RE: 30.06 Recoil ????
As others have mentioned, the 30-06 will recoil less than your 12 guage shooting slugs. There's been a few times shooting trap where I haven't held the shotgun snug and it slapped my shoulder worse than the 30-06 ever did.
I have a Sako 30-06, a little heavier than Winchester, and find the recoil tolerable even shooting 180 grain ammo. To prevent the risk of developing a flinch I wear a PAST shooting pad at the range. It also helps simulate the extra clothing I'm likely to wear in the field. Range trips in Southern California are usually a t-shirt event.