I have a distaste for recoil. I grew up hunting with a .30-06 b/c that's what everyone had/suggested. If you wanted to hunt anywhere in North America, it was most recommended. It caused me to develop a flinch. It ultimately caused me to start looking at smaller calibers and letting go of the '06. As I get older, I like calibers that allow for follow-through in my shots. However, go to small and I lose confidence in the round.