Well the thread started out as a cartridge discussion and of course the direction quickly turned to the cartridge's use, i.e. deer hunting (thankfully, that has been the extent of the so called "big game" hunting applications.)

My position on deer is about the same as it has always been: (1) you can have it, I've had all I want (about 20 years), and (2) it don't take much to whack a deer (and kill cleanly, just as a clarification).

However, back to the original post. 30-06 or 30-30?.... no qualifications. I'll recommend the 30-06 every time. In recommending cartridges I strive to "get people into" cartridges that will be as versatile as possible and will encourage (and allow) them to expand their hunting horizons both geographically and up and down the species scale. The 30-06 does that and in spades. The 30-30 doesn't.... period. Sometimes folks opportunity to go hunting "outside their box" will be limited by the rifle they have as they can't afford another and that alone will stop the trip. Get the 30-06 and odds are that won't happen.

IMHO, the first three long guns should be a 22LR, a 30-06 (or real close equivalent), and a 12 gauge shotgun. Get those three, then branch out.... brush gun? (get one), varmit rifle? (get one of those), heavy duty big game rifle? (get that too)....BUT start out with the foundational building blocks that are most versatile, and THEN get the specialty rifles.