I don't really think there are reasonable cons to the '06, unless you are talking about too much gun or recoil for light game. I guess it depends on what you are after. I know I've got an exceptional '06, but I've had low # Springfields and post '64 M 70s that I would not load up (Spr.) or would not take the loads (M 70) that I can shoot with my M-8000 Husqvarna and its 1 in 12 twist barrel. I can shoot 165 Barnes boat tail X bullets at 3000 even. Other than big bears, I feel I can use this gun for everything I could possibly hunt. It would probably kill grizzly too, but not a gun to stop one if it came to that. (I will never have the $ to hunt griz, so it is really a mute point.) Yes, it recoils a bit, but not too bad, and my gun only weighs 7# with scope, sling, and loaded magazine, with its Brown fiberglass stock. My 14 yr. old was very excited when I said that it would be his some day. Don't know what gun I would rather have. Groups very well too. Now if you are talking about factory loads that may be used in old low # Springfields and have to be safe to shoot in pumps and autoloaders, then the '06 does not have much on the .308, which I also have and think quite highly of. But loaded to its potential in a strong gun, the '06 has a bit more of an advantage than most are willing to admit. If I was really a ballistics freak, I would probably have mine rechambered for '06 Ackley Improved, but really, what would an extra 100 or so fps get me?