i have both a 30.06 M70 and a savage 7mm-08. I started hunting with the 7mm-08 due to tendenitis in my shoulders from lifting weights when i was younger. I recently put a recoil pad on my 30.06 and it made a night vs day difference. You may notice that the 7mm-08 has a sharper recoil but manageble. So much more that i hunt deer with my 7mm-08 all the time now. It has become my favorite caliber. My 30.06 will be used if i ever hunt bigger than deer.