Even if your .30-06 has a recoil pad, I highly recommend getting additional recoil protection. The PAST recoil pad is one of the best solutions out there. Even a large person can suffer soft tissue damage from repeated recoil, in some cases requiring surgery to correct. The PAST pad straps on to your shoulder and does a fantastic job dissipating the energy fro a kicking rifle, and reducing felt recoil. They come in varying thicknesses, from a rather thin Field Grade all the way to rather thick Magnum grades (these are meant for the big nasty calibers.)

I NEVER shoot my .30-06 at the range without my PAST pad, and with it, 50 to 100 rounds are quite managable, with no bruising and not too much soreness the next day. WIthout that pad I would be in pain for days with that many rounds. I use the low end Field Grade and it works GREAT. I also wear this when I am shooting clay targets with my 12 guage shotgun, and again, the difference is like night and day.

These are about twenty to thirty dollars depending on the one you get. If your gun store doesn't have them you can order them online from Midway (link below.) Walmart has a very similar product for about twenty bucks also, but I can't remember the manufacturer.

Before changing rifles I would try the recoil protection first. The .30-06 is a fine round, and if you can handle it, it will handle deer and elk quite nicely for you.

Good luck!

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteabro...0/655***688***