Why choose 308?

[Spring1898]

Well I hope you bought something, because as far as I know the 2017 promotions are over and no 2018 promotions have replaced them yet.

If you already have 6.5 and 7mm-08, I would rule both of those out immediately and expand the experience to new calibers.

For a new kid-friendly rifle (assuming you don't reload yet), a .243 is great rifle which ~20% less felt recoil than a similar 7mm-08, and ~40% less than a 308. Should be good for deer comfortably to 200m.
(That said, as a skinny kid I found .30-40 krag carbine, just under 308 in recoil, with a metal buttplate comfortable to shoot, but that was up north with heavy jackets.)

Between 308 and 30-06, I prefer 308.
But for a pure hunting rifle for an adult who won't notice a slight increase in recoil I would have to recommend 30-06 as it is more versatile and gives you a little extra punch at higher bullet weights. Unless we are talking varminting, I don't think you will ever find that 30-06 is a real limitation in anything. Plus you have easily available factory loads from 120gr - 220gr. It covers all of your NA large game hunting needs from now into the future.

I like 308 because it can do pretty much anything, but a 30-06 will do everything. If I could only have one 30 caliber rifle, it would be 30-06.

[Deadshot2]

For a new kid-friendly rifle (assuming you don't reload yet), a .243 is great rifle which ~20% less felt recoil than a similar 7mm-08, and ~40% less than a 308.

A good muzzle brake will do the same.

I like 308 because it can do pretty much anything, but a 30-06 will do everything. If I could only have one 30 caliber rifle, it would be 30-06.

And with the new barrels and bullets we have today one doesn't need to view the 30-06 through the same lens we used for all the Mil-surp '06 rifles/ammo that were so plentiful from the 50's on.

I will always own a 30-06 along with my other caliber rifles.