A 30-06 recoil is not that bad.The bigger caliber's open up a bigger hole and are harder hitting (more shock to the animal and damage from the interia or force of impact) then witha small caliber's like a 7mm-08.Both guns will kill a deer if you hit them in the right place.But for them times you may shoot a bit further back in the guts you will have a better chance of getting the deer to laydown than a little pinker caliber.I have seen many of times even with a large exit hole of a 30-06 you may get a piece of somthing plug the hole and the deer stops bleeding.If you have a bigger exit hole with a larger caliber gun you will have a better chance of that piece that may clug the hole up to pass.There are diffrent bullets that you can use to make a hole bigger on a smaller caliber but you will never match the capabilites of a much larger gun.It is kind of like taking a 7mm-08 on a moose trip your better bet whould be a much harder hitting 30-06.Once again small calibers can and have killed deer but you stand a better chance with a 30-06 over a 7mm-08.