Recoil can be attributed to several factors. Cartridge selection is just one of the variables. For some one to say that a 30-06 has a certain percentage of felt recoil, as compared to a 7-08, without taking into account all the felt recoil factors is just flat out wrong to do.

Factors that effect felt recoil:
1. Cartridge selection
2. Rifle weight
3. Stock design
4. Recoil reducers
5.Porting
6. Even the shooting technique of the shooter himself.

For some one to say that a 140 grain 7-08 does not recoil is erroneous. Or flat out wrong. If all things are equal then a 140 will recoil less than a 165 in a 30-06, but rarely are all things equal.

You can reduce felt recoil considerably by going to a thumb hole stock. I shoot 165 grain bullets in my 30-06 with a well designed thumb hole stocked Encore. Recoil is very manageable.

There are very many ways to reduce recoil and still shoot a 30-06. If you truly need to do away with recoil then you need to drop down to a 223 Remington. Even a 22-250 has noticably more recoil than the 223. Tom.