I've hunted with 30-06 since 1975. I started using 308 about 10 years ago and really like the round. Modern 308 loads beat WW-2 era 30-06 loads by about 100 fps. I'll never say anything bad about 30-06, but just don't see me going back. My 6 lb 308 has exactly the same recoil as my 7.5 lb 30-06 and my 7.5 lb 308 has 25% less recoil than my 7.5 lb 30-06. My 308 will kill anything I'll ever hunt out to at least 400 yards. My 30-06 or a 300 WSM will do the same thing farther, but about 400 is as far as I can shoot.
I did run across a deal on a Winchester 70 Classic in 300 WSM several years ago. I REALLY liked the round and if I didn't have such a sentimental attachment to 30-06 would probably say it is the better round.
You can push em faster, but I got best accuracy with my 300 WSM and 180's at about 2950 fps. That is only about 50 fps slower than typical 300 WM loads but about 150 fps faster than my most accurate 30-06 loads at about 2800 fps. About 250 fps faster than typical factory loads. Yea, I know some people push all 3 faster, but this is where I found best accuracy.
While the 300 WSM was closer to 300 WM performance I calculated recoil right down the middle. Both my 300 WSM and 30-06 weighed 7.5 lbs scoped. Assuming a 300 WM at 7.5 lbs as well I got:
30-06 22 ft lbs recoil
300WSM 26 ft lbs recoil
300WM 30 ft lbs recoil.
I've owned 300 WM in the past and can say that I noticed the 8 ft lbs difference in recoil between 30-06 and 300 WM. But I honestly never noticed the 4 ft lbs difference between 30-06 and 300 WSM. I know it is there, but I honestly never noticed it.
How much a different rifle weighs, and how hard you push loads can make things different. But those are the numbers on my rifles.
While I really liked the rifle, and 300WSM round I just found that I rarely took it hunting. I'd pretty much decided on 308 as my go-to round and just didn't need it. When I had a chance to sell at a profit I let it go. But if I were a younger hunter, with no sentimental attachment to 30-06 I'd probably keep a 300 WSM over 30-06. I know I'd take 300 WSM over any other 300 magnum.
