I love the .30-06, but I prefer Remington over Winchester.
Keep in mind that just about anyone here could go on for days talking about their favorite setup, but I recommend that you research online and visit a good gun dealer to see and handle various rifles for yourself.
Also, check out this
Recoil Table for a comparison of different calibers/loads. I'm no expert on shotguns, but from what I've experienced, the .30-06 is pretty mild compared to a 3½ magnum slug.