My vote is for the 30-06. It gives better performance with the heavier bullet weights; more ammo selections for the factory shooter, and practice ammo will cost the same, if not cheaper in some brands.

.30-06. It is the classic. You can buy ammo for it anywhere. It may handle the heavier bullets better.

I hate to say it but any of the 30 calibers in a lite rifle are going to hit you pretty hard. I have a lite 308 and it kicks like three mules. 6.5x55. Will give you an excellent deer rifle with REAL recoil reduction.

I am very partial to the .308! But if recoil is any problem, take a hard look at the 7MM-08! It is very close to the .308, with less recoil, and no deer could ever tell the difference between the .308 and the '06!

Another fine choice to be sure.

Is the 7mm08 good enough for good size black bear and elk?

Yes the 7mm-08 would be a decent choice for all 3 animals. I love my little Browning Micro Hunter in this chambering. It is a sweet little rifle, as would be the Rem. model 7. But don't overlook the Savage 11F. Every one I've shot or talke to who has one is impressed with the accuracy. And the extra money you save you can put toward a better scope.

I know you asked about picking between the 30/06 and the 308, ... but since you brought up the recoil issue..... I think you have so many other good choices that you should consider everything before you plunk down your money.
The 308 in a well fitted and non-lightweight rifle will certainly do the job for you, but the other choices mentioned, chiefly the 7mm/08 and the 6.5 X 55 are superb choices for being potent yet mild to the recoil chart. The rifles must FIT YOU though. I don't know if the Tikka comes in the 7mm/08 in the stainless though...

Interesting article, and it's pretty clear that at the national match level, the .308 was beating the .30-06. But,rather than the cartridge, was any consideration given to the rifle being shot? Could the difference have been that the 06 was being fired from M1 Garands whereas the .308 was being shot through the newer M14s or M1As and the M1A's were more easily tuned to produce better accuracy?

[quote] was any consideration given to the rifle being shot? [quote]

From the article:

“All that aside, lets go back to when the .30-06 and .308 were the only cartridges allowed in NRA match rifle matches. Both cartridges were used in barrels of equal quality as well as the same action and stocks by several top shooters in the USA. Both cartridges were used in matches at ranges from 100 through 1000 yards. Many thousands of rounds were fired in both types. Bullets from 168 through 200 grains were used with several powder, case and primer combinations.”

It sounds like they tested them equally. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think the deer, or the hunter for that matter, could tell the difference but as I said this article offered fairly unbiased, fact based information addressing the topic.