30-06 is a Ruger M77 and the 270 wsm is a Savage.The 270 wsmhas just a tad bitsharper recoil butit is a lighter gun too. Ineither case both guns are a pleasure to shoot and recoil is not a problem.I wanted to try one of the short mag cartridges and bought it. I have taken a deer withthe 270 wsmso far this year and it performed as expected. Although it did not do anything that any other properly placed bullet would have done. The only advantages I could see with the 30-06 would be the huge selection of bullets and factory ammoin30 caliber.I don't think youwill go wrong with either.